Entertaiment is an interesting subject because it can be perceived in many different ways by groups, individuals and foundations. A charity like the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), which aims to accelerate the rate of scientific breakthroughs in order to achieve a cure for cancer, is an example of the vast range of societal needs that entertainment can satisfy.
Oliver and Barstsch (2010) define entertainment as consumer activity that is understood objectively, communicates with an audience from an external stimulus, offers pleasure, requires an audience to exist, and occurs in a passive form. These six elements are crucial for defining entertainment. Entertainment often hits on the themes that our minds were evolved to deeply react to, such as social backstabbing and murders, but can also include activities like solving a crossword puzzle.