Sheer Delight

A few days ago, I wondered about a Biblical definition of 'entertainment'. That is, after all, my job. I write situation comedy. Comedy succeeds when it amuses and entertains. And only when it amuses and entertains. It may challenge and question and satirise - but when it does so without entertaining or causing amusement, it's called drama. Or it's just lousy comedy.

But what is the point of it? How can a Christian justify 'mere' entertainment? Is it only light relief? Or a way of getting someone's attention before giving them something more important. Comedy performs a number of functions - but when it's just playful and, well, pointless, what's the point?

The other night, my daughter - who is sixteen months old - was in her room with the light out. And giggling. She'd found something about her cot, about a toy, about the way that the universe works - and was delighted by it.

She is equally delighted by nursery rhymes, at the sounds of words. The words themselves are broadly rubbish. And some of them are downright unpleasant. Read some old nursery rhymes. You'd be amazed. Rocky a bye baby, in the tree top is vile story! But the words and the sounds and the tone are wonderful.

Those who like crosswords are delighted by words and how they fit together; how words can have different meanings in different contexts. And how words contain other words that mean exactly the opposite of the bigger word.

Those who enjoy nature are delighted by the creation - how the universe, how nature and the ecosystem fit together.

Something that makes you understand life, how it works and how God has caused it to be is delightful. Art, that doesn't necessarily challenge or arrest you, but amuses and delights you, is still something worthy. Now surely that's entertainment?