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[Seriphyn]

Other than its application as a tool of cultural warfare and creating a market for Gallentean products ("Nerner, look at our pretty women and awesome lifestyles that we got and you ain't trolol"), after watching a bit of Macross, I wondered if entertainment is more than just another boring RL Americanism adopted into GalFed PF.

As a sci-fi universe, we can expect any stageshows for theatre or music to use futuristic technology to augment the display for maximum "wow" factor, perhaps stuff like colour auras made by nanites (?!) or whatever. With holoreels, I have been exploring the idea of "VR movies" that replace the modern-day CGI, such as Anette lending her voice to a "bax" (whatever the hell they are). With hologames, I explored VR with Wings of Valour.

Other than the technological side, the EVE world is far far less safe than the one we inhabit now. Sansha incursions, raids on remote planetside/deadspace colonies by pirates, collective threats, and so on. I was therefore thinking that entertainment isn't just a product of Gallentean aesthetic-driven culture and decadence, but also an important notion to rally around in times of strife and trouble. With a natural distrust of politicians and the government, the population may look to cultural and popular icons as a form of morale-boosting instead. In times of strife, singers will sing songs of mourning and so on.

I suppose it's easy to go "ogod elton john candle in the wind", but if one takes the above outside of a RL context and into a sci-fi one, it could potentially be more romantic and heroic than what we see IRL. Anyway, it's a way to apply something that is rather ordinary (as far as RL is concerned) within the EVE universe and applying it to the setting in an original and different way.

[Mithfindel]

Combine holoprojectors with an augmented reality system tracking the performer. That's our big budget special effects, except that these can be shown live. A holographic stage. Could even have CGI "live on stage" - deceased heroes and performers. Or, for Amarr on less advanced worlds, possibly faking miracles and visions in the church (which naturally would have all the advanced tech the Empire has).

[lallara zhuul]

Already there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTXO7KGHtjI

Entertainment and media have only two purposes, to indoctrinate the masses and distract them.

What you are proposing Seri fills those two purposes quite well.

Also the 'qualities' of all of the cultures have been indoctrinated to the masses, thus giving the power elite a way to channel the interests of the masses in any which way that they want.
The 'natural distrust' is just a way to channel the discontent of the masses to a direction which has been taught to them by the media and the education system.

[Casiella]

Entertainment and media have only two purposes, to indoctrinate the masses and distract them.

That's pretty cynical. I'd certainly agree that those two purposes play huge roles in society, but entertainment certainly can do more than that -- and frequently does.

* Casiella notes without irony that we are having this discussion on a forum dedicated to immersion in an Internet spaceships game.

[Ammentio Oinkelmar]

...

^ this.

[Bong-cha Jones]

Americanism

You use this word way more frequently than is actually applicable.

But yes, I imagine entertainment media is an important aspect of the average Gallentean's life, giving them heroic faces to rally around and to provide a sort of chorus for.

[Aira Hakaari]

To call entertainment indoctrinating is extremely cynical. That's discrediting Shakespeare's Hamlet performed in the Globe Theatre, the Beatles performing at Shea Stadium, every television show and film dedicated to science fiction (Firefly, Stargate, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dune) and other genres (countless IPs). Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, all gone. Classic films?

Come on now. Entertainment is important for society, otherwise we would all be dead by now.

[lallara zhuul]

Bread and Circuses.

[Aira Hakaari]

Hardly a logical argument.

IDK what we're discussing here Seriphyn, what exactly is there to be said?

[Akrasjel Lanate]

Entertainment and media have only two purposes, to indoctrinate the masses and distract them.

So true...   
panem et circenses(Bread and Circuses)

[Ammentio Oinkelmar]

To call entertainment indoctrinating is extremely cynical. That's discrediting Shakespeare's Hamlet performed in the Globe Theatre, the Beatles performing at Shea Stadium, every television show and film dedicated to science fiction (Firefly, Stargate, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dune) and other genres (countless IPs). Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, all gone. Classic films?

Please read, listen and watch your examples again.

[BloodBird]

To call entertainment indoctrinating is extremely cynical. That's discrediting Shakespeare's Hamlet performed in the Globe Theatre, the Beatles performing at Shea Stadium, every television show and film dedicated to science fiction (Firefly, Stargate, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dune) and other genres (countless IPs). Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, all gone. Classic films?

Please read, listen and watch your examples again.

I don't se your point. Care to speak clearly?

[Chowda]

For Gallente culture, it seems the crazy flamboyant, risque, debaucherous style of entertainment is a result of the government taking a firm stand on the side of the artists' rights to do whatever the heck they want, not the side of those who would be offended.  To rebut the "Americanism" example, in the States we seem to have a measured approach when it comes to those situations, taking into consideration both sides.  By contrast, this is where I think the power of the Federation is exercised in keeping their libertarian culture intact. 

[Kaleigh Doyle]

I was therefore thinking that entertainment isn't just a product of Gallentean aesthetic-driven culture and decadence, but also an important notion to rally around in times of strife and trouble.

I don't think entertainment derives itself from vanity and decadence, but from a culture that espouses individuality and personal success. A society like this recognizes its duty to the individual to achieve their dreams, live life on their own terms, and protect the nation that gave that opportunity. In such an environment the market is going to tailor itself to that drive and capitalize on it.  Decadence and 'image' are a product of commercialism and the brutality of the free market system where companies are constantly struggling to survive the next wave by having the next clever idea.

Other than the technological side, the EVE world is far far less safe than the one we inhabit now. Sansha incursions, raids on remote planetside/deadspace colonies by pirates, collective threats, and so on.  With a natural distrust of politicians and the government, the population may look to cultural and popular icons as a form of morale-boosting instead. In times of strife, singers will sing songs of mourning and so on.

I suppose it's easy to go "ogod elton john candle in the wind", but if one takes the above outside of a RL context and into a sci-fi one, it could potentially be more romantic and heroic than what we see IRL. Anyway, it's a way to apply something that is rather ordinary (as far as RL is concerned) within the EVE universe and applying it to the setting in an original and different way.

I can see stuff like that. I can also see lots of shitty monster movies and zombie men making their way to the theaters as well. The danger isn't so much about the pirates, because they have been there for years, but more about the Nation raids in high-sec, where people previously thought they were safe under the guard of the Federation Navy. There might be a bit of nationalist fervor as a result, where people have to rely on one another for added precautions (false alarms) against future attacks. Given there's also a war with the State, there are probably lots of war movies out there too.

[Ammentio Oinkelmar]

I don't se your point. Care to speak clearly?

Laughter, immersion and emotional shock are reactions which make people to lower their guard, and to become open for suggestion. If a consumer feels suspicious and disconnected from the platform, any indoctrination attempt would not work, obviously. For this reason it would be a bad idea and also completely unnecessary to state clearly what is the set of unquestioned premises behind a merchandize. Commercialism, consumerism, individualism, authoritarianism, values, ideals, gender roles, models of accepted behaviour and so on can all be incorporated into the entertainment so that it never feels like indoctrination. This is the normal state of affairs, works automatically and has probably remained the same since entertainment was invented. I don't see why things would be any different in a dystopia thousands of years in the future.