Entertaiment is a word that has evolved over time to be understood in the broadest sense of amusement, fun, and laughter. However, entertainments can also have serious purposes as in the case of ceremonies, religious festivals and even satire. Entertainments can be scaled to the individual who chooses a private entertainer from an enormous array of pre-recorded products; to banquets adapted for any number of people; to performances intended for thousands.

According to Oliver and Barstsch (2010), entertainment is an objective activity that consists of six elements: it communicates between text and audience, has an external stimulus, offers pleasure, requires an audience and occurs in a passive form.