ABSTRACT
By definition, the goal of entertainment is first, and foremost, to entertain, but, as you should be finding throughout this text, it can also serve a variety of other purposes. In this chapter we will explore how entertainment has been used for advocacy and education. Advocacy can be defined as the “the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.” Similarly, to educate can be defined as “to provide with knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose; to bring an understanding or acceptance.”1 Thus, both advocacy and education involve conveying ideas and information, with the intention of influencing people’s thoughts and actions. Chapter 5 introduced ways that entertainment can both intentionally and unintentionally influence audiences’ thoughts and actions. In this chapter we will explore some of the intentional uses of entertainment as a vehicle for political and social advocacy and education.
