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This study deals with journalistic coverage of historical events and their contextualization. It conceptualizes the relationship between history, collective memory, and contemporary media logic. It shows the specific treatment of news values on historical topics and the penetration of entertainment elements into the resulting media content. The case study analyzes the discrepancy between the perceived importance of some historical events in Czech society and their journalistic coverage using the example of Czech media production in the year of round anniversaries in 2018. It utilizes the concept of news values and identifies similar procedures in presenting historical events in the media. The result is a more robust media reminder for those events that meet specific news values for historical topics. Content analysis has shown that the media choose more significant media coverage of other anniversaries than those considered by the Czechs to be the most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of distinct characteristics of theme restaurants on service quality and behavioral intentions. As the unique attributes of themed restaurants continue to gain in popularity, this study gathered data from a face-to-face survey of 776 diners who visited various themed restaurants across different regions of Taiwan. The study validated the evaluation of customers' service quality, affective experience, sensory experience, and entertainment in relation to behavioral intention within a proposed conceptual model, which was then tested using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) analysis. The findings reveal that affective experiences, the perception of entertainment and the sensory experience mediate between service quality and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the study underscores that the perception of a servicescape acts as a moderating factor influencing the associations between service quality and sensory experience, thereby reinforcing the links between affective experience and behavioral intentions. The study's robustness is confirmed by implementing alternative models. The final section of the study discusses both theoretical and managerial implications derived from these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of information overload, understanding individuals' news consumption and avoidance necessitates an examination of the specific contexts in which these practices occur. While research in journalism studies has mainly underscored consumption habits at the individual level, limited scholarly attention has been given to news avoidance within the structure of dyadic spousal relationships. This study shifts the focus from individual choices to the couple as a unit of analysis, exploring how each partner's choice of media platform, content, and routines may be shaped by the context of being in a spousal relationship. Drawing on 82 interviews with Israelis, including 14 interviews with both partners of seven heterosexual couples, this study reveals three patterns of news avoidance within the context of a couple's relationship: avoiding shared news consumption, gender-based news avoidance practices, and a division of media-related responsibilities. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the contextual factors shaping news avoidance by elucidating how media use and non-use unfold within social relationships. It also demonstrates how news avoidance can be perceived as a liberating choice, enabled by partners' negotiation of preferences, platforms, and routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nursing work environment is often stressful and can lead to burnout. The use of humor may help nurses adapt and cope. Although most would agree that, in general, humor can help build camaraderie and ease tense situations, little is known about how nurses use humor in their professional lives. Purpose: The study's main purpose was to explore how humor is used and perceived by nurses in the workplace. Methods: A sample of LPNs, RNs, and advanced practice RNs was recruited in the United States. Participants were interviewed via the videoconferencing platform Zoom. Data from the video recordings, audio transcripts, and investigators' field notes were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Sixteen nurses were interviewed about their use of humor, whether intentional or spontaneous, in the workplace. Three main themes were identified: entertainment , influencing others , and well-being. Participants reported using humor with self and others, including patients, families, and colleagues. Reported benefits include emotional regulation, relationship building, and work enjoyment. Some participants noted feeling insecure over when and whether the use of humor was "appropriate." Conclusions: The results indicate that nurses' use of humor in the workplace had many benefits. Participants reported that humor could relieve tension, create bonds and strengthen relationships, and enhance both learning and work environments. Many recognized that humor can also be maladaptive and harmful, and that sensitivity and caution are part of using humor skillfully. Still, the benefits of humor appear to outweigh the risks. We conclude that humor is a useful tool nurses can and should use to optimize their nursing experience. This qualitative study explores how humor is used and perceived by nurses in the workplace, including what situations it's used in, how it's deployed, and what outcomes are associated with its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-growing fusion of popular culture into belief systems has produced a twenty-first-century rise in commercialized religious and spiritual by-products. Subsequently, faith-based practitioners are also simultaneously consumers of mainstream entertainment. From comics-themed sermons and graphic adaptations of the Bible to the influences of Disney and cultural fairy tales onto occultism, spiritual practices now offer a welcoming gateway for modern generations who feel affection toward pop culture fandoms. This article explores various ways that religion and spirituality have commercialized and celebrated beloved fictional stories--especially in approaches that exemplify contemporary audiences' deep fascinations toward villains. This exploration spans three topics centered on religious-associated commercialized experiences and products: The evolution of contemporary stained glass from religious architecture to entertaining décor, collaborations between popularized fictional villains and contemporary Christianity, and the rise of mainstreamed occultism through a focus on the exponential expansion of pop culture--themed divination decks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, opposing criticisms are presented as juxtapositions to the successful proliferation of secularized spirituality, commercialized consecration, and fusions of faith and fandom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly mobile-centric world, how banks effectively engage consumers through mobile advertising is a pressing issue. This study aims to accomplish two objectives: The first is to assess how consumers respond to mobile advertising from banks, specifically via SMS, based on Ducoffe's advertising value model, and the second is to examine the moderating effect of mobile users' information privacy concerns (MUIPC) between consumer attitudes and acceptance of mobile advertising. Using a survey with 413 usable responses from individuals who have received SMS advertisements from banks, which were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the study found that entertainment and informativeness significantly enhance advertising value, whereas irritation does not. Furthermore, advertising value positively shapes consumer attitudes toward, and acceptance of, SMS advertising from banks. Notably, MUIPC moderates the relationship between attitudes and acceptance behavior. Taken together, this study advances our understanding of consumer behavior in mobile advertising in the banking sector and underscores the need for balancing advertising value with privacy concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the digital cultural production in the entertainment program "Tembang Pantura" on local television in Cirebon, Indonesia. The study explores how the program preserves local cultural heritage while adapting to contemporary digital entertainment trends. A descriptive qualitative method was used, with data collected through interviews and observations of the production team, local artists, and the audience. The research focuses on how "Tembang Pantura" integrates traditional Cirebon elements such as the local language and tarling music with modern digital production techniques. The findings show that "Tembang Pantura" successfully preserves and promotes Cirebon's cultural heritage while appealing to a wide audience. The use of modern technology enhances the program’s accessibility and relevance in today’s media landscape. Moreover, the program fosters cultural identity by continuously adapting to technological advancements and audience preferences. In conclusion, "Tembang Pantura" serves as an important platform for promoting local culture through digital media, demonstrating how regional television programs can sustain cultural relevance in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of laughter in media content, focusing on traditional non-humorous entertainment talk shows with hosts, guests and a studio audience. The analysis, which documents over 20,000 instances of laughter in just 60 episodes (one laugh every 20 s), highlights the central role of laughter in this reality. The study concludes that: (1) hosts laughed more than guests and studio audiences; (2) in the programmes analysed, female hosts generated almost twice as much laughter as male hosts; (3) laughter followed a recognisable 'U-shaped' pattern, peaking at the beginning and end of the programme; (4) jokes with sexual connotations elicited the highest levels of laughter; (5) public service episodes had fewer instances of laughter; and (6) the programme with the host who laughed the most had the largest audience. In conclusion, laughter provides not only emotional, but also ideological gratification, based on the (post)modern concept of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the changing preferences of rural tourists in Western Transdanubia, Hungary, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to uncover how rural tourism has changed and identify the new winners of the shifting demand. In 2021, we conducted a comprehensive survey with 925 participants and introduced a novel activity-based segmentation of rural tourists, revealing a strong preference for complex service packages. Practically, our findings highlight that village caterers who have strategically segmented the market have emerged as winners, successfully attracting different age groups and genders with customized packages. Cluster analysis revealed a segment of rural tourists who, without exception, were enthusiastic about diverse activities. In particular, our cross-cluster analysis points to a significant amount of potential demand among middle-aged tourists. These findings help practitioners develop a targeted product mix and marketing strategy to meet the changing demands of rural tourism.

Considering the needs of most English for a Specific Purpose (ESP) learners, speaking proficiency and terminology learning are two challenging objectives of their English learning. This anxiety is boosted when it comes to technical environments because it needs a range of specific vocabulary, resulting in lower scores than expected. Edutainment or the integration of entertainment with education is supposed to be helpful. Regarding a quasi-experimental study, 60 Iranian ESP learners studying nursing were conveniently selected and distributed into experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. During the intervention phase, participants in the EG were taught the instructional materials based on Edutainment activities ranging from simple crossword puzzles to complex simulative games. Participants in the CG received the same content through mainstream English learning tasks. The instruments included an Oxford Placement Test (OPT), speaking proficiency, and terminology tests. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the outcomes. The results indicated that EG participants significantly outperformed CG regarding speaking proficiency and terminology learning. While Edutainment was significantly effective in enhancing the mentioned domains, it was more beneficial in speaking proficiency compared to terminology learning. The outcome may benefit ESP teachers, learners, and curriculum developers considering the integration of education and entertainment.

COVID-19 devastated the ability of self-employed and freelance live performers working in the UK's live entertainment industries to sustain a living in an already precarious sector of employment. It also exposed the inadequacies of existing ways of conceptualising precarity in allowing a complete understanding of performers' experiences of precarious employment, particularly during such a crisis. Combining research into precarity, recognition theory and qualitative data on how such performers experienced and responded to the pandemic, this article identifies two forms of precarity they experienced: socioeconomic and recognitive. In doing so, it contributes to the sociology of work by demonstrating how these two modes of precarity generated considerable operational and existential challenges for performers while extending the conceptualisation of precarity in such a way as to offer a more nuanced understanding of its impact, not only on the livelihoods of those experiencing it but also on their work identities and sense of self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to discuss the dynamics of the understanding of dayah scholars towards Qanun Number 3 of 2016 concerning the Implementation of Entertainment in Langsa City. Qonun was born as a response to public anxiety about the phenomenon of mushrooming entertainment venues and sources of violence among the people of Langsa city. However, what is interesting is whether this qanun is accepted by all circles of society, especially by dayah or Acehnese ulama. This study is empirical juridical research. The data collection techniques used in this study were interview and documentation techniques. At the same time, the analysis technique used is descriptive. This research is located in Langsa city because the Islamization movement grows strong in public spaces and governance. The informants of this research came from dayah scholars, chairpersons or members of MPU Langsa city, as well as residents of Langsa city. An important finding in this study is that there have been differences in the views of dayah scholars on the qanun issued by the Langsa city government, especially Qanun Number 3 of Langsa City in 2016 regarding the implementation of entertainment in Langsa city, namely some approve and support, some do not support and do not need the qanun. The influence of dayah ulama on Qanun Number 3 of 2016 is very large and has support from the people of Langsa city, so what the dayah ulama says in the community is a fatwa or opinion that must be followed. Studi ini bertujuan membahas tentang dinamika pemahaman ulama dayah terhadap Qanun Nomor 3 Tahun 2016 Tentang Penyelenggaraan Hiburan di Kota Langsa. Qonun ini lahir sebagai respon dari kegelisahan masyarakat terhadap fenomena menjamurnya tempat tempat hiburan dan sumber kemaksiatan ditengah tengah masyarakat kota Langsa. Namun yang menarik, apakah qonun ini diterima oleh semua kalangan masyarakat terutama oleh para dayah atau ulama Aceh. Studi ini adalah penelitian yuridis empiris. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah teknik wawancara dan dokumentasi. Sedangkan teknik analisa yang digunakan adalah teknik deskriptif analysis. Penelitian ini berlokasi di kota Langsa karena di kota langsa ini gerakan islamisasi tumbuh kuat dalam ruang publik dan juga dalam tata pemerintahan. Informan penelitian ini berasal dari ulama-ulama dayah, ketua atau anggota MPU kota Langsa, serta warga masyarakat kota Langsa. Temuan penting dalam penelitian ini adalah telah terjadinya perbedaan pandangan ulama dayah terhadap qanun yang dikeluarkan oleh pemerintah kota Langsa khususnya Qanun Nomor 3 Kota Langsa Tahun 2016 tentang penyelenggaraan hiburan di Kota Langsa yaitu ada yang menyetujui dan mendukung, ada yang tidak mendukung dan tidak perlu adanya qanun tersebut. Pengaruh ulama dayah terhadap Qanun Nomor 3 tahun 2016 sangat besar dan mendapat dukungan dari dari masyarakat Kota Langsa sehingga apa yang dikatakan ulama dayah dalam masyarakat merupakan sebuah fatwa atau pendapat yang harus diikuti.

Previous studies have not paid much attention to the effect of social media marketing activities on value co-creation behavior. Especially, up to now, no one has studied the effects of social media marketing activities dimensions on value co-creation behavior. This study applies the commitment-trust theory to develop and estimate this relationship through brand trust and brand commitment on social media in Vietnam. The snowball sampling technique was applied to gather 504 social media users through social media platforms in Vietnam. The proposed research model was tested through PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 4. The results highlighted that most social media marketing activities dimensions (including trendiness, electronic word of mouth, interaction, and customization) affect brand trust (pc are 0.42, 0.152, 0.112, 0.097, respectively, and p-values are all less than 0.05). Simultaneously, brand trust was found to have a positive effect on brand commitment (pc =0.405, p = 0.000). Furthermore, calculation results revealed that brand commitment contributed significantly and strongly to their co-value behavior towards brands (pc = 0.531, p = 0.000). On the contrary, the data do not support a direct impact of entertainment on brand trust (pc = 0.001, p = 0.990) and brand trust on co-value behavior (pc = 0.025, p = 0.466) at a significance level of less than 5%. Ultimately, the findings also suggest a guide to social media marketers to drive customer value co-creation behavior for brands. AcknowledgmentThis work was supported by the National Foundation for Science & Technology Development of Vietnam under Decision No. 131/QD-HDQL-NAFOSTED dated September 21, 2020.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the societal acceptance of female vocalists in the entertainment industry and to provide light on the social challenges they face. Considering the research issue, an exploratory qualitative technique was employed due to the paucity of studies in the literature. This study is important because it attempts to close this gap in the literature by highlighting the societal challenges that female vocalists working in the entertainment industry confront. A qualitative research strategy has been employed in the study's framework to look for a thorough answer to the research question, and content analysis will be done utilizing the data gathered from the one-on-one interview method. Interview questions created in answer to the research topic will be used to categorize the data in this exploratory study. This project, which focuses on female vocalists in Turkiye, will involve female vocalists in Sakarya. Diversification is designed to give the data as much variety as possible and to enrich the data. One-on-one interviews will be the method used to collect data for the study. First, interview questions tailored to this particular scenario will be developed, and professional opinions will be obtained while keeping in mind the study's objectives and the sources of literature. The interviews are then scheduled for November and December at Sakarya. After the research's data collection phase is complete, data analysis will begin. First, a code will be given to each participant. After then, the audio from the interviews will be turned into text. The investigator shall scrutinize the transcripts of the interviews and conduct the analysis utilizing the "content analysis method." Significant concepts will first be clarified and coded in data analysis to divide them into significant components. Similar codes will be combined to create themes, or categories. After the themes have been determined, the interview transcripts will be used to support them, and the conclusions will then be written.

E-commerce live streaming has experienced a significant and rapid increase in recent years, establishing itself as a vital catalyst for the growth of the e-commerce business. This research delves into the influence of e-commerce live streaming attributes, namely, authenticity, interactivity, and entertainment, on consumers' purchase intentions. It is based on the Stimulus‒Organism‒Response (SOR) theory and focuses on customer flow experience and hedonic shopping value. To evaluate the study model, the authors gathered survey data from 360 live streaming e-commerce customers and used structural equation modeling. The results indicate that client purchase intentions in e-commerce live streaming are positively influenced by authenticity, interactivity, and entertainment. Authenticity, entertainment, and interaction all contribute to enhancing consumers' flow experience in e-commerce live streaming, with interactivity being the most influential factor. The phenomenon of flow experience has a beneficial impact on the purchasing intentions of clients engaged in e-commerce live streaming. The flow experience serves as an intermediary between the characteristics of e-commerce live streaming and consumers' intentions to make purchases. Hedonic shopping value affects the relationship between the flow experience and the customer's intention to make a purchase. Put simply, when customers have a strong perception of the pleasure they derive from shopping, their intention to make purchases becomes more profound when they are influenced by the state of flow. This study not only contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the correlation between the attributes of e-commerce live streaming and consumer receptiveness, but it also provides businesses and platforms that utilize e-commerce live streaming with actionable recommendations. By improving the content design of live streaming features in e-commerce, customer engagement and immersion are significantly enhanced, establishing a foundation for increasing consumer purchase intention. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-018 Full Text: PDF

This paper investigates the elements of fighter performance that lead an MMA bout to be considered the "best" of the night, using data on UFC Fight of the Night bonus award decisions over 15 years of events. Promoter preferences toward particular bout positions on the event card are also examined as well as the influence of crowds due to the exogenous shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest a meaningful difference between performance factors that generate entertainment value relative to those that tend to score points with the judges. They are also supportive of behavioral influences such as recency bias and crowd effects on promoter decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hedonic smartphone use has been associated with dependence and addiction studied under the umbrella term Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU). Research usually explores total screen time as an index of PSU. A few studies suggest that exercise is inversely related to smartphone use time. However, it is unknown which primary characteristics of exercise behavior are related to more moderate smarthone use. Furthermore, the purpose of smartphone use, such as hedonic use associated with PSU versus utilitarian use, was not tested in the sports and exercise contexts. Hedonic use generally means playing with the smartphone for joy, distraction, and satisfaction. Utilitarian use implies practical and valuable use. There is a conjecture that sports involvement may foster utilitarian use through increased involvement in sports‐related information‐seeking, goal‐setting, and self‐monitoring. Methods: Therefore, we examined whether weekly exercise frequency, workout duration, and perceived exercise intensity relate to total daily smarthone and hedonic use and whether this relationship is mediated by sports‐related utilitarian device use. We tested regularly exercising adults (n = 360, 132 males, Mage = 39.0 ± 9.8, Mweekly exercise = 5.8 ± 1.9) who volunteered for this study and provided demographic information about their exercise habits and smartphone use. Results: The results revealed that all exercise parameters mediated the total daily smartphone use, with perceived exercise intensity being a negative predictor. Further, exercise frequency and duration (but not intensity) positively predicted sports‐related smartphone use, which inversely predicted hedonic use. Conclusion: These results suggest that exercise parameters directly relate to daily smartphone use, which completely mediates hedonic use. These findings may partially account for the frequently reported inverse relationship between regular exercise and PSU by suggesting that the connection is mediated via sports‐related smartphone use. Key points: Exercise frequency and duration are positive predictors of daily smartphone use.Exercise intensity is a negative predictor of total daily smartphone use.Exercise frequency and duration are positively related to sports‐related smartphone use.Sports‐related smartphone use is a negative predictor of hedonic smartphone use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses findings from a commissioned evaluation of an Australian government COVID-19 health campaign that utilised third-party influencers to increase the reach of health communication messages among culturally and linguistically diverse young people. Although the campaign was successful, interviews with select influencers and target audience members indicated that the 'serious' tone of the health messaging was less effective and less likely to be shared and that messages should be more 'entertaining'. Analyses of data indicated three themes providing insights into how future campaigns may benefit from a focus that draws together health information and entertainment using models already constructed in the entertainment–education field: (1) Entertaining health messages have a stronger fit with influencers who are known for their entertainment value; (2) Entertaining messages are more memorable and more likely to be shared; (3) A balance between entertainment and the signifiers of trust and credibility such as government health authority logos overcomes trust issues in the context of current health disinformation and misinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boy bands have long been disparaged in music journalism, in part because of their association with teenage and prepubescent girls who are their primary fans. This study uses media stereotypes of musicians and their fans to see how the interplay of age and gender among these two constituencies is associated with negative stereotyping in music journalism. This study fills a gap in scholarship with a quantitative comparison of how modern boy bands and their fans are stereotypically portrayed compared to non-boy bands and their fanbases in a generalizable way. A content analysis of UK and U.S. music journalism from 2010 to 2015 finds that young women music fans continue to be stereotyped, and that boy bands are diminished through stereotypes that are gendered feminine, most prominently about their age and youth, authenticity of the music, and innocent sexuality. However, the boy bands were not diminished through feminine tropes more closely aligned with women fans, such as with the use of emotional language. Being young and male does not automatically mean marginalization and stereotyping, however – the young men in the non-boy bands were consistently referred to in non-stereotypical ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the changing preferences of rural tourists in Western Transdanubia, Hungary, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to uncover how rural tourism has changed and identify the new winners of the shifting demand. In 2021, we conducted a comprehensive survey with 925 participants and introduced a novel activity-based segmentation of rural tourists, revealing a strong preference for complex service packages. Practically, our findings highlight that village caterers who have strategically segmented the market have emerged as winners, successfully attracting different age groups and genders with customized packages. Cluster analysis revealed a segment of rural tourists who, without exception, were enthusiastic about diverse activities. In particular, our cross-cluster analysis points to a significant amount of potential demand among middle-aged tourists. These findings help practitioners develop a targeted product mix and marketing strategy to meet the changing demands of rural tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media psychologists commonly study how narrative elements (e.g. characters) influence entertainment and perceptions. Research on the sequencing and structure of these elements (i.e. metanarrative; the shape of the story) is less common. In both areas, morality tends to ground theorizing (e.g. disposition theory). To extend knowledge in these domains, we conceptualize and observe the effects of side-taking (i.e. choosing a side during conflict), a core concept in narratives and moral psychology. Dynamic coordination theory explains that side-taking is fundamental to morality because it signals moral judgment/condemnation. In a preregistered experiment (N = 577), we observed how the direction (i.e. siding with/against the protagonists or taking no side) and timing of side-taking (i.e. early, middle, or late in the story) influenced variables at multiple levels of analysis (i.e. micro-to-macro). Although timing did not produce effects, we found robust evidence that the direction of side-taking affected variables at all levels of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper delves into the diverse leadership styles adopted by hotel managers and their impact on organizational success. By synthesizing existing literature and conducting interviews with industry professionals, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the leadership landscape in the hotel management sector. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of leadership styles in the context of hotel management, aiming to shed light on the diverse approaches utilized by leaders within this dynamic sector. Effective leadership is crucial in the hospitality industry, where service excellence and guest satisfaction are paramount. However, the nuances of leadership within hotel management have received limited attention in existing literature. Drawing on a combination of theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and industry insights, this research explores the manifestations and impacts of different leadership styles in hotel environments. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and case analyses, the study captures the multifaceted nature of leadership practices prevalent in the hotel industry. Key objectives include identifying prevalent leadership styles, understanding their effectiveness and challenges, analyzing their impact on organizational outcomes and employee dynamics, and offering recommendations for enhancing leadership effectiveness within hotel management contexts. The study engages with both leaders and employees to gain holistic perspectives on leadership dynamics and their implications. By filling a critical gap in the literature and providing actionable insights, this research aims to empower hoteliers, managers, and industry stakeholders to optimize leadership practices, foster organizational resilience, and drive sustainable growth within the hospitality sector. The findings contribute to advancing both theoretical understanding and practical application of leadership in hotel management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that seeking fun and enjoyment (i.e., hedonic reasons) motivates playing digital games. However, recent scholarship revealed that gaming also evokes eudaimonic entertainment experiences, such as meaningfulness and being moved. Yet, it is unclear whether players turn to games to have such eudaimonic experiences. Hence, the present study explored potential eudaimonic gaming motives in an online survey among fans (N = 894) of five yet-to-be-released games. Specifically, it was examined whether eudaimonic motives, derived from gaming research and scholarship in positive psychology, complement an existing scale measuring gaming motives. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (split-half method) demonstrated that "Eudaimonia" represents a distinct reason to play—alongside the well-known motives of "Absorption" and "Social Interaction." Moreover, the Eudaimonia motive for using the five games was positively related to general eudaimonic orientations in life and trait-like eudaimonic game preferences. The results suggest that digital gaming may also be eudaimonically motivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in arts, culture, and entertainment (PACE) activities may promote adolescent wellbeing. However, little is known about how such activities cluster together, and previous research has used small samples, cross-sectional designs, focused on single activities, and/or has not considered the influence of socio-demographic factors on participation. Using latent class analysis, the aims of this study were to establish: (i) classes of adolescent PACE activities; (ii) associations between socio-demographic characteristics and PACE classification; and, (iii) whether PACE classification predicts later wellbeing. Longitudinal data from the #BeeWell study (N = 18,224 adolescents; mean age at T1 = 12 years 7 months (±3.56 months); 50.54% female) were analyzed. Four latent classes were established: the 'Dynamic Doers' (high, wide-ranging participation; 11.87%); the 'Mind and Body Crew' (reading, arts, videogames, sports/exercise; 39.81%); the 'Game and Gain Squad' (videogames and sports/exercise; 29.05%); and the 'Activity Free Adolescents' (uniformly low participation; 19.27%). Associations between socio-demographic characteristics and PACE classification were observed (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage increased the likelihood of Activity Free Adolescents classification, compared to Game and Gain Squad classification). Finally, PACE classification predicted later wellbeing (e.g., Dynamic Doers reported significantly higher wellbeing than Activity Free Adolescents). These findings are discussed in relation to the need to improve accessibility and appeal of arts, culture, and entertainment provision for adolescents as a means to optimize their wellbeing. Pre-registration: The analysis plan for this study was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework and can be found here: https://osf.io/2jtpd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advancements have expanded the range of methods for capturing human body motion, including solutions involving inertial sensors (IMUs) and optical alternatives. However, the rising complexity and costs associated with commercial solutions have prompted the exploration of more cost-effective alternatives. This paper presents a markerless optical motion capture system using a RealSense depth camera and intelligent computer vision algorithms. It facilitates precise posture assessment, the real-time calculation of joint angles, and acquisition of subject-specific anthropometric data for gait analysis. The proposed system stands out for its simplicity and affordability in comparison to complex commercial solutions. The gathered data are stored in comma-separated value (CSV) files, simplifying subsequent analysis and data mining. Preliminary tests, conducted in controlled laboratory environments and employing a commercial MEMS-IMU system as a reference, revealed a maximum relative error of 7.6% in anthropometric measurements, with a maximum absolute error of 4.67 cm at average height. Stride length measurements showed a maximum relative error of 11.2%. Static joint angle tests had a maximum average error of 10.2%, while dynamic joint angle tests showed a maximum average error of 9.06%. The proposed optical system offers sufficient accuracy for potential application in areas such as rehabilitation, sports analysis, and entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most online media consumption is not driven by a desire to seek out news and politics. However, the public may still encounter politics because it arises organically in communities devoted to non-political subjects. This study examines the potential of popular reality television online discussion forums to serve as online third spaces and stimulate political discussion due to the natural connections that audiences make between the cast members and "real life" in reality-based programming. Based on a quantitative analysis of political comments made to reality television subreddits and a survey of visitors to a popular subreddit focused on The Bachelor television show, the findings not only demonstrate the ability of entertainment-focused online communities to expose a broad segment of the public to political talk, but also point to the obstacles in promoting political discussion that is simultaneously enjoyable, informative, and tolerant of diverse viewpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of diverse Instagram activities (entertainment, interaction, trendiness, advertisement and customization) on engagement levels and enrollment intention. Additionally, it aims to determine the impact of engagement on enrollment intention by exploring the mediating role of engagement in the relationship between social media activities and enrollment intention. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research involved 627 followers of the Antasari State Islamic University Banjarmasin Indonesia Instagram account. This study uses path analysis to better understand the impact of Instagram activities on enrollment intention and multiple linear regression to evaluate the influence of Instagram activities on enrollment intention with an emphasis on engagement as a mediating element in this relationship. Findings: The study found that Ig activity affects followers' engagement from all backgrounds. Entertainment and interaction elements have an impact on high school students' tendency to engage with followers. Furthermore, engagement affects enrollment intention. Advertisement affects enrollment intention with engagement as a mediator. Conclusion: This study validates previous research on Instagram (Ig) marketing's impact on engagement in education. It underscores the greater complexity of Ig marketing in education than in business where enrollment decisions involve intricate considerations resulting in a generally lower influence of social media marketing on enrollment outcomes. Research Limitations: This study only focused on the Ig account of one university and was limited to Islamic higher education. Practical Implications: Higher education marketing administrators recommended combining social media marketing variables with other factors influencing university choice. Contribution to the Literature: This study finding has a conceptual contribution to higher education especially in social media marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In contemporary business landscapes, the strategic utilization of social media platforms and the perceptual inclinations of consumers towards promotional content represent significant challenges for enterprises seeking to augment individual purchase intentions. Consequently, to comprehensively elucidate the multifaceted dynamics surrounding advertising influence and consumer attitudes vis-à-vis purchase intention formation, this investigation scrutinizes the impacts of Entertainment (E), Informativeness (INF), and social media (SM) on Purchase Intention (PI, with a particular focus on the mediating influence of Advertising Influence (AI). The conceptual underpinnings of this study draw upon established theoretical frameworks, specifically the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Uses and Gratification Theory (U&G). Empirical data were gathered from a sample comprising members of the general populace actively engaged in shopping pursuits within retail establishments situated in urban centers across both China and Pakistan. A total of 478 survey instruments were distributed and subsequently analyzed to discern underlying patterns and associations. The methodology employed convenience sampling techniques to facilitate data collection, while hypotheses were tested utilizing statistical analyses conducted through SPSS and Smart PLS SEM 3.0 software. Findings from this investigation underscore the profound transformative influence exerted by social media, entertainment, and in formativeness on individuals' lifestyles, as well as their perceptual orientations and behavioral predispositions towards online advertising within the context of Pakistan. The implications of these findings extend beyond mere theoretical contributions, resonating significantly within the marketing domain by elucidating the pivotal role assumed by marketing practitioners in effectuating attitudinal and behavioral shifts among consumers through strategic interventions leveraging these antecedent variables. Moreover, this study serves to address extant gaps within the scholarly literature, thereby enriching the collective understanding of consumer behavior dynamics. Looking ahead, future research endeavors must embrace the inclusion of additional innovative variables and theoretical frameworks, thereby facilitating the validation and contextual applicability of the proposed model across diverse cultural and geographical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies play a major role in bridging the accessibility gap in arts (especially paintings). Despite the constant advancements in these areas, the visually impaired often encounter challenges in independently experiencing and interpreting paintings. Our goal was to effectively convey the contents of a painting to visually impaired students using selected multi-sensory stimuli (tactile, auditory, and somatosensory) to compensate for the loss of input from the sense of sight. A prototype (named SEMA—Specially Enhanced Multi-sensory Art) was developed around a simple painting to incorporate descriptive outputs of the aforementioned stimuli. The prototype was developed and refined iteratively with the visually impaired students at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. We evaluated all the systems individually using the user feedback and several quantitative and qualitative measures were adopted to analyze the results. The final user study with 22 visually impaired participants yielded a strong preference (92.6 %) for the prototype and highlighted its potential to enhance the art experiences. The findings of this study contribute to the further exploration of multi-sensory integration in entertainment and its impact on the visually impaired community.

With the development of the information age, social media has become an important channel for students to communicate, interact and obtain information online. This research combines analyses of social media use and factors linked to intrinsic motivation to examine the influence of these factors on university students’ creativity through the Internet. The discussion presented here starts from the viewpoint that intrinsic motivation plays an important role in the correlation between social media and students’ creativity. This study randomly surveyed 416 students from Chinese universities majoring in art to investigate the impact of social media on their levels of creativity. The analysis focused on understanding these students’ intrinsic motivation to engage in Internet use. The conclusions show that social media has a considerable impact on their creativity. Under the influence of intrinsic motivation, students’ creativity can be considerably boosted. Furthermore, it also shows that different intrinsic motivations have different effects on creativity levels. Therefore, the study is suggested that the education sector in China still needs to pay more attention to the development of students’ creative approaches to achieve better educational outcomes.

Abstract This article presents the results of a study that evaluated VinclesBCN during COVID-19. This digital-based public social service aims to prevent loneliness and isolation in +65-year-old adults living in Barcelona. Through service user (N = 12) and professional (N = 6) interviews and a questionnaire with service users (N = 255), we demonstrate the pivotal role of digital connectedness in transforming VinclesBCN into a lifeline during the pandemic. The analysis revealed the importance of sociability, social support, and, especially, entertainment in coping with pandemic fatigue and facilitating social connectivity and support among users. Users engaged in activities such as sharing images, songs, memes, and daily greetings to provide proximity, sociability, and care among users, whether they belonged to preexisting groups or were newly introduced to the platform. It also facilitated the identification of individuals who needed companionship, comfort, or more specialized support. The findings emphasize the significance of entertainment as a resilience-building strategy during times of uncertainty. Despite the positive impact, not all users equally used the platform. Non-use was strongly associated with being a woman, having a low educational level, having preexisting social relationships, less time of enrolment in the platform, as well as a high perception of loneliness, poor self-reported health, and low mood. The article underscores the need for further research into older adults’ digital engagement during crises, its role in building resilience, and advocating for inclusive digital interventions that take into account diverse older adults’ needs and experiences in crisis contexts.

Abstract The emergence of novel AI technologies and increasingly portable wearable devices have introduced a wider range of more liberated avenues for communication and interaction between human and virtual environments. In this context, the expression of distinct emotions and movements by users may convey a variety of meanings. Consequently, an emerging challenge is how to automatically enhance the visual representation of such interactions. Here, a novel Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) based model, AACOGAN, is introduced to tackle this challenge effectively. AACOGAN model establishes a relationship between player interactions, object locations, and camera movements, subsequently generating camera shots that augment player immersion. Experimental results demonstrate that AACOGAN enhances the correlation between player interactions and camera trajectories by an average of 73%, and improves multi‐focus scene quality up to 32.9%. Consequently, AACOGAN is established as an efficient and economical solution for generating camera shots appropriate for a wide range of interactive motions. Exemplary video footage can be found at https://youtu.be/Syrwbnpzgx8.

Instagram, fastest-growing social networks, has shifted to become not just a place for social interaction, but has become a marketing instrument that continues to grow, along with the continuous addition of new features to Instagram for business use. Instagram also is a platform which are extensively applied by brands to promote their products. This study wants to test whether there are a relationship between Utility, Entertainment and Socialization to Instagram Satisfaction when someone uses Instagram, and then relationship between Instagram Satisfaction, Brand Attitude and their Purchase Intention behavior. The research design to conduct was survey using a questionnaire. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling, and research model in structural equation modeling with data analysis using AMOS software. Result showed that Instagram user satisfaction is influenced by the social needs of other users and enjoying entertainment on Instagram. This satisfaction will have an impact on a positive attitude towards the company's brand that promotes its products on Instagram, and in the end a positive attitude towards the brand will encourage purchase intentions for existing brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While affective disposition theory (ADT) claims that moral judgment of a character is the key mechanism underlying enjoyment, we often enjoy stories where characters violate our moral standards (morally ambiguous characters, or MACs). Initial research suggests that similarity between MACs and viewers (e.g. sharing ethnicity) may increase moral approval. However, the effect of internal similarity (similarity in higher-order human qualities) on moral judgment of MACs is underexplored. Humans share three basic psychological needs but are motivated by these needs to different degrees. Thus, similarity in degree of sensitivity to a given need is an internal quality that participants can share with MACs. The effect of similarity in basic needs on moral judgment of MACs is examined in a posttest-only experiment with 185 participants. Similarity in basic needs had a small effect on moral judgment of MACs as people, although it had no effect on judgment of a MAC's behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's fast-paced world, recommendation systems have become indispensable tools, aiding users in making personalized decisions amidst an overwhelming array of choices. These systems leverage user data and preferences to generate tailor-made recommendations based on individual tastes and behaviors. This research paper introduces the development and implementation of Pranik Movies, an ultimate recommendation system for personalized movie suggestions. The system incorporates collaborative and content-based filtering techniques, utilizing machine learning algorithms to analyze user behaviors, ratings, and viewing histories. A comprehensive overview of the research framework is provided, encompassing system architecture, data pre-processing, feature engineering techniques, and model selection and design. Text processing methods such as stemming, bag-of-words (BoW), and TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) are employed for processing and analyzing textual movie data. The accuracy of recommendations is enhanced through the assessment of film similarities, utilizing algorithms like cosine similarity and Euclidean distance. The paper concludes by outlining future directions for advanced machine learning techniques, social media integration, expanded content support, and the refinement of the evaluation framework. Pranik Movies signifies a significant advancement in recommendation systems, enabling personalized and precise movie recommendations within a vast and diverse cinematic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romantic comedies have long been understood to create unrealistic views of relationships. In the current study, we tested theory-driven corrective strategies for counteracting potentially harmful beliefs about romantic relationships. In an online experiment (N = 626), participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: to a no exposure control, to watch a romantic comedy scene without correction, to read a corrective article before viewing, or to read a corrective article before viewing and complete a counterarguing exercise after viewing. Results showed that both corrective treatments significantly reduced romantic belief endorsement. We also investigated narrative engagement factors as mediators of these effects. Media enjoyment, realism of specific scenes, and overall movie realism each mediated the effect of corrections on romantic belief endorsement. Our findings suggest theory-driven corrective strategies are effective for reducing idealistic beliefs associated with entertainment media and highlight key persuasive variables for future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research reveals that entertainment narratives are persuasive across a variety of topics. Models of narrative persuasion highlight key mechanisms, but one limitation of this theorizing is that it has not directly considered the full range of entertainment narratives that exist. Viewers select media content to fulfill various needs—hedonic needs for pleasure and enjoyment or more eudaimonic needs gratified by appreciation and mixed affective responses. Narrative persuasion theorizing would benefit from explicitly considering eudaimonic entertainment narratives and how they may uniquely lead to persuasion. Doing so will expand on existing narrative persuasion mechanisms and identify contingencies regarding when and for whom distinct types of entertainment narratives may persuade. This article builds on the entertainment overcoming resistance model by advancing a set of testable propositions regarding narrative persuasion by meaningful entertainment and offering an agenda for future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fictional entertainment can serve as a vivid and easily comprehensible source of knowledge, but only if audiences are able to tell its kernel of truth apart from fantasy. In this article, we use the lens of social epistemology to develop a theoretical framework of knowledge acquisition and verification practices for fictional entertainment that integrates various extant lines of work on entertainment education, perceived realism, information processing, credibility assessment, and verification strategies. To flesh out the conceptual model derived from top-down theoretical integration, we use an inductive, bottom-up approach to theory building, assisted by qualitative research. The resulting model describes knowledge acquisition from fiction as an essentially social process characterized by a combination of epistemic trust and epistemic vigilance toward fictional content and sources, in which credibility is assessed via social knowledge sharing and verification practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a study that evaluated VinclesBCN during COVID-19. This digital-based public social service aims to prevent loneliness and isolation in +65-year-old adults living in Barcelona. Through service user (N = 12) and professional (N = 6) interviews and a questionnaire with service users (N = 255), we demonstrate the pivotal role of digital connectedness in transforming VinclesBCN into a lifeline during the pandemic. The analysis revealed the importance of sociability, social support, and, especially, entertainment in coping with pandemic fatigue and facilitating social connectivity and support among users. Users engaged in activities such as sharing images, songs, memes, and daily greetings to provide proximity, sociability, and care among users, whether they belonged to preexisting groups or were newly introduced to the platform. It also facilitated the identification of individuals who needed companionship, comfort, or more specialized support. The findings emphasize the significance of entertainment as a resilience-building strategy during times of uncertainty. Despite the positive impact, not all users equally used the platform. Non-use was strongly associated with being a woman, having a low educational level, having preexisting social relationships, less time of enrolment in the platform, as well as a high perception of loneliness, poor self-reported health, and low mood. The article underscores the need for further research into older adults' digital engagement during crises, its role in building resilience, and advocating for inclusive digital interventions that take into account diverse older adults' needs and experiences in crisis contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people like binge-watching. It means watching 2-4 episodes in one sitting. Various reasons have led young adults to binge-watch, which has grown very popular. This study's main objective is to check the effects of binge-watching on psychological and physical health. Under the theoretical framework of uses and gratifications, the researchers use a quantitative approach and convenient sampling techniques to collect data from all ages and genders in Pakistan. The online survey was conducted conveniently to collect the sample from the population. Focused on 300 participants, the study received 386 participants. The data indicates binge-watching is driven by Enjoyment, relaxation, escape from boring routines, diversion from stressful events, loneliness relief, parasocial contacts, and cliffhanging episodes. Results show Netflix is the most popular. Furthermore, results conclude that loss of control over content consumption, increased feelings of loneliness, disruption of a healthy sleep cycle, procrastination, and feeling stressed out or anxious are some health impacts that binge-watchers might face in the aftermath of binge-watching. Future Recommendations include the study being done with a qualitative technique for more in depth analysis of effects of binge watching on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of novel AI technologies and increasingly portable wearable devices have introduced a wider range of more liberated avenues for communication and interaction between human and virtual environments. In this context, the expression of distinct emotions and movements by users may convey a variety of meanings. Consequently, an emerging challenge is how to automatically enhance the visual representation of such interactions. Here, a novel Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) based model, AACOGAN, is introduced to tackle this challenge effectively. AACOGAN model establishes a relationship between player interactions, object locations, and camera movements, subsequently generating camera shots that augment player immersion. Experimental results demonstrate that AACOGAN enhances the correlation between player interactions and camera trajectories by an average of 73%, and improves multi‐focus scene quality up to 32.9%. Consequently, AACOGAN is established as an efficient and economical solution for generating camera shots appropriate for a wide range of interactive motions. Exemplary video footage can be found at https://youtu.be/Syrwbnpzgx8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism live streaming (TLS) has experienced a surge in popularity; however, impulsive travel intention in this context has received limited scholarly attention. Based on the stimulus – organism–response (SOR) framework and presence, this research explores impulsive travel intention in TLS. Adopting WeChat to spread our survey, we analyzed 348 valid questionnaires from TLS viewers in China. Our research reveals that TLS features positively impact physical and social presence, subsequently affecting flow experience and trust, and ultimately boosting impulsive travel intentions. The findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications for online travel agencies, scenic area managers, and travel streamers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship on the mainstream press in the United States has argued that in the new media age, consumers prefer entertainment while journalists prefer hard news—yet digital Black press journalists and readers value both types of content. In the Black press, entertainment is produced and consumed as an alternative to mainstream media's often unfavorable hard news coverage of African Americans. The race-based trauma that African Americans experience through news consumption can negatively impact mental health and cause news avoidance, but some are resisting this by creating spaces for Black joy online. This research uses interviews with journalists and focus groups with readers to investigate the utility of entertainment news content in the Black press. I find that entertainment in the digital Black press contributes to positive and comprehensive coverage of the African American community, gives consumers a means to cope with or protect themselves from reading traumatic news coverage on topics such as Black Lives Matter, and can act as a form of self-care. I conclude that digital Black press entertainment content can counteract communal stress for African Americans who may experience high levels of news-related anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article investigates the role of games in cognitive training through multimethod deductions from user references to the phenomenon, a consideration absent in the current literature. The results of qualitative thematic and quantitative textual analyses on a corpus of commercial brain-training apps’ reviews (N = 30,000) paint a complicated picture of user perceptions of brain-training services, where recreation from gaming takes precedence over concerns of cognitive gains. While users remain uncertain about benefits in cognitive functions, positive perceptions suggest the affective utility of playing brain-training games and the self-regulatory benefits of using the apps. These findings suggest a link between brain-training and psychological variables associated with complex entertainment experiences from playing digital games. The critical role of entertainment from gameplay and associated psychological dimensions are discussed as they relate to our findings and emerging perspectives on the role of gaming in cognitive and affective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, in which I focus on the changing possibilities of media entertainment, I examine the increasingly individualized viewing experience through the elements of enjoyment and fun. I argue that video streaming services, born out of the collapse of the public space concept and presented as an industrial option, focus on providing enjoyment, exclude fun, and fail to provide a complete entertainment environment. I coin the term "incomplete entertainment" to describe the viewing experience that takes place in this medium, characterized by isolation, and the absence of social interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the 1830s, American menagerie proprietors launched a systematic campaign to capture, transport, and display the giraffe. This article draws on the records of merchants, naturalists, diplomats, and showmen to examine the forces that rendered the world's tallest animal a commodity. Tracing three American attempts to transport the giraffe – through British India, the Cape of Good Hope, and North Africa – it highlights the central role of imperial networks, Indigenous knowledge, and the slave trade in early zoological collecting. These efforts reveal the heightened levels of risk, failure, and exploitation behind the display of living animals, exposing imperial desires that continue to shape the giraffe's endangerment today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]