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Evidence suggests that entertainment media may influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to health topics. After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it is critical to examine how these media may be associated with people’s knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to abortion. Using a non-experimental ex post facto design, we examined whether exposure to any of three abortion plotlines was correlated with (a) greater knowledge about abortion, (b) lower stigmatizing attitudes about abortion, and (c) higher likelihood of supporting someone seeking an abortion among a sample of television audience members (N = 1,016), administered via a survey on Qualtrics. We selected three scripted, fictional abortion plotlines on the U.S. television shows Station 19, Better Things, and A Million Little Things, based on medical accuracy and airdates near each other in March 2022. Exposure to a plotline was defined as accurately answering at least two recall questions about a given plotline. We found that compared to those who were not exposed to any of the plotlines, exposure to any of the three plot lines was associated with greater knowledge about abortion and higher willingness to support a friend seeking an abortion, but not with lower stigmatizing attitudes. Exposure to medically accurate depictions of abortion on television may be one way to improve knowledge about abortion and community support for people seeking abortion.

The study of entertainment and amusement in the Zengid era (521-581 AH / 1127-1185 AD) in the Levant has become an important study, as it is a link between other studies that preceded it and then followed the Zengid era in the Levant. In fact, the events of the history of the Zengid state are very important, because it formed an Islamic state in one of the most critical stages of Islamic history, as the Islamic world was exposed to a Western European attack known as the (Crusades), and these wars were a dangerous attack full of incidents and tribulations; It seems that the study of entertainment and recreation in the Levant during the Zengid era did not receive much attention from historians and researchers, and that state did not receive its share of specialized research in that field. Then, most modern studies were limited to the political aspect, and neglected its other aspect of entertainment and amusement, which played a major role in the daily and social life of the population. Previous studies focused on the personality of Imad al-Din Zengi and Nur al-Din Mahmud, and addressed the study of the era of the Crusades and others. We decided to study the other aspect of the Zengid state, which is the means of entertainment and recreation, in order to know how that state was formed and how and what are the means practiced by the population in the Zengid era to entertain themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review of the Czech translation of the publication History of Theatre -- Introduction (2022) characterizes and analyses the demand for a transformation of the theatrehistorical paradigm as proposed by Andreas Kotte. The author of the review perceives Kotte's "introduction" as an expression of a trend shaping contemporary thinking about theatre, and therefore seeks to name the axiology, logic and limits of the argumentation Kotte works with, the inspirational power, but also the limitations of the theses he formulates. The purpose of the review is to expose, the inspiration but also the possible weaknesses of a more general transformation of views on the social role of theatre, theatre production and theatre operation. [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.

In Romania, following Nicolae Ceau ºescu’s rise to power in 1965, a period of temporary relaxation ensued, during which the dictator made gestures that were previously unimaginable until the mid-1970s. However, after the announcement of the “small cultural revolution” in 1972, all aspects of culture were subordinated to the one-man dictatorship, and opportunities gradually diminished. By the 1960s, the foundations of socialist culture had already been established, signifying a cultural landscape directed, financed, and controlled by a single-party state. Despite these constraints, questions arise: how did ordinary people survive the reign of terror during communism? How did they entertain themselves, outsmart the system, and access cultural and educational opportunities? This study aims to provide answers, highlighting several examples from the “treasury of small joys”. [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 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]

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]

Copyright of Ética y Cine Journal is the property of Etica y Cine Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

Copyright of Online Journal of Music Sciences (OJOMUS) is the property of Online Journal of Music Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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.

Este estudio, a través de una revisión sistemática en las bases Scopus[1] y Web of Science [WOS][2], encontró 159 artículos que cumplían con una serie de palabras clave sobre la Inteligencia Artificial [IA] y la industria del entretenimiento. Luego de dos filtros de lectura y cumplir con una serie de requerimientos para el cumplimiento del objetivo principal de examinar la influencia de la IA en la comunicación, específicamente, en el mundo del entretenimiento y su mercado laboral, se seleccionaron cinco estudios para su análisis en profundidad. Los resultados demuestran que existe un miedo inherente al avance de la tecnología y el posible reemplazo a gran escala que esto pueda significar, sin embargo, la corriente de pensamiento tiende a ser positiva cuando se trata de la IA y todo lo que conlleva, llegandose a considerar que se trata de una revolución inevitable que tendrá más efectos positivos que negativos. En suma, la IA abre un sinfín de oportunidades, pero necesita adaptación y control. [1] Base de datos de citas y resúmenes completa, multidisciplinaria y fiable. Elsevier. https://www.elsevier.com/es-es/products/scopus [2] Web of Science, propiedad de la empresa Clarivate, es la colección de bases de datos de referencias bibliográficas y citas de publicaciones periódicas: https://mjl.clarivate.com/search-results

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.

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]

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]

Copyright of Journal of Ottoman Legacy Studies (OMAD) / Osmanlı Mirası Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Ottoman Legacy Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract 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.

In a peripheral tradition, marked by aesthetic delays, the novel production in Brazil uses the concept of appropriation, not of codes of great specific authors. It uses elements from several narrative genres, undoing the limits among them. Such practice gives the contemporary Brazilian novel a status of synthesis of the postmodern narrative, in which other ways of narrating are experimented. As such, it is marked by a fictional vitality typical of nations open to borrowings and lootings. This essay analyzes the main lines of force in Brazilian current novel production and proposes an author as the main source.

TikTok is increasingly influential in promoting brand awareness and boosting purchase intention. From a social media marketing perspective, brand awareness significantly influences consumers’ purchasing decisions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate and measure the factors influencing the brand awareness of TikTok users through social media marketing communications. The paper employs exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha test, and regression analysis to test the hypotheses. 24 observed variables were divided into six groups. Each variable was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. The sample size includes 240 valid responses from TikTok users collected via convenience sampling. The questionnaire was distributed to TikTok users from Vietnam via the link on Google Forms. The collected data were processed by SPSS 20 software. The results suggest that six independent variables positively affect brand recognition via social media marketing on TikTok, with a 95% confidence interval at Sig. = 0.000 (0.05). Each of the six variables positively impacts initial expectations and is statistically significant at 1%. The results show that trends (Beta = 0.299) are the most decisive factors impacting brand awareness of TikTok users. Besides, electronic word of mouth (Beta = 0.242), influencer (Beta = 0.220), entertainment (Beta = 0.206), interaction (Beta = 0.200), and storytelling (Beta = 0.179) also positively affect the brand awareness of TikTok users. Limitations and further research suggest that marketers should investigate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the consumer’s brand awareness-constructing process.

Brands use influencers to approach their target market and promote their products. When influencers advertise and recommend cosmetic products, their followers are more likely to believe they are high-quality and safe. This study aims to determine whether advertising value affects purchase intention through attitude toward ads and brand attitude as mediator variables. Respondents in this study were Instagram users in Indonesia who had seen Ayana Jihye Moon’s advertising posts for Wardah products on Instagram. Data were collected through an online questionnaire from 312 respondents. This study uses a quantitative method and SEM-PLS. The results indicate a significant relationship between advertising value, purchase intention, attitude toward ads, and brand image. The findings also show that attitude toward ads and brand attitude significantly influence each other and purchase intention. The mediation test shows that the attitude toward the ad and brand attitude variables partially mediate. It means that the higher advertising value can increase favorable consumer attitudes toward ads, products, or brands. The more elevated the attitude of Instagram users toward influencer advertisements that appear on ads, the higher the attitude of Instagram users toward the brand.

The research relevance is determined by the frequent distortion of reality in the modern world, especially on television, where an alternative reality is created, which helps convey the image to the largest possible audience. The image revealed is purposefully formed to affect the emotional and psychological state of the audience. In films, the conveyance of certain value patterns can often be seen, which reflects the educational functions of sports and martial arts, depicting socially approved patterns of behaviour. The study aims to review the development and study of martial arts on television by scientists. The primary research methods are comparative analysis, descriptive analysis, classification, induction and deduction, and generalisation of approaches, which were used to describe and highlight the main problems of reality and television images in martial arts. Aspects of the study of martial arts by scholars are disclosed in the article; the specifics and peculiarities of the image of athletes on television are analysed; the importance of image for athletes is described. A detailed analysis of the literature was conducted, and the content, characteristics and features of this phenomenon were clarified; audiovisual, program and plot methods of demonstrating a professional image on television have been found; the possibilities of using the image of athletes in advertising are shown; the tendencies of influence of sports programs on human psychology, idealisation of life and appearance are characterised. The study materials represent practical and theoretical value for athletes, students of physical disciplines and contestants in combat competitions, who are trying to achieve the ideal and set an example for the younger generations. The information is valuable for specialists in the field of media influence on a person and his psychology, able to explain in more detail the process of perceiving an image from television

İktisadi yapıdaki değişimlerle bütünleşen teknoloji, iletişimi değiştirmekte ve geliştirmektedir. Anne ve babaların çocuklarının ilgi alanlarına yönelik içerikler üreterek sosyal medyanın bir parçası haline geldikleri gözlemlenmektedir. YouTube çocuk kanallarını yöneten ebeveynlerin sosyo-kültürel yaşamlarının da bu çerçevede şekillendiği söylenebilir. Bu çalışma, YouTube çocuk kanallarında, anne ve baba rollerinin eğlence ve tüketim olgularının etkisiyle beraber nasıl birer magazinsel eyleme dönüştüğünü ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada yeni medya ile ilgili metinler arası okuma yapılarak, magazinleşme ve eğlence kültürü ile yeni medya ilişkisini çözümlemek amacıyla literatür taraması yapılmıştır. İkinci aşamada kotalı örneklem alma tekniği ile seçilmiş olan YouTube çocuk kanallarındaki içerikler (Like Nastya TR, Aslıyarence ve Korayzeynep) önce nicel, ardından nitel içerik analizine (göstergebilim) tabi tutulmuştur. Videolar, IBM SPSS 22 programı kullanılarak tablolaştırılmıştır. Ardından seçilen videolar nitel içerik analizi (göstergebilim) yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın üçüncü aşamasında ise 13 yaş altında çocuğu bulunan 15 ebeveyn ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiş ve bu görüşmeler betimsel analiz tekniği ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda YouTube çocuk kanalları kullanıcısı ebeveynlerin eğlence ve tüketim odaklı magazinsel eylemde bulundukları gözlemlenmiştir. Ebeveynlerle gerçekleşen görüşmelerden oluşan izlenim sonrası ise izleyici konumunda bulunan çocuklarının olumsuz etkilendiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Introduction Man has a dual existence, and just as he needs food to cultivate his physical powers, he must take measures to cultivate his spiritual powers. One of the most important actions that can help to strengthen and refresh the spiritual dimension of a person is recreation. Realizing this need from the distant past, people tried to develop their spiritual powers by engaging in various types of entertainment. This problem is especially observed among ruling families who had more facilities. The Seljuk sultans were also among these families who, understanding this need and following the entertainment tradition that remained for them from the previous period, used different ways to spend their free time. During this period, various recreational activities such as hunting, strolling, traveling the countryside in temperate climates, polo, playing backgammon and chess, shooting, horseback riding, and holding banquets were common. In addition to their primary and immediate function, i.e. leisure, these entertainments also had a political-military function. Most of the time, this type of entertainment function was created unintentionally, and in some cases, the political actors of this era deliberately and with prior knowledge carried out a type of entertainment with the aim of the political-military exploitation of the occasion. This issue caused the courtly classes to become aware of the conspiratorial and political nature of some types of entertainment and in many cases, when they suspected the intentions of their organizers, they refrained from engaging in such entertainments. However, these functions in some cases played a constructive role in the political-military developments of the Seljuk era. And in other cases, they had harmful effects on the political life of the period and became a place for political settlements and conspiracies of opponents against each other. The political-military functions of the pastimes of this period were in some cases related to sultans and in other cases to Seljuk officials and officials such as great emirs and ministers. Methodology The current research was done in a historical way. In this method, by using the method of library research, first by referring to the sources related to the Seljuk period, all the necessary data for writing the research have been collected. In the next step, the aforementioned data were reviewed and analysed, and then the reliable information was written in a descriptive manner in line with the purpose of the research. Also, the authors have tried to contribute to the richness of the article by providing analysis based on witness accounts and remaining documents. Discussion The decentralized structure of the Seljuk government, which was influenced by the political and social traditions of this dynasty, consisted of a central government and various local and tribal dynasties. This feature has turned this period into one of the most turbulent periods in the history of Iran. The political actors of this era, including sultans, local rulers and nobles, court families and great nobles, used every opportunity to settle political accounts with their rivals and opponents. The entertainments of this period were among the important opportunities for the exploitation of different political groups. During the Seljuk era, there were entertainments such as banquets, celebrations, hunting, traveling, sexual entertainment, dance and music, wine parties, history and story-telling, shooting, riding, polo, humor, poetry and intellectual games. Although most of these recreational activities served political-military functions, it was particularly obvious in some activities such as hunting, polo, banquets, poetry and satire. In terms of its essence, this function can be examined in two ways, military and political. Some types of entertainment such as hunting and polo had a military nature, and some, such as banquets, had great potential to turn into events for deceiving, arresting and eliminating political opponents. Thus, the political-military functions of the entertainments of the Seljuk era can be investigated in terms of their influence on the political events of this era in the form of two groups of positive and constructive functions, as well as negative or non-constructive functions. The first positive political-military function was to increase the combat and operational power of the Corps, which was achieved through simulating the battle scene and strengthening the physical strength of the soldiers by doing recreational activities such as hunting and polo. These activities, in addition to increasing the fighting power and agility of the soldiers, were a simulation of the battle scene with the enemies. Also, sometimes the players acted under the guise of such entertainments as hunting, killing enemies or collecting secret military information. The second positive function of these entertainments was to increase the legitimacy of the sultans. The sultans of this dynasty used some types of entertainment of this age as a weapon in order to increase their legitimacy. In this regard, we can mention the skill of hunting strong animals such as lions as a means of propaganda. Maintaining and promoting the status of government officials was another political function of the entertainments of this era. The skill of some government officials in performing entertainment or providing conditions for the entertainment of the sultans further secured their position as agents of the government. The entertainments of this period also played a constructive role in the relations between the central government and the local rulers, and the great Seljuk sultans used the capacities of some entertainments such as poetry recitals to create convergence between themselves and the rulers. Or they used to de-escalate the tension between themselves and their subordinates in the course of friendly meetings while engaging in such entertainments as banquets. The giving of various gifts related to the entertainments of this era, such as special horses and hunting animals, was one of the other capacities of the entertainments of the Seljuk period to create convergence between the central government and its agents and other local rulers. In some cases, a type of entertainment led to the acquittal of the angry and even saved the life of the mentioned person, and thus the entertainments of this era played an important role in the political developments of the Seljuk era in a different way. In this context, we can point out the sugar-coated language of satirists with regard to the sensitive cases of reprimanded or persecuted officials, which would end up saving their lives. Also, the skill of some government officials in performing some types of entertainment such as polo caused their mistakes to be ignored by the sultans, and the poisonous propaganda of their opponents was neutralized. The removal and installation of sultans and some local rulers was the first negative and non-constructive political-military function of the entertainments of the Seljuk period. The extravagance of some sultans and local rulers gave their opponents an excuse to surprise them by using the capacity of some types of entertainment such as banquets and then remove them from their positions. The removal and killing of government officials were the second negative political-military function of the entertainments of this period. In this way, they killed their opponents on the pretext of overdoing it through a surprise attack. Also, by getting the satisfaction of the sultans in providing the means to engage in a hobby, they provided the basis for killing their rivals. Conclusion The nature of some types of entertainment in the Seljuk era, along with the tense and complex political atmosphere of the time, caused the traditional entertainments of this period to acquire a political-military nature in addition to their function of invigorating and making people happy. Entertainments of the Seljuk period had seven political-military functions, which are divided into two groups: positive functions and negative functions. The political functions of these entertainments, which had a constructive effect on the course of events in this era, include strengthening the physical and operational strength of the army, promoting the legitimacy of the sultans, maintaining and promoting the status of government officials, acquitting political dissidents, and improving the relations between the Seljuk court and the local rulers. Negative functions also included the removal and installation of sultans and local rulers and the removal and killing of government officials. Although the recreational and invigorating function of the pastimes of this period was fully conscious, most of the political-military functions of the types of pastimes of this era were involuntary and unconscious. This means that the activists of this era did not perform these entertainments with the motivation of fulfilling such functions, but during their occupation, such functions arose involuntarily. Of course, some of the political functions of the pastimes of this era prioritized their recreational function, and even in some cases, the political nature played a more important role than the recreational aspect in engaging in a particular type of recreation. The political-military functions of the entertainments of the Seljuk period included all political spectrums and groups, including sultans, great emirs, ministers, slaves, and other Seljuk appointees and vassals in the states

From a methodological standpoint, the following paper is based on a comparative analysis of two novels written by David Foster Wallace. With a specific perspective for each novel (the motivations of the character known as Rémy Marathe for the first novel, as well as §19 for the second one), the purpose of the paper is to highlight the main characteristics, flaws, and identity crises of the United States, as depicted by Wallace in both Infinite Jest and The Pale King.

The consideration of the European musical tradition, its evolution, which took place over a long time, is an extremely interesting material for the researcher. Musical culture is considered in this article in its classical antique version as a unity of singing, dance and music, once enclosed in the Greek triune chorea. The starting point, the beginning of the study, was chosen the phenomenon of ancient “grassroots” culture — Сomos, a festive song in honor of Dionysus, which plays an extremely important role, since antique comedy grows out of the traditions of Attic ritual fun. The musical triad of Сomos takes on different guises: rituals, spectacles, entertainment, being embodied in specific phenomena belonging to a particular time, a particular country. The musical triad took a special path in Russia. It took only two centuries for Peter’s noisy Bacchanalian festival to develop into high art. This article is devoted to these metamorphoses.

This paper discusses the various manifestations of children as protagonists in Romanian socialist cinema, and particularly those present in the juvenile detective movies of that time. Several productions of the socialism cinema industry had children as their main heroes and the movies discussed here were deploying tropes and narrative strategies specific to the global genre of boy detectives. The analysis uses examples that range from written texts, books or cartoons, to films and television series, as these cultural products were exploring not only childhood, but also a particular behaviour of young children and teenagers. They are considered to be relevant for understanding the transformations in Romanian society, as the socialist regime was creating an educational environment for children according to the dominant ideology, the narratives were exploring the resources of a wider genre.

Copyright of Historia y Comunicación Social is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Comunicação Pública is the property of Escola Superior de Comunicacao Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Croatian Journal of Ethnology & Folklore Research / Narodna Umjetnost is the property of Institute of Ethnology & Folklore Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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 quasiexperimental 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodistico is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The pricing of tickets is a crucial decision when managing entertainment events like concerts, operas, ballets, and theater performances. In this study, we examine the pricing decisions made by two major decision-makers before an entertainment event: the venue and the online retailer. In a game-theoretic approach with uncertain information, the interactions between decision-makers are studied in a single and dual-channel structure. A confidence-level-based uncertainty theory is utilized in order to formulate the amount of uncertainty, and the optimal solutions are analytically computed to maximize the total profit for both players. There are three distinct cases studied, including two single-channel market cases (one in which only the venue sells the tickets, and another in which only the online platform sells the tickets) as well as a dual-channel market case (in which both players sell tickets). Stackelberg and Nash games are used to illustrate the interactions between players in each game. The results indicate the optimal pricing, service level improvement, and total profit for both the venue and the online retailer. Additionally, it is shown that the amount of risk (confidence level) the decision-makers are willing to accept strongly affects the optimal solution. In some cases, the roles of the market participants do not have a significant impact on the optimal solution. The findings of this paper can help practitioners in the entertainment industry make better ticket pricing decisions in an uncertain and competitive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Introduction Man has a dual existence, and just as he needs food to cultivate his physical powers, he must take measures to cultivate his spiritual powers. One of the most important actions that can help to strengthen and refresh the spiritual dimension of a person is recreation. Realizing this need from the distant past, people tried to develop their spiritual powers by engaging in various types of entertainment. This problem is especially observed among ruling families who had more facilities. The Seljuk sultans were also among these families who, understanding this need and following the entertainment tradition that remained for them from the previous period, used different ways to spend their free time. During this period, various recreational activities such as hunting, strolling, traveling the countryside in temperate climates, polo, playing backgammon and chess, shooting, horseback riding, and holding banquets were common. In addition to their primary and immediate function, i.e. leisure, these entertainments also had a political-military function. Most of the time, this type of entertainment function was created unintentionally, and in some cases, the political actors of this era deliberately and with prior knowledge carried out a type of entertainment with the aim of the political-military exploitation of the occasion. This issue caused the courtly classes to become aware of the conspiratorial and political nature of some types of entertainment and in many cases, when they suspected the intentions of their organizers, they refrained from engaging in such entertainments. However, these functions in some cases played a constructive role in the political-military developments of the Seljuk era. And in other cases, they had harmful effects on the political life of the period and became a place for political settlements and conspiracies of opponents against each other. The political-military functions of the pastimes of this period were in some cases related to sultans and in other cases to Seljuk officials and officials such as great emirs and ministers. 2. Methodology The current research was done in a historical way. In this method, by using the method of library research, first by referring to the sources related to the Seljuk period, all the necessary data for writing the research have been collected. In the next step, the aforementioned data were reviewed and analysed, and then the reliable information was written in a descriptive manner in line with the purpose of the research. Also, the authors have tried to contribute to the richness of the article by providing analysis based on witness accounts and remaining documents. 3. Discussion The decentralized structure of the Seljuk government, which was influenced by the political and social traditions of this dynasty, consisted of a central government and various local and tribal dynasties. This feature has turned this period into one of the most turbulent periods in the history of Iran. The political actors of this era, including sultans, local rulers and nobles, court families and great nobles, used every opportunity to settle political accounts with their rivals and opponents. The entertainments of this period were among the important opportunities for the exploitation of different political groups. During the Seljuk era, there were entertainments such as banquets, celebrations, hunting, traveling, sexual entertainment, dance and music, wine parties, history and story-telling, shooting, riding, polo, humor, poetry and intellectual games. Although most of these recreational activities served political-military functions, it was particularly obvious in some activities such as hunting, polo, banquets, poetry and satire. In terms of its essence, this function can be examined in two ways, military and political. Some types of entertainment such as hunting and polo had a military nature, and some, such as banquets, had great potential to turn into events for deceiving, arresting and eliminating political opponents. Thus, the political-military functions of the entertainments of the Seljuk era can be investigated in terms of their influence on the political events of this era in the form of two groups of positive and constructive functions, as well as negative or non-constructive functions. The first positive political-military function was to increase the combat and operational power of the Corps, which was achieved through simulating the battle scene and strengthening the physical strength of the soldiers by doing recreational activities such as hunting and polo. These activities, in addition to increasing the fighting power and agility of the soldiers, were a simulation of the battle scene with the enemies. Also, sometimes the players acted under the guise of such entertainments as hunting, killing enemies or collecting secret military information. The second positive function of these entertainments was to increase the legitimacy of the sultans. The sultans of this dynasty used some types of entertainment of this age as a weapon in order to increase their legitimacy. In this regard, we can mention the skill of hunting strong animals such as lions as a means of propaganda. Maintaining and promoting the status of government officials was another political function of the entertainments of this era. The skill of some government officials in performing entertainment or providing conditions for the entertainment of the sultans further secured their position as agents of the government. The entertainments of this period also played a constructive role in the relations between the central government and the local rulers, and the great Seljuk sultans used the capacities of some entertainments such as poetry recitals to create convergence between themselves and the rulers. Or they used to de-escalate the tension between themselves and their subordinates in the course of friendly meetings while engaging in such entertainments as banquets. The giving of various gifts related to the entertainments of this era, such as special horses and hunting animals, was one of the other capacities of the entertainments of the Seljuk period to create convergence between the central government and its agents and other local rulers. In some cases, a type of entertainment led to the acquittal of the angry and even saved the life of the mentioned person, and thus the entertainments of this era played an important role in the political developments of the Seljuk era in a different way. In this context, we can point out the sugar-coated language of satirists with regard to the sensitive cases of reprimanded or persecuted officials, which would end up saving their lives. Also, the skill of some government officials in performing some types of entertainment such as polo caused their mistakes to be ignored by the sultans, and the poisonous propaganda of their opponents was neutralized. The removal and installation of sultans and some local rulers was the first negative and non-constructive political-military function of the entertainments of the Seljuk period. The extravagance of some sultans and local rulers gave their opponents an excuse to surprise them by using the capacity of some types of entertainment such as banquets and then remove them from their positions. The removal and killing of government officials were the second negative political-military function of the entertainments of this period. In this way, they killed their opponents on the pretext of overdoing it through a surprise attack. Also, by getting the satisfaction of the sultans in providing the means to engage in a hobby, they provided the basis for killing their rivals. 4. Conclusion The nature of some types of entertainment in the Seljuk era, along with the tense and complex political atmosphere of the time, caused the traditional entertainments of this period to acquire a politicalmilitary nature in addition to their function of invigorating and making people happy. Entertainments of the Seljuk period had seven politicalmilitary functions, which are divided into two groups: positive functions and negative functions. The political functions of these entertainments, which had a constructive effect on the course of events in this era, include strengthening the physical and operational strength of the army, promoting the legitimacy of the sultans, maintaining and promoting the status of government officials, acquitting political dissidents, and improving the relations between the Seljuk court and the local rulers. Negative functions also included the removal and installation of sultans and local rulers and the removal and killing of government officials. Although the recreational and invigorating function of the pastimes of this period was fully conscious, most of the political-military functions of the types of pastimes of this era were involuntary and unconscious. This means that the activists of this era did not perform these entertainments with the motivation of fulfilling such functions, but during their occupation, such functions arose involuntarily. Of course, some of the political functions of the pastimes of this era prioritized their recreational function, and even in some cases, the political nature played a more important role than the recreational aspect in engaging in a particular type of recreation. The political-military functions of the entertainments of the Seljuk period included all political spectrums and groups, including sultans, great emirs, ministers, slaves, and other Seljuk appointees and vassals in the states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]