The Power of the Entertainer

Who has more power than the President of the United States? What other person holds the keys to utterly demolish the world? And yet, with a personal plea from that seat of power will your kids eat their peas?

Maybe I'm wrong, but as I was surfing youtube looking for some good music I had the disturbing realization that entertainers have held more sway across the ages than the rulers, heroes, and thinkers. Even better, the rulers, heroes, and thinkers of the past that have been the most influential have been the most entertaining. I use "entertaining" a bit loosely here, because our nature does not limit entertainment value to that which is positive or humorous. We love a tragedy at least as much as a comedy, and the abuse of power is more riveting than the just wielding of influence. Why else would war, reality shows, and horror movies attract so much of our attention?

The reason for this thought was the finding of a classically trained violinist who grew up and decided to use her talents to be entertaining instead of trying to become the worlds "best" violinist. Instead of quiet concert halls where she could perform to the elitists while wearing formal gowns she chose rock concerts where she could perform to rioting crowds while wearing outfits that make mothers with young daughters cringe. She made sexy music videos with techno beats and amazing rifts on her electronic violin. Now, she is one of the wealthiest young celebrities in the UK and has done for the violin what J. K. Rowlings did for fantasy. She has taken something magical and given it to the masses.

Since the "best" is a bit of an arbitrary title when it comes to the unmeasurable I'd say that in all likelihood Vanessa Maes has become the world's best violinist. She may not be able to draw a tear out of the statue of a Russian Tsar with her rendition of The Russian People's Prayer, but she has managed to have a hand in millions of people's lives. People who have solicited her hand in their lives, and even been willing to pay for the privilege.

To me, that is power. Force may keep people from ignoring you. Threats may make them listen. But if you can make people want to move for you, then it is a small thing to keep them moving and direct them as you wish. No industry is more powerful, has more money, or is more easily corrupted (although that is a topic for later) than entertainment. From sports, to music, to alcohol, to media, to politics, to a corporate office, the power of entertainment far outstrips all but the very basic of needs and sometimes can even give those a run for their money.