Perspective (graphical)

Conceptual model

Sociology

Business

Pedagogy

Media consumption

Consumption (sociology)

Social science

Multimedia

Advertising

Dynamics (music)

Visual arts

Artificial intelligence

Psychology

Computer science

Entertainment

Database

Communication Theory

This article suggests an integrated view of media entertainment that is capable of covering more of the dimensional complexity and dynamics of entertainment experiences than existing theories do. Based on a description of what is meant by complexity and dynamics, the authors outline a conceptual model that is centered around enjoyment as the core of entertainment, and that addresses prerequisites of enjoyment which have to be met by the individual media user and by the given media product. The theoretical foundation is used to explain why people display strong preferences for being entertained (motivational perspective) and what kind of consequences entertaining media consumption may have (effects perspective, e.g., facilitation of learning processes).

Enjoyment: At the Heart of Media Entertainment