Entertainment: Is entertainment today making us better or worse?

Over 100 years ago, Aldous Huxley warned that passive entertainment would rob us of our ability to create, connect and think critically. Today, it seems his concerns might be more valid than ever. From Netflix binges to TikTok scrolls, much of today’s entertainment asks nothing from us but our time. 

On the other hand, an explosion of platforms and content creators has led to experimentation with storytelling and given marginalized artists more visibility. Meanwhile, comment sections and reaction videos can foster dialogue and a more populist form of critique.

In this debate, Marya Bangee, Nicholas Carr and Anna Lembke explore whether modern entertainment is numbing our brains, or whether it still has the power to ignite imagination and reflection.