A long time ago, in a kingdom far away, there lived a King. The King had gone out to war, conquered many lands and finally came home to his land to finally rest. However, because the wars had been so tough and hard, the King demanded more than just rest. He wanted to sit back on his throne and be entertained. He wanted to replace the stress of the wars with some music, delightful and melodious, such that even the dead would come out of their graves to dance. He wanted to exchange the constant cries of anguished men with laughter. He wanted his heroics to be mimicked and brought to life. Why, even some fantasy would help escape from the harsh realities of this world.
So the princes and noblemen of the court decided that they would bring in such entertainment. Minstrels and musicians, actors and plays and all sorts of live entertainment was brought in to cheer the soul of the tired King. The King was so delighted with the entertainment, and it brought him such joy, that he demanded more and more. Before long, the King so indulged himself in the entertainers that he wished to know more about their lives. He made it his interest to find out which minstrel liked which minstrel and which actor didn’t get along with which actor. In fact, the King was so engrossed with his latest project, which was a competition for the best play and best actor and best minstrel that he missed the fact that his kingdom had started to get into disarray.
Before long, the King ceased to listen to his royal advisers. In fact, the entertainers had become the voices he listened to the most. The latest play would be his latest obsession, oftentimes leaving him deep in thought. The entertainers soon began to realise that they could influence the King in many ways. They would put up a play about treachery and you would see the King looking wearily at his subjects like they were all out to betray him. In fact, such was the power the entertainers had, that they had in effect managed to enchant the King, making him into, well, a puppet. In a way.. the King had joined the entertainers without realising it! He had so indulged in their lives that he had simply conformed to their very image. The King had ceased to be a King in principle. His commands were still met because he was the King, but it was the entertainers who were the true rulers now. They influenced his every thought and his every action, and in effect, the entire kingdom belonged to them. This is the story of the Kingdom where minstrels were Kings.
U know what the funny thing is? The funny thing is that, this story didn’t happen long long ago. It happened, well, in bad English, now. What I mean then, is that it’s happening now.
We are Kings and Queens of this world. Yet after fighting the wars of the day, we look for some form of entertainment to “relax”. Which is fine in itself, but I suppose it can get “unhealthy”. Think about it. We tweet, and FB and discuss about the latest celebrity and what he/she is doing, who they’re dating and what they’re wearing. People sit down to watch an award show (of which millions are spent on) on who the best actor was or which was the best movie.
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AND SINGERS (SEE MINSTRELS), are sought after like Gods and Goddesses. Their every word is like gold when they are nothing but the best in their profession… ENTERTAINERS! They have a say on every subject known to mankind. From wars to politics, from revenge to teenage love. We listen to their songs on the way to work/school and we read their quotes all day long. In fact, the very notion of rest is to come home and switch on the tube to see whats on. Who ever said that was the only way to rest?
In effect, these entertainers have managed to “own” our kingdoms. We re-tweet their words, making them our own in effect. We are influenced by their dress sense and we even start to mimic their lifestyles.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t watch the latest episode of “How I Met Your Mother” or listen to the latest Taylor Swift song, but what I’m saying is, learn to distance enjoyment from influence. Choose the movies you watch, don’t just watch everything. Choose what to listen to, some songs may sound nice, but those lyrics are influencing you, and your behaviour. You can CHOOSE NOT TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO SOMETHING eventhough the whole world is doing so. Remember, you are Kings and Queens, ITS YOU WHO SET THE STANDARD, ITS YOU WHO CHOOSES WHATS COOL AND WHATS NOT, ITS YOU WHO RULES THE KINGDOM AND THEREFORE INFLUENCES THE WORLD AROUND YOU. What you say goes, what you say is cool is cool. You set the next trend in dressing, you rule and therefore you rawk!
Dun let mere entertainers rule your world. Think about it guys.. Its a paradigm shift in thinking.
@JammingJester (Jay Singh)
