Amusement

Gorgias stated at the end of “Encomium of Helen” that not only did he write this speech for Helen’s encomium but for his own amusement. The word amusement seems innocent to us but I thought that it would be interesting to see if it meant the same for the Ancient Greeks. Perhaps this statement wasn’t as innocuous as it is now.
Amusement originates from the word amuse and can be traced back to the word muse, which is to become engaged in thought. In Greek mythology, “the Muses” were the goddesses over literature and art and were considered the source of knowledge. With the addition of the “a”, muse becomes amuse and then means the opposite of engaging in thought. The ancient Greeks used amusement in many different ways. Some of the most obvious ones fall under the theme of relaxation and play. It was most frequently used in reference to festivals and a way of spending time. But a few times amusement was described in a most interesting form. The ancient Greeks would occasionally use amusement when describing “the winning of men’s souls, or persuasion”. I found that this definition was very important when looking at the rhetorical history of the word amusement. Even though we find uses of amusement similar to the way we see it today, that wasn’t always the most popular meaning. Before it developed into a form of entertainment, amusement meant to deceive or cheat. This idea of leading someone away from his or her cares relates very well to the Greeks translation of amusement as persuasion.
It is possible then to look upon Gorgias’s statement as not being as innocent as it seems at first. Perhaps his amusement was meant not as play but as a form of deception or diversion from the real issues at hand. This could be why many of the Sophists were criticized for their rhetorical practices. People viewed their amusement with rhetoric as being deceptive and cheating through their teachings in order to gain power and wealth.
Today we continue to have amusement in the form of festivals and relaxation. There are positive and healthy ways to divert our minds from the concerns of the day. But, do we still encounter this type of amusement as deception and persuasion? I say that yes and in some very powerful rhetorical ways. “The Daily Show” with John Stewart is a form of amusement that diverts the attention of listeners. An even more severe form of deception and persuasion can be found when listening to speakers like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann. This rhetorical style of amusement can be very powerful because listeners do not realize that they are being deceived. Most times listeners are in a state of relaxation when watching these shows. The elements of bias, exaggeration, and sometimes comedy in these shows can be very persuasive. However, it is also important to be aware of the persuasive nature within other forms of amusement that are not so obvious.

Word Count- 499
Citations:
Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories
Perseus, Henry George Liddell
Gorgias- Encomium of Helen
Wikipedia