I feel guilty when I watch TV. I feel like I should be doing something better with my time. But I am a sucker for Heroes, Lost, and Studio 60 (and BoDog fighting, but that for another confession).

The story-telling and crafty writing of these few shows makes me wonder if some TV is more art then entertainment. What is the difference anyway? Is it necessary to draw a line between what is art but not entertainment and what is entertainment but not art? Whenever I confuse myself with deep questions I turn to Wikipedia.

The collaborative brain at Wikipedia says that art is that which is made with the intention of stimulating the human senses as well as the human mind and/or spirit. They say that entertainment, on the other hand, is an event, performance, or activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience.

It is interesting that these definitions hone in on the ‘intention’ or ‘design’ for which the subject is created, rather than on the subject’s use by an audience, its position in a culture, or whether it was actually successful at its intention or design. So if the Wiki-people are right then I need to ask NBC what it is that they ‘intend’ by airing Heroes. I don’t think they will return my phone call.

In the end, I know that some encounters with galleries, literature, film, or even a baseball game refresh my spirit long after I have left their presence. However, most TV shows that I watch do little for my spirit or brain or anything else; but they help me pass the time. I am still debating which category Lost and Heroes fall into…but if I am just passing time, I don’t mind doing it with Heroes.