Almost every aspect of our lives was disrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic that spread throughout the world last year. How we work, socialize, educate our children and entertain ourselves all changed and adapted to the circumstances. Confined to our homes for the majority of the year, entertainment became, by necessity a mostly online experience, and we saw dramatic increases in the popularity of online movie services, video conferencing with friends, online gaming and live-streamed concerts, ballets, and operas. But will these socially distanced activities become a regular part of our lives, as the world cautiously edges out of lockdown? Many have discovered new interests and hobbies, as well as new ways to communicate with friends, loved ones and strangers. Let’s take a look at how 2020 affected entertainment.
Movies
2020 saw massive growth for major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Apple TV. We were already a binge-happy movie and series streaming market, but more and more got comfy on the couch. Many movies premiered across streaming services rather than push their release dates back indefinitely, such as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Prime), Mulan (Disney +), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix), and Emma (Hulu). And many of us got a bit creative when watching movies, to make it a more social affair. Socially distanced film clubs became a popular way to spend time with friends, family or total strangers, watching a movie ‘together’ and then discussing it afterward over a glass of wine or three.
Gaming
Online gaming was already a huge deal before the pandemic struck, but being stuck indoors for months on end attracted a whole new audience to it, with a massive boost of online players across popular games like GTA 5, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Minecraft. Not only that, but mobile gaming drew an entirely new demographic to online gaming, who may not have been interested in video games at all. From console games that made the successful transition to smartphones and tablets such as Animal Crossing and Call of Duty to specifically designed games such as Among Us, mobile gaming has become a legitimate platform, used by hardcore gamers and casuals alike.
Casinos
Online gambling has seen an unprecedented rise in popularity in the last decade, with many people attracted to the card tables, roulette wheel and slot machines who may never have set foot in a brick-and-mortar casino before. In the US players can find places to play across the country – popular options are online casinos in New Jersey (home of iconic gambling spot Atlantic City) and of course Las Vegas according to CasinoTopsOnline.com. The advances in mobile technology have made it possible for game developers to raise the level of the standard casino options, with cutting edge graphics, novel gameplay, storylines and virtual reality capabilities. It doesn’t look like the online casino craze is likely to disappear anytime soon.
Virtual galleries and museums
The pandemic made galleries and museums develop a new way to let visitors browse their collections – online tours of exhibits. What’s more, many of these experiences are offered for free. Iconic collections such as that at the British Museum and the Vatican were ‘opened’ for visitors, allowing them to explore and enjoy exhibits in high definition, and with audio accompaniment. The Louvre offers a comprehensive look at not only the artworks on display but also the fabulous building they’re housed in. Other galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA) in New York City, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam – Rembrandt, Van Gogh among many others – and Musée d’Orsay all opened their virtual doors.
Music events
While it can never replace live music, many concerts were made available to stream during 2020. Buying a virtual ticket was easy, and there was plenty of great music on offer. Nick Cave performed a solo gig named “Idiot Prayer” solo on a piano in London’s Alexandra Palace, and The Rolling Stones performed One World: Together at Home – each member streaming in to play their part via video conferencing. Even before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Met Opera was doing nightly streams of classic performances – such operas as The Barber of Seville (Rossini), Dialogue des Carmélites (Poulenc) and Nixon in China (Adams) were made available for free.
Socializing
Zoom and Skype became the essential work tools of 2020, but advanced and simple-to-use video conferencing software also impacted how we entertained ourselves. From simple socializing with drinks and meals to such events as pub quizzes, choir practice and speed dating, everything went online. The year also saw the older generations becoming more au fait with modern tech. This form of communication is definitely here to stay, especially due to continuing uncertainty about travel and social distancing measures.
2020 had a profound impact on how we keep ourselves entertained. Whether or not these methods are here to stay remains to be seen, but they are a testament to our ability to adapt to any situation.
