Let me begin by relating an incident from an ancient Indian text, the 'Natya Shastra' which deals with the performing arts (theatre, music and dance, but also extends to other forms of arts like painting). The Natya Shastra is believed to have been written between 200 BC and 200 AD. In the Natya Shastra, the origin of plays is explained. The gods wanted an 'object of diversion' for the common people, which would have both visuals and audios, and both educate and entertain. They went to Brahma and asked him to devise this object of diversion, who thought up the concept of a 'play'. The subject of the first play was to depict the defeat of the asuras (demons) by the devas (gods) led by Indra. The devas and many others were among the audience. While the actors were performing the play, the asuras, who were there (apparently uninvited), were 'offended' by the way they (the asuras) were being depicted in the play. "We shall not tolerate this dramatic...