The phrase “bread and circuses” has its origin in a poem by Roman poet Juvenal, who wrote around 100 AD. The poem describes how the Roman citizens, who had lost their freedoms to an oligarchy, only desired bread and circuses (referring to gladiatorial games) as a means of pacification. The concept of providing basic necessities and entertainment to keep the population content and pacified is still relevant today in modern society. The term “bread and circuses” can be applied to the way in which people are provided with food and entertainment in the form of sports, concerts, Netflix, and news, to distract them from important civic issues.
In today’s society, the provision of these distractions has become more sophisticated and subtle. Sports and concerts have become big business, with professional teams and big-name performers commanding huge amounts of money and attention. Likewise, streaming services like Netflix have made it easier than ever to binge-watch shows and movies, providing hours of entertainment at our fingertips. And the news, which is supposed to inform us about important issues and events, has become sensationalized, with news outlets vying for viewers by focusing on the most shocking or controversial stories.
The idea behind the phrase “bread and circuses” is that these distractions are used as a means of pacifying and manipulating the population, rather than addressing underlying problems. By providing food and entertainment, governments and other power players can distract people from important issues and keep them content, rather than addressing the root causes of their discontent. The phrase serves as a reminder that in any society, it is important to be aware of how our basic needs and desires are being used to control us, and to strive for independence in thought and action.
They shed their sense of responsibility
Long ago, when they lost their votes, and the bribes; the mob
That used to grant power, high office, the legions, everything,
Curtails its desires, and reveals its anxiety for two things only,
Bread and circuses.
— Juvenal in Satire X: The Vanity of Human Wishes,
Reference:
“Juvenal: Satires Book X.” Poetry in Translation, translated by A. S. Kline, www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/JuvenalSatires10.php.
Vires in Numeris 