History Main / BreadAndCircuses

Some common types of "circuses" include {{BloodSport}}s, {{Rigged Spectacle Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames. Even more extreme are {{PublicExecution}}s for amusement. The populace often ''knows'' that these things are cruel, but doesn't care. After all, either [[MoralMyopia the savages who participate in such things probably can't appreciate true civilization anyway]] or [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming they probably deserved it for ''some'' reason, one way or another]]. A more benevolent ruler might arrange a formal, organized tournament and even participate in it.

The nastier, more blatantly dystopian sorts provide BloodSport, {{Rigged Spectacle Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames - or, God forbid, PublicExecution, for the amusement, while the general population, of course, ''knows'' this, but doesn't care. After all, either [[MoralMyopia the savages who participate in such things probably can't appreciate true civilization anyway]] or [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming they probably deserved it for ''some'' reason, one way or another]]. A more benevolent ruler might arrange a formal, organized tournament and even participate in it.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': After Governor Pryce [[spoiler:manages to kill Kanan]], she holds a grand parade to celebrate the Empire's victory over the Rebellion... and to distract the everyone from the fact that she only scored that victory by ''[[StupidEvil destroying the Empire's fuel depot for the sector]]'', [[PyrrhicVillainy crippling their operations there]]. Most of the attendants are forced to take part against their will. [[BigBad Admiral Thrawn]] is ''not'' fooled and ''highly'' unamused.

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* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': After Governor Pryce [[spoiler:manages to kill Kanan]], she holds a grand parade to celebrate the Empire's victory over the Rebellion... and to distract the everyone from the fact that she only scored that victory by ''destroying the Empire's fuel depot for the sector'', crippling their operations there. Most of the attendants are forced to take part against their will. [[BigBad Admiral Thrawn]] is ''not'' fooled and ''highly'' unamused.

[[caption-width-right:225:[[LampshadeHanging They aren't usually this honest about it...]]]]

** The World Government is a perfect example of the second type, with a little bit of the first and third thrown in as well. They're a corrupt, evil force, but they manage to keep the world in [[IncrediblyLamePun one piece]]; not to mention that the common man sees the World Government as benevolent protectors, and pirates as savage thieves.

* In ''Literature/Steelheart'', the titular [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Epic]] rules Chicago (now Newcago) with a fist of steel. Ordinary non-powered citizens go about their days in muted terror, just trying to scrape by. A character points out that although Newcago isn't a great place to live by any means, it at least provides a rare example of stability in a [[DividedStatesOfAmerica country broken apart]] by constant fighting between Epics. Only a very small resistance group tries to fight the Epics. Most other people just try to keep their heads down and go about their business.

* In ''Literature/SteelHeart'', the titular [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Epic]] rules Chicago (now Newcago) with a fist of steel. Ordinary non-powered citizens go about their days in muted terror, just trying to scrape by. A character points out that although Newcago isn't a great place to live by any means, it at least provides a rare example of stability in a [[DividedStatesOfAmerica country broken apart]] by constant fighting between Epics. Only a very small resistance group tries to fight the Epics. Most other people just try to keep their heads down and go about their business.

* In ''Videogame/{{Destiny}}'', this is the default state of [[SpaceRomans the Cabal Empire]]. [[GodEmperor Emperor Calus]] rose to power by overthrowing a brutal totalitarian military regimes, and embraced the philosophy of ForHappiness, giving his entire population food and entertainment and decadent lives of joy and pleasure. Calus went so far as to destroy entire star systems to fuel his empire's bread and circuses. When he was overthrown by Dominus Ghaul, however, this culture of excessive happiness and merriment was so deeply ingrained into the Empire that he was forced to keep it up lest he be overthrown himself.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Endstone}}'', [[http://endstone.net/2009/09/15/issue-2-page-14/ how Primrose justifies the slaughter of higher animals.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'',
** [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2882 Satan tells Jesus he was right about bread alone -- it's bread and circuses.]]
** [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3735 deployed by the devil to ward off restlessness.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''. The robot planet demonizes humans, produces anti-human movies, and go on (normally) fruitless human hunts to distract them from their real problems, like a lugnut shortage and incompetent Robot Elders leadership.
* Mongul's empire in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' drew obvious parallels to the Roman Empire. The Martian Manhunter finds out there's mass unemployment and poverty, but people are kept entertained by the [[BloodSport gladiatorial games]].

* Doctor Doom generally runs Latveria quite well, and the people know it. How well [[DependingOnTheAuthor varies from story to story]], but many portray his continued use of this trope as more like treating his subjects like pets than actual humans.

* Kira's rule in ''Manga/DeathNote'' could possibly count. Sure, Light's methods are questionable, but war has stopped, petty crime is mostly nonexistent, and for everyday, law abiding citizens, life is much safer.
** Alternatively, [[UnreliableExpositor all the news is good because everyone is scared of dying.]] It's telling that of Light's two opponents in the 2nd half of the series, one is working with the mob and there is no indication they're a dying breed.

* In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', the protagonists eventually get [[HumanCannonball shot]] into [[TheEmpire Empire lands]]. A player might be expecting to land in a CrapsackWorld only to find calm mellow music, green pastures, and a mix of ordinary citizens and resistance fighters moving about in a quiet country town. Even the empire soldiers, while strict, appear to be genuinely helpful to the populace. Eventually in the remake it's implied that there is peace and happy citizens in all empire towns.... Until you get word that taxes are beginning to get exorbitant, that there are nobility who opposed the aggressive policies of the empire in refuge and exile out of their own lives, that people are getting drawn into the strange parties happening around the eldritch and occultish ruins, people mysteriously disappear if they so much as complain about the empire's rule, and how the people's lives are negatively impacted by the constant wars the empire is waging, including losing family drafted in and the risk of a home invasion due to its increasing military campaigns. Still, quite a nice country.

* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' begins in an apparently peaceful time for the titular Empire, with the horrors of the Long Drought long past thanks to the Emperor. However, this is due to the Emperor [[spoiler:mutilating the Water Dragon and using its still-living body to provide the needed water]].

The nastier, more blatantly dystopian sorts provide BloodSport, {{Rigged Spectale Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames - or, God forbid, PublicExecution, for the amusement, while the general population, of course, ''knows'' this, but doesn't care. After all, either [[MoralMyopia the savages who participate in such things probably can't appreciate true civilization anyway]] or [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming they probably deserved it for ''some'' reason, one way or another]]. A more benevolent ruler might arrange a formal, organized tournament and even participate in it.

The nastier, more blatantly dystopian sorts provide BloodSport and GladiatorGames - or, God forbid, PublicExecution, for the amusement, while the general population, of course, ''knows'' this, but doesn't care. After all, either [[MoralMyopia the savages who participate in such things probably can't appreciate true civilization anyway]] or [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming they probably deserved it for ''some'' reason, one way or another]]. A more benevolent ruler might arrange a formal, organized tournament and even participate in it.

* ''Webcomic/LovelyPeople'': After the social credit system makes it so reading ''Literature/TheBible'' no longer brings any points, the dedicated Bible reader among the main characters is shown switching to a series about how to make one's ears (the world is populated by FunnyAnimal rabbits) look and feel better that actually brings points in.

* ''Webcomic/LovelyPeople'': After the social credit system makes it so reading ''Literature/TheBible'' no longer brings any points, the dedicated Bible reader among the main characters is shown switching to a series about how to make one's ears look and feel better (the world is populated by FunnyAnimal rabbits) that actually brings points in.

* The translated title of ''Brot und Spiele'', the eleventh studio album of German [[FolkMetal medieval metal]] band Music/SaltatioMortis.

The workers all get paid, everyone has enough to eat, and TheTrainsRunOnTime. And it's not a LotusEaterMachine or an especially efficient PropagandaMachine; the stuff is real. As a consequence, as long as the people are contented, who's going to care about petty things like restrictions of basic freedom, environmental destruction, WMD research, or random abductions...

* ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'' has Breezie use the line "Panem et circenses" verbatim to explain why she's running a fighting tournament with a Chaos Emerald as the prize.