History Main / BreadAndCircuses

** Oda is pretty good about maintaining GrayAndGreyMorality for the most part. While the Nobles we've been shown ''are'' a corrupt and decadent bunch, the existence of more... ''noble'' individuals has not been outright denied. The Marines -- especially those of higher rank -- as a whole are relatively decent officers who stick to MyCountryRightOrWrong, with nastier ones being {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, and there have been quite a number of monsters among the Pirates, who are supposed to be the 'good' guys.

* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth'': In ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}: Legends of the Dark Knight'' Annual #6, the Kane family has served as the executioners of Gotham since the ''Plight of Gotham'' crash-landed on their planet 500 years earlier. Assuming the identity of Batman or Batwoman depending on their gender, the Kanes' duty is to [[PublicExecution execute murderers in full view of the Gotham populace]]. While investigating the suicide of her father Robert, the new Batwoman Kathy Kane discovers that Commissioner Mondial and his men murder innocent people on a monthly basis and [[FrameUp frame others for doing so]]. Further investigation leads her to Gotham's historical records which contain a written account of one of Mondial's ancestors, one of 50 survivors of the crashlanding. Inspired by the stories of Batman and Commissioner Gordon in Old Gotham, he believed that the best way to create a stable, ordered society was to use the threat of execution to keep the people in line and the spectacle of public executions to keep them entertained, even if that meant executing innocent people. His descendants continued this practice for 500 years until Kathy exposes the truth and brings it to an end.

The trope name (Latin: ''Panem et Circenses'') comes from the Roman poet Creator/{{Juvenal}}'s metaphor for people voluntarily (or democratically) giving up civic responsibility for a reasonably stable status quo (in Rome, specifically, every citizen was entitled to a monthly grain allotment, and the Circus Maximus (ChariotRace) and Flavian Ampitheater (gladiators) did not charge admission). When the people are well-fed and having fun, they will be too contented or lazy to protest against those in charge (they may even start to thank, adore, and praise those in charge), turning them into GullibleLemmings and ApatheticCitizens who will leave the Powers That Be free to do as they please. These societies tend to be run by {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}s and/or {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, but bread and circuses can exist in any form of government, even in democracies and "utopias." The fact that said rulers can even pull this trope off means they'd likely have to have more than enough wealth to indulge both themselves and their citizens.

This situation also sets up conflict for a hero who sees the evil of those in power, because as far as the neighbors are concerned, the hero is simply a rebel or a troublemaker out to ruin their (relatively) happy life -- or worse, submerge them in fire and brimstone. Too much focus on the contentment of the people may also lessen audience sympathy for the hero; sometimes this is even the correct thing, because the hero really will [[NiceJobBreakingItHero cause more trouble than he fixes]].

If TheHero is forming LaResistance or fighting in it, he regards the first as manipulation, and the second and third as simply wrong. If, on the other hand, he is not trying to bring down the government and this issue comes up, often enough he offers these reasons himself. Indeed, this trope may slide indetectibly into ReasonableAuthorityFigure, as the repressive measures are deployed against real threats -- particularly if HobbesWasRight.

Related to that, something interesting about this trope is that although "bread" and "circuses" were equally important in the Roman original, fictional depictions focus much more on the circuses (entertainment) than the bread (food/other basic needs). This is probably because governments providing basic necessities for their people (welfare, the dole, poverty reduction, etc.) is a much more politicized and controversial topic. Whereas [[VillainByDefault pretty much everyone agrees]] that [[AntiEscapismAesop mindless, distracting entertainment is bad]], so it's safe to show your villains using it.

Some common types of "circuses" include {{Blood Sport}}s, {{Rigged Spectacle Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames. Even more extreme are {{Public Execution}}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 [[BlamingTheVictim they probably deserved it]] for ''some'' reason. A more benevolent ruler might arrange a formal, organized tournament and even participate in it.

* The ''{{TabletopGame/Shadowrun}}'' sixth edition splatbook ''No Future'' goes into great detail about this circuses part of this trope, describing the various techniques with which the {{mega corp}}s keep their workers in line despite brutal working conditions and lack of freedom. However it also notes that the corps have become dependent on these measures and would suffer if they tried to cut these costs too much.
-->When a rogue wave messed with a live transmission of ''Don’t Do That, Bobby!'', production in the [[PrivatelyOwnedSociety Ares Trident]] slumped sixty-six percent. I bet you think I’m being hyperbolic, but I’m not. There were even a few incidents of salarymen attacking Ares corpsec (which ended badly). It was the closest thing to a strike Ares has ever seen ... I think Ares learned a valuable if difficult lesson about getting workers addicted to Arcology media that day: What you catch ’em with is what you keep ’em with.

* The ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' universe has MultiversalConqueror Istvatha V'han, who being both AffablyEvil and lacking her rivals' ability to assimilate other dimensions into her own, uses this method to consolidate her rule. It's proven quite effective-she isn't called the Empress of a Billion Dimensions for nothing (although that number's actually an exaggeration-it's more like a hundred million).

* Keeping your people both happy and well-fed is one of the core gameplay in ''VideoGame/{{Tropico}}''. Granted, that you're running a BananaRepublic, so you have to invoke this trope to [[CrapsaccharineWorld distract your people from your oppressive regime]] and prevent them from rebelling.

* Mongul's empire in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' drew obvious parallels to the Roman Empire. ComicBook/MartianManhunter finds out there's mass unemployment and poverty, but people are kept entertained by the [[BloodSport gladiatorial games]].

The workers all get paid, everyone has enough to eat, and [[RepressiveButEfficient the trains run on time]]. And it's not [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] or a LotusEaterMachine; the benefits are real. As a consequence, nobody really cares about petty things the government does like restrictions of basic freedom, environmental destruction, WMD research, or random abductions...

The trope name (Latin: ''Panem et Circenses'') comes from the Roman poet Creator/{{Juvenal}}'s metaphor for people voluntarily (or democratically) giving up civic responsibility for a reasonably stable status quo (the 'circus' in ancient Rome was an arena for spectator sports like GladiatorGames). When the people are well-fed and having fun, they will be too contented or lazy to protest against those in charge (they may even start to thank, adore, and praise those in charge), turning them into GullibleLemmings and ApatheticCitizens who will leave the Powers That Be free to do as they please. These societies tend to be run by {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}s and/or {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, but bread and circuses can exist in any form of government, even in democracies and "utopias." The fact that said rulers can even pull this trope off means they'd likely have to have more than enough wealth to indulge both themselves and their citizens.

* The 1968 album ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalia:_ou_Panis_et_Circencis Tropicalia: ou Panis et Circencis]]'', which served as a manifesto for the Brazilian [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalia Tropicália]] artistic movement.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'''s ''Vengeance on Varos'', Varos has a populace in a bread-and-circuses mode. The poor governor, a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, is trying to make them endure sacrifices that are absolutely necessary to get the prices they must have, and they don't want to. The situation is so bad that when we see him sentencing to death an innocent and heroic man, to amuse the populace a little longer, we sympathize with him. And at the end, when the governor has succeeded and is announcing it, the people are shown as dazed and uncomprehending and even frightened at the prospect.

* An episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is actually '''titled''' "Bread and Circuses." Unsurprisingly, it took place on a PlanetOfHats whose hat was being AncientRome.

* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1963'' had an episode called "Fun and Games", in which an alien society that had overcome all war, poverty, and other social ailments found it necessary to pit "lesser" life forms against each other in deadly combat to stop society from stagnating. Those lesser life forms include us, by the way.

* In ''WebAnimation/LuckyDayForever'', there's a Great Lottery in place. The Proles worked for the Whites to get money for said Lottery. If they win, they get to become a White.

* The ''VideoGame/HeartsOfIron'' series features a CommandAndConquerEconomy for all countries, with different kinds of production controlled via sliders. This comes under the "Consumer Goods" slider - satisfy or exceed demand, and your Dissent rating goes down. Fail to meet demand, and before long you might be facing open revolt or (in the case of some countries) open civil war. Even an extremist dictatorship like UsefulNotes/NaziGermany can have a HundredPercentAdorationRating if production is managed well.

** The Empire of Blood also applies this trope. This being ''Order of the Stick'', [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0741.html it naturally gets lampshaded]]. Now the trope page image.

The workers all get paid, everyone has enough to eat, and [[RepressiveButEfficient the trains run on time]]. And it's not [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] or a LotusEaterMachine; the benefits are real. As a consequence, as long as the people are content, who's going to care about petty things like restrictions of basic freedom, environmental destruction, WMD research, or random abductions...

* The ''{{TabletopGame/Shadowrun}}'' sixth edition splatbook ''No Future'' goes into great detail about this circuses part of this trope, describing the various techniques with which the {{mega corp}}s keep their workers in line. However it also notes that the corps have become dependent on these measures and would suffer if they tried to cut these costs too much.

** There are as many ways to rule worlds in the Imperium as there are worlds themselves, so some are well-governed almost-utopias while others are the GrimDark that we've come to associate with ''40K''.
*** The Grimdark-ness of the Imperium is largely on a galactic scale. It's outright stated that many planets are not too dissimilar to our own. Only Hive Worlds and Forge Worlds really feel the oppression, and Feral Worlds (due to their feudal system). However, while individual worlds might experience times of prosperity and happiness, the Imperium as a whole is very pragmatic. But all it takes is one heresy to ruin all that...

** Tolbi is essentially Rome.

The workers all get paid, everyone has enough to eat, and [[RepressiveButEfficient the trains run on time]]. 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...

The trope name (Latin: ''Panem et Circenses'') comes from the Roman poet Creator/{{Juvenal}}'s metaphor for people voluntarily (or democratically) giving up civic responsibility for a reasonably stable status quo (the 'circus' in question being an arena for spectator sports like races and GladiatorGames). When the people are well-fed and having fun, they will be too contented or lazy to protest against those in charge (they may even start to thank, adore, and praise those in charge), turning them into GullibleLemmings and ApatheticCitizens who will leave the Powers That Be free to do as they please. These societies tend to be run by {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}s and/or {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, but bread and circuses can exist in whatever form of government, even in democracies and "utopias." The fact that said rulers can even pull this trope off means they'd likely have to have more than enough wealth to indulge both themselves and their citizens.

It's not like the leaders are running a LotusEaterMachine or simply [[PropagandaMachine covering up the destitute]], either. For examples to qualify, both the food and the fun have to be real. Where they come from or what they cover up will be the thing that the heroes set out to expose.

This situation also sets up conflict for a hero who sees the evil of those in power, because as far as the neighbors are concerned, the hero is simply a rebel or a troublemaker out to ruin their (relatively) happy life -- or worse, submerge them in fire and brimstone. Too much focus on the contentment of the people may also lessen audience sympathy for the hero; sometimes, this is even the correct thing, because the hero really will [[NiceJobBreakingItHero cause more trouble than he fixes]].

Some common types of "circuses" include {{Blood Sport}}s, {{Rigged Spectacle Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames. Even more extreme are {{Public Execution}}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 [[BlamingTheVictim 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.

* ''VideoGame/XCOM2'''s Advent Administration is a police state with gene therapy clinics, and burgers so good that even TheResistance is addicted. Which distracts the populace from the constant surveillance, and why they do nothing to stop thousands of city-slickers from mysteriously disappearing...

* ''Literature/LogansRun''.

* Kira's rule in ''Manga/DeathNote''. The positive effects are an all-time low in crime and war. The negative effects are fear of being wrongly accused, paranoia even among family members, elitism from those too well-off to be targeted, and Light's endgame of working everyone to death in the name of perfection, [[UnreliableExpositor but you don't see any of this in the news]] because anyone who even thinks about questioning the sustainability and happiness of this FalseUptopia is quickly (and literally) written off.

The trope name (Latin: ''Panem et Circenses'') comes from Roman poet Juvenal's metaphor for people voluntarily (or democratically) giving up civic responsibility for a reasonably stable status quo (the 'circus' in question being an arena for spectator sports like races and GladiatorGames). When the people are well-fed and having fun, they will be too contented or lazy to protest against those in charge (they may even start to thank, adore, and praise those in charge), turning them into GullibleLemmings and ApatheticCitizens who will leave the Powers That Be free to do as they please. These societies tend to be run by {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}s and/or {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, but bread and circuses can exist in whatever form of government, even in democracies and "utopias." The fact that said rulers can even pull this trope off means they'd likely have to have more than enough wealth to indulge both themselves and their citizens.

This situation also sets up conflict for a hero who sees the evil of those in power, because as far as the neighbors are concerned, the hero is simply a rebel or a troublemaker out to ruin their (relatively) happy life -- or worse, submerge them in fire and brimstone. Too much focus on the contentment of the people may also lessen audience sympathy for the hero; sometimes, this is even the correct thing, because the hero really will [[InferredHolocaust cause more trouble]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero than he fixes]].

* '''Those in charge pacify the people by making sure they are comfortable'''.

* '''The government ensures a stable, if not always comfortable, status quo'''.
** Simply put, there is peace in a sense and there is enough food to keep everyone alive. [[AnarchyIsChaos If the government is toppled, mayhem will ensue]] and nobody wants that, even if things may eventually become better -- and [[FullCircleRevolution there's no guarantee that they actually will.]]
* '''BetterTheDevilYouKnow than the Devil you don't'''.
** Sure, the people in charge are bad enough, but look at all the others lurking out there -- at home and abroad -- waiting for the chance to take over -- or worse, [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized stage a civil war]] over [[MeetTheNewBoss who gets to grab the reins]] of the EvilPowerVacuum, with attendant cross-fire. NO THANKS.

Some common types of "circuses" include {{Blood Sport}}s, {{Rigged Spectacle Fight}}s, and GladiatorGames. Even more extreme are {{Public Execution}}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.

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom 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.
* ComicBook/LexLuthor of ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' fame is known to do a great deal for the city Metropolis and the country in general. Of course, he is trying to covertly rule the planet and attempts to kill the world's greatest hero out of sheer pettiness every weekend, but everyone's gotta have a hobby.
* The [[{{Megacorp}} Plex]] from ''Comicbook/AmericanFlagg'' maintains control through a diet of drugs, sex and violence, the last of which happens to be televised.
* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers'': Overlord is what happens when a PersonOfMassDestruction doesn't get his fix of this. [[AxCrazy It's]] [[DangerousDeserter not]] [[BloodSport pretty]]. [[spoiler:It's all a ploy that he hopes will goad Megatron into [[BloodKnight fighting him]].]]
* One of the many issues with the dystopian future seen in ''ComicBook/SixGunGorilla'' is that the government and corporations have people hooked on VR rigs where they can watch [[DeathSeeker suicidal people]]'s experiences in the civil war going on in the Blister. At the start of issue 4, an angry mob even disperses the moment they hear that Blue-3425 is broadcasting again. [[spoiler:It backfires when the people get so caught up in Blue's "story" that they're all watching when Blue [[EngineeredPublicConfession blows the whistle]] on [[WarForFunAndProfit their scheme to keep the war going]].]]
* ''ComicBook/TheTriganEmpire'' was a FantasyCounterpartCulture for Ancient Rome, so naturally had this trope. The hero [[OurFounder Trigo]] is overthrown by his niece. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen She's not very popular]], so puts on this trope to keep the people happy. Unfortunately to pay for the expense she cuts military spending and removes the forces guarding the frontier, so barbarian tribes end up taking the Empire. Unlike the real-life Rome, our hero takes it back.

* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth'': In ''[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'' Annual #6, the Kane family has served as the executioners of Gotham since the ''Plight of Gotham'' crashlanded on their planet 500 years earlier. Assuming the identity of Batman or Batwoman depending on their gender, the Kanes' duty is to [[PublicExecution execute murderers in full view of the Gotham populace]]. While investigating the suicide of her father Robert, the new Batwoman Kathy Kane discovers that Commissioner Mondial and his men murder innocent people on a monthly basis and [[FrameUp frame others for doing so]]. Further investigation leads her to Gotham's historical records which contain a written account of one of Mondial's ancestors, one of 50 survivors of the crashlanding. Inspired by the stories of Batman and Commissioner Gordon in Old Gotham, he believed that the best way to create a stable, ordered society was to use the threat of execution to keep the people in line and the spectacle of public executions to keep them entertained, even if that meant executing innocent people. His descendants continued this practice for 500 years until Kathy exposed the truth and brought it to an end.
* ''ComicBook/SensationComics: Franchise/WonderWoman In the Clutches of Nero'': Empress Fausta and Nero Maximus keep their people entertained and distracted with bloodsports and grisly executions in their coliseum while violently imposing their backwards and isolationist policies.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Queen Clea keeps her people entertained with bloodsports and violent executions in her arena. Meals are served to the audience as they watch as well.

* This was quite literally depicted in ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' when spectating commoners at a gladiator match are given loaves of bread. (TruthInTelevision: Roman citizens were given free bread at the Colosseum.) Senator Gracchus goes so far as to comment on how clever this strategy is:
-->'''Senator Gracchus:''' I think [Emperor Commodus] knows what Rome is; Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom, and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it's the sand of the Colosseum. He'll bring them death...and they will love him for it.
* In the film ''Film/PansLabyrinth'', the Spanish fascist government of Franco is shown issuing bread rations to the starving peasants who remain loyal to the regime. It should be noted this was pretty much dead on accurate; to help deal with the fairly popular Republicans, and to a lesser extent the communists, Franco's government used food rations as a way to gain public support.
** The main purpose of the rationing was to ensure that every family got exactly as much food as they needed, and not one bit more, so that they couldn't covertly provide aid to the partisans. This is explicitly mentioned in the movie.
* In Peter Watkin's ''Privilege'', set in the "near future", the British government uses a Pop star's immense popularity to keep their youth "happy, off the streets... and out of politics."
* In ''Film/{{Rollerball}}'', the giant corporations ruling the world of the future distract the masses with the violent spectator sport "rollerball." Although, it turns out this trope is actually only a side benefit. The ''real'' purpose of the game is to demonstrate the futility of individualism.

* In ''Film/TheHungerGames'' franchise, the government keeps the upper class citizens docile via the titular violent games while these games are used to intimidate and suppress the lower class citizens. Not to mention that the name of the country, "Panem," is literally Latin for "bread."
* It's implied that various incarnations of The Game Grids in the ''{{Film/Tron}}'' universe are both good ways to dispose of malware, malcontents, and other troublemakers as well as give the citizen Programs some entertainment. Played straighter in the films and ''WesternAnimation/TronUprising'', but treated with more complexity in the ''Betrayal'' comic, ''VideoGame/TronEvolution'', and ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh''. In the former two, Flynn banned lethal matches, making them harmless fun. (Clu, naturally, reinstated the lethal part) In ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh'', Jet is sent there as an alternative death sentence, but he's treated relatively well, even by the guards. Mercury, the Game Grid champion, is considered a star athlete, not a condemned crook.

* In ''Film/TheyLive'', the aliens are using commercialism, movies, TV, the print, and coupons to drown out the humans' sense of need to question and overthrow authority.

* Aldous Huxley's ''Literature/BraveNewWorld'' gives us an interesting example of a dystopia that manages to be surprisingly nice. As long as you're upper-caste (Alpha and Beta, at least), life is orgies and drink and drugs and parties; the lower-caste (Delta and Epsilon) are conditioned to be content both with their workload and with their life in general (and their free time is also orgies, drinks, drugs, and parties). It's never quite made clear what the Gammas are, but as you can see, it doesn't make very much difference. Even dissidents are treated relatively humanely; they are given a sincere-sounding apology that the conditioning meant to ensure their happiness with their lot in life didn't take, and the choice between joining the ruling caste (since no one that mindlessly happy could rule) or an exile colony of other dissidents.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

The trope name (Latin: ''Panem et Circenses'') comes from Roman poet Juvenal's metaphor for people voluntarily (or democratically) giving up civic responsibility for a reasonably stable status quo (the 'circus' in question being an arena for spectator sports like races and GladiatorGames). When the people are well-fed and having fun, they will be too contented or lazy to protest against those in charge (they may even start to thank, adore, and praise those in charge), turning them into GullibleLemmings and ApatheticCitizens who will leave the Powers That Be free to do as they please. These societies tend to be run by {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}s and/or {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, but bread and circuses can exist in whatever form of government, even in democracies and "utopias."

* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyX'': While the CorruptChurch of Yevon generally adopts a NewTechnologyIsEvil / EvilLuddite stance towards most forms of technology [[spoiler: - or at least it does publicly, [[{{Hypocrite}} the church's highest members allows themselves access to technology that they deny to the masses]] - ]], it makes a very specific exception for the technology needed to play Bliztball, Spira's most popular sport, so that the Spirans have at least some joy in their lives.

* ''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 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.

** This is also one of the arguments in favour of Daenerys reopening the fighting pits, which is fitting for an {{Expy}} of Roman GladiatorGames. She reluctantly does so.

It's not like the leaders are running a LotusEaterMachine or simply [[PropagandaMachine covering up the destitute]], either. For examples to qualify, both the food and the fun have to be real. Where they come from or what they cover up will be the thing TheHero sets out to expose.

Related to that, something interesting about this trope is that although "bread" and "circuses" were equally important in the Roman original, fictional depictions focus much more on the circuses (entertainment) than the bread (food/other basic needs). This is probably because governments providing basic necessities for their people (welfare, the dole, poverty reduction, etc.) is a much more politicized and controversial topic. Whereas pretty much everyone agrees that [[VillainByDefault mindless, distracting entertainment is bad]], so it's safe to show your villains using it.