Wiktionary
n. 1 Food and entertainment provided by the state. 2 Grand spectacles to distract and pacify people
Wikipedia
"Bread and Circuses" is a second season episode of the original American science fiction television series Star Trek, broadcast on March 15, 1968. It is episode #54, production #43, written by Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon and directed by Ralph Senensky. Its name is a reference to the phrase " bread and circuses" taken from the Satire X written by the poet, Juvenal. In modern usage, the phrase implies a populace that no longer values civic virtues, the public life, and military (manly) service; instead, the people need only food and entertainment.
Set in the 23rd century, the series follows the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner) and the crew of the Federation starship Enterprise. In this episode, Captain Kirk and his companions are forced to fight in gladiatorial games on a planet resembling the Roman Empire, that possesses mid-20th century Earth technology.
"Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from ) is metonymic for a superficial means of appeasement. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the generation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy, but through diversion; distraction; or the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace, as an offered " palliative". Its originator, Juvenal, used the phrase to decry the selfishness of common people and their neglect of wider concerns. The phrase also implies the erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the commoner.
Bread & Circuses is a 1997 album by Colosseum.
Bread and circuses was how the Roman poet Juvenal characterized the imperial leadership's way of placating the masses.
Bread and Circuses may also refer to:
Bread and Circuses is the third studio album by The View. It was recorded with producer Youth in 2010. In late 2010, the band went on an expansive tour of the UK in support of the album.
"Bread and Circuses" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American television drama series'' Hell on Wheels''; it aired December 4, 2011 on AMC, and was written by Mark Richard and directed by Adam Davidson. Its title is a reference to the phrase " bread and circuses" taken from Juvenal's poem, " Satire X". In the episode, Joseph Black Moon and Reverend Nathaniel Cole travel into Cheyenne territory in hopes of a peace talk, Joseph's brother endures a native ritual, Lily Bell and Thomas Durant continue to discuss the future of the railroad construction, and Cullen Bohannon and his crewman Elam Ferguson settle their differences in a public fight.
Usage examples of "bread and circuses".
I tried to imagine a twentieth-century social worker attempting to explain compassion for the poor to an aristocrat of Rome who only thought in terms of bread and circuses, then knew the analogy was a bad one, for the gulf of understanding between the social worker and the Roman would have been narrow compared to the gulf between myself and Charles.
Above all a leader must be a showman, giving his people the bread and circuses they require.
Two days to wonder _why_ in Mog's name he'd spent all but four of his Rime Isle doubloons on this insane voyage, on _work_ for himself instead of on wine and women, rare books and art objects, in short on sweet bread and circuses for himself alone.
In a democracy that leads to bread and circuses and eventually to despotism.
But down below, ah, down below, where the people always needed their saints and sinners, their bread and circuses, their heroes and villains, he was considered a Bolivar.
Anything they can get their hands on, talk about bread and circuses that's.