Panem et Circenses in America?

9/29/2017

Since we devoted a good deal of time and thought to the relationship between the Fall of Western Rome and their Bread and Circuses, maybe it would be a good time to see if there is any parallels in modern-day America. Drop your thoughts below and be sure to including your first name and last initial. email is not required.

10 Comments

George Foskaris

10/1/2017 04:01:41 pm

Bread and circuses was a wild idea. To distract and occupy the empire was the reason for the idea in rome. in modern day america there are plenty of games and events that relate to the bread and circuses. such examples are the football games playing right now, as well as the hockey game i'm going to watch tonight. altough the games now are not to the extent of deathly battles and free entry and food, modern day examples provide entertainment and a distraction to life and responsibilities much like the games in rome.

Sherer

10/3/2017 06:34:35 am

Here is an interesting thought...the ancient bread and circuses were free...was you entertainment free?

Maya D link

10/1/2017 07:03:57 pm

The Roman government used Panem et Circensus to please their poor but did so discreetly. If modern-day America and its government was doing something similar, the population wouldn't be able to know because of how cunning the government is. Like every other government, America's wants the population to unite and have peace. In the 1960's America wanted to become The Great Society so the government gave Medicaid, insurance, and social security. Some smaller yet similar events are sporting games, carnivals, and even education. However, these events are not free and could cost a fortune to people who go or donate quite often. Although the objective still stands, the population in America are being entertained and protected by the government and it's officials.

Sherer

10/3/2017 06:36:13 am

Maybe the deception starts and ends with ourselves? Also, I think we will find many of America's most sacred elements of our welfare state starts even sooner, with FDR's New Deal and subsequent government attempts to recover from the Great Depression of the early 30s.

Ezekiel A

10/2/2017 04:10:33 pm

I think that some modern things that can be equated to Roman Bread and Circuses would be some stuff on television. It can serve as a distraction from real issues. That is just one of many modern distractions though.

Ares Sinconegui

10/2/2017 05:14:03 pm

Bread and circuses is not a thing that still stands in Western civilization, it is something that has been left behind, but only technically, because the literal bread and circuses are a thing of the past there are things like if right now; these things could make or break one's political career, an example of this would be Donald Trump's and Hilary Clinton's run for office, the media coverage of the whole thing really shaped the way the people thought; as in a lighter less political sense it also provides us with entertainment: movies, TV shows, news, social media apps, and social media in general distracts us from our problems, and for some of us makes us feel empowered, as the people of Rome felt when they were let into the coliseums and such.

10/2/2017 07:08:52 pm

The parallel to the Panem in Panem et Circenses within modern America is our welfare system. These are the same as it serves the same purpose as in Western Rome, but the modern system has more restrictions. The circenses could be seen as things such as public libraries or free internet given at certain places. The library as well as the internet could provide entertainment for free like Western Rome.

Sherer

10/3/2017 06:37:39 am

If the games were intended as a placation, a distraction, then I would say modern Americans have even more options available.

Jacob Z

10/2/2017 07:47:40 pm

Panem et Circenses and America
Panem et Circenses has continuities with America, in how our American citizens are so easily amused and please. Rather than just Bread and Circuses for the Romans, but in movies and mobile devices, as well as food and drinks. We differ in the ways of the Romans however, due to in recent years, there has been a change in the attitude and outlook of our people. For the most part we care about what happens in our country. There have been moves to change and support, but just like in Rome, there are also those who do not care about the country anymore and have just given up. It is a scary thought to imagine America as it is now to end how the Roman Empire ended.

Sherer

10/3/2017 06:38:11 am

I wonder if this IS true?

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Panem et Circenses in America?

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