Escapism and distraction are social controls that can be employed by a governing body to hide inadequacies or divert attention from pressing issues at the time, such as todays issues with: Fukushima, Fracking, The ongoing wars of aggression, The crashing American economy, The enroachment of a police state, overthrowing the constitution, these among many other things. Within Roman society, the development of gladiatorial spectacle not only amused and distracted the citizens from issues but it could also erase public memories of political blunders in the past. Emperors expressed the wish that the potentially unruly and dangerous city population be amused, also adding the idea that this would keep them quiet. - Jessie Zifarelli
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 06:18:28 +0000