In 100 AD, roman satirical poet Juvenal wrote a collection of satirical poems in Rome and one of his prominent works is featured below;

 Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.

In this work, Juvenal strongly opposed the Roman practice of providing free wheat to Roman citizens as well as costly circus games and other forms of entertainment as a means of gaining political power and giving public superficial appeasement. The very concept of providing a means of escapism manifested itself in the dawn of great civilisations and had made its way to prevalence in the Modern Man’s society. 

Of course, the modern “bread and circuses” is much relatable for the rest of us, as we indulge in that mental distraction through activities constituting our imagination and superficial entertainment to soften the depressing tones of reality. “Escape” has become more of a term we use to not just move away from problems trailing us but keep them in our bay of ignorance for an extensive period.

Many of us wanted to live in their own imagination at least in a point of time, pondering away on their hypothetical scenarios, perhaps to be that knight in the shining armour of a fairy tale, or perhaps a resourceful emperor who reigned over the seven lands. Does that inherently carry a negative connotation? When does a specific avenue of mental diversion prove itself to be an extreme? 

A study conducted by Young explored the multiple specie of escapism and their intricate relation with self-deception. In his paper, he explored the dual sense of escapism, wherein the traditional sense is characterised as an attempt of the individual to escape the drudgery of the situation he finds himself in; an attempt to provide himself with a personal utopia. The other dynamic sense is an attempt to relieve ourselves of thinking about the inevitability of an event, prominently associated with death. 

Though both senses seem to coincide on the shirking of social responsibility of the person themself, an utilitarian-hedonistic perspective into escapism as a moral judgment paints a new picture. “Human perception of the world is not simply the reactions of the senses, but also the attribution of a certain meaning to various events.” This line may simply illustrate how we come to perceive things, subjective to our own thoughts and experiences and in these perceptions may sometime be something we want to avoid entirely due its inherent nature (in this case bring entirely subjective to the individual). 

Escapism was first term more familiarly used in the 1950s as to explain the high demand for entertainment media by the public. At that time, the tremendous popularity entertainment programming in radio and television left a trail of questions on how mass audiences were attracted to these programs, and if there will be any consequences to this consumer behaviour.

A paper by Klimmt explored the very normative substance behind escapism and related to it the past decade consumer behaviours. He expanded on how working-class people in western mass societies were alienated and suffered from their significantly poor life satisfaction. Their eventual desire to evade everyday sorrows and troubles by *involving* themselves in fantasy worlds that offer relief and distraction was, in fact, shocking. In this “escapist worlds”, unreal and improbable characters whose successes and failures cater to the wishes of the audience are the main stars of the show. They were designed to make people temporarily forget their troublesome life circumstances.

Now, it’s modern counterpart is not much differing on terms on its mechanism to offer distractions or diversions. When under stress or anxiety, humans turn to avenue that can help to combat the current problem that puts them in a situation that they are not comfortable in. For short term issues, a direct confrontation is decided. However, for long term issue one pursues a way to cope with it through unhealthy habits. 

Throughout history, civilizations have provided their populations with means of distraction, whether through gladiatorial games, theatre, religious festivals, or more recently, cinema and social media. The rationale behind such diversions is multifaceted. On one hand, escapism serves a functional purpose—it offers respite from the harshness of daily struggles and provides an outlet for stress and anxiety. On the other hand, it can be manipulated by those in power to placate dissatisfaction and hinder critical thought. 

Just as Roman emperors provided grand spectacles to suppress political unrest, modern governments and corporations employ entertainment and digital engagement to retain control over public sentiment.

In the contemporary era, escapism manifests itself in numerous ways. Mass media and entertainment industries create immersive narratives that allow people to temporarily detach from reality. Whether through binge-watching television series, engaging in video games, or scrolling through social media, individuals are often consumed by virtual experiences. Similarly, consumerism serves as another form of escapism, where material acquisition becomes a means of achieving temporary fulfilment. The pursuit of luxury goods, fashion trends, and fleeting experiences often serves to mask deeper societal and existential concerns, one that may be overshadowed by greater issues.

Moreover, political escapism has also emerged as a dominant force in modern times. Many individuals retreat into ideologically curated realities, where news and information are filtered to align with their personal beliefs. Social media algorithms reinforce biases, creating echo chambers that insulate people from opposing perspectives. This form of escapism fosters division and hinders meaningful discourse, as individuals disengage from objective reality in favor of comforting illusions.

Despite its potential dangers, escapism is not inherently negative. In moderation, it provides necessary relief from the burdens of life. Artistic expression, literature, and storytelling offer profound means of understanding human emotions and societal complexities. However, when escapism becomes excessive or manipulated for control, it leads to stagnation, complacency, and a detachment from critical awareness. 

Just as Juvenal warned against the dangers of a populace pacified by distractions, modern society must be vigilant in balancing leisure with awareness, ensuring that entertainment and engagement do not come at the cost of truth and more importantly, progress.

A society that feasts on illusions risks starving its future.