Agreed, and in the 21st century a lot of the “circus” is getting people riled up over meaningless BS related to popular entertainment rather than just straight up providing entertainment — I think the powerful have realized they can do more with less that way, i.e. provide fewer shows/movies/etc. but extend their ability to distract people by pushing the “controversy” related to them. Social media algorithms push content that is “controversial” but is largely empty and meaningless (articles about the Barbie movie at the moment, Velma and She Hulk and Rings of Power before), and old media obliges too by writing about such nonsense. The powers that be want you arguing some dumbass point over a TV show or a movie, because then you definitely aren’t seeing how you’re being screwed over in real life.