theatrocracy

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek θεᾱτρο-κρᾰτίᾱ (theātro-kratíā, literally “theatre rule”) or θεᾱτρο-κορασίᾱ (theātro-korasíā).

Noun

theatrocracy (uncountable)

1. (historical) Government by an assembly of citizens in Ancient Greece. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
2. Rule by spectators in a theater.
   • 1892, “Book III”, in Benjamin Jowett, transl., Laws, translation of original by Plato:

     And by composing such licentious works, and adding to them words as licentious, they [the poets] have inspired the multitude with lawlessness and boldness, and made them fancy that they can judge for themselves about melody and song. And in this way the theatres from being mute have become vocal, as though they had understanding of good and bad in music and poetry; and instead of an aristocracy, an evil sort of theatrocracy has grown up.