Nothing that falls into the hands of the media can survive the experience. You and I are having a discussion about ideas and music. By media I mean mass media, essentially, but as mass media widens its hegemony the borders blur. More subtle yet is the effect of the media itself.
Culture is like sub-atomic particles that can exist for only moments in the heart of the cyclotron.
Even the act of observing changes their nature. It happens among small groups of men. It happens at the interface of the moment. As the individual is refined in the furnace of the moment he encourages his brothers. They gather strength and sometimes wisdom and expand the craft together.