I apologise, but there is another aspect which I described in this comment. Before the rise of the Internet pictures or films would have to be reproduced by talented people or expensive equipment before being seen by armies of viewers. Then the reproducers or those who possess the equipment would have to carefully select what they spread[1] across the nation over the years. This, in turn, would imply that a far-reaching meme would be spread for a long time by ~the same reproducers, letting the society react (e.g. by arresting the reproducer for possessing porn) or forget about the old films which weren’t better than the average.
It’s not clear to me this would increase the quality level of what gets spread. First, the few selectors likely have as bad taste as the hoi polloi, being selected for political acumin for what is, essentially, a political job, if they are selected for anything. Second, it is widely agreed that art flourishes on subversion and going “against the pack”, with many (especially of the old guard) hating new art forms when they arrive. Third, such selection will necessarily cater to the lowest common denominator. Compare TV shows of the ’90s to TV shows now.
I apologise, but there is another aspect which I described in this comment. Before the rise of the Internet pictures or films would have to be reproduced by talented people or expensive equipment before being seen by armies of viewers. Then the reproducers or those who possess the equipment would have to carefully select what they spread[1] across the nation over the years. This, in turn, would imply that a far-reaching meme would be spread for a long time by ~the same reproducers, letting the society react (e.g. by arresting the reproducer for possessing porn) or forget about the old films which weren’t better than the average.
An additional level of friction was the requirement that the commoners come and see the film or see or get the photographs.
It’s not clear to me this would increase the quality level of what gets spread. First, the few selectors likely have as bad taste as the hoi polloi, being selected for political acumin for what is, essentially, a political job, if they are selected for anything. Second, it is widely agreed that art flourishes on subversion and going “against the pack”, with many (especially of the old guard) hating new art forms when they arrive. Third, such selection will necessarily cater to the lowest common denominator. Compare TV shows of the ’90s to TV shows now.