content: People are reading my daily quotes (day 2) "As many academics have pointed out, the media have become more and more important in creating culture (e.g., Powers et al. 1996, 2).  Before the 20th century, the main creators of culture were the religious, military, and business institutions.  In the course of the 20th century these institutions became less important while the media have increased in importance (for an account of this transformation in the military, see Bendersky 2000).  And there is little doubt that the media attempt to shape the attitudes and opinions of the audience (Powers et al. 1996, 2-3).  Part of the continuing culture of critique is that the media elite tend to be very critical of Western culture.  Western civilization is portrayed as a failing, dying culture, but at worst it is presented as sick and evil compared to other cultures (Powers et al. 1996, 211).  These views were common in Hollywood long before the cultural revolution of the 1960s, but they were not often expressed in the media because of the influence of non-Jewish cultural conservatives." -- MacDonald 2002, Culture of Critique page lvi (bold not in text)