You have to cast a wider net than those. And go deeper into history for what captured the eyes of many in each time, how they looked at about their fancies, who they talked about it, thought about it. Look at sports. Sports fans are charicatured for oaf-ism. But's that's way off, 180 off. The typical sports fan is full of nuances and details, knowledgable of the complex, changing, dynamic interplays of the sports he or she follows -- the owner's aspect, the manager's aspect, the player's apsect, and so many others.
The sports magazines are highly literate. Amazingly literate. The TV and Radio commentaries -- complex, rich.
Far far richer and more intelligent than politcal and economic commnentary -- in the major media.