Can you post a rebuttal of the Gilder arguments that seem wrong to you?
Here’s a brief rebuttal on one point:
Gilder says:
All of world industry is moving increasingly toward more segmented markets. But in a broadcast medium, such a move would be a commercial disaster. In a broadcast medium, artists and writers cannot appeal to the highest aspirations and sensibilities of individuals. Instead, manipulative masters rule over huge masses of people
REBUTTAL:
In truth, the industry is moving toward more segmented markets, note the expansion of channels in the ast two decades — Disney, National Geographic, History Channel BET, CMT, etc. etc. etc. Each of these appeals to a different demographic.
Popular entertainment never appealed to the highest aspirations, etc. If that were true, every town of 100,000 would have a symphony, opera and ballet. In truth, the audiences for these entertainments are so small you need a major metropolitan area with a million of more to support them. Likewise, Bonanza and Leave it to Beaver were not appealing to the highest aspirations.