it was all always niche (and related to the tech of the time)

the reason their was such consensus about supposed classics was because the gatekeepers came from a very narrow group/part of the world (in locations and ideology) and thus embedded "THIS is culture" to the multitude (aka masses), when in reality if their were more options (sub/altern voices) the medium would serve it's niche group

i mean numbers would say movies are becoming out dated because no one goes to the movies anymore, when it's really tech has subverted the need to go to the movies and everyone has find their niche as it relates to film and film making