"There's a multitude of reasons for this, and though a better quality mainstream product wouldn't be a certainty in reversing the downward trend, it would be a good start, and most welcome."
I can't see there being any great movement towards quality products, as the studios nowadays are not catering for a quality audience. In fact by dumbing down they set the tone of popular culture in general and people get out of the habit of having to put a little effort into their consumption of quality entertainment. Then, when presented with the choice of something froffy and vacuous they choose that as the easy option (like a child choosing the fizzy sugar laden soft drink) when in fact they would get far more cultural, spiritual, and intellectual stimulation (and ultimately more satisfaction) from making the initial effort to grapple with what at first might appear to be a difficult piece of art or entertainment. This has repercussions for society in general, as the whole tone of social and cultural intercourse is lowered. The beginnings of a societal breakdown, maybe? The beginning of the end of civilisation? It's not so far fetched; all the great civilisations have been transitory. They eventually become tired, sloppy and decadent.
Officer Dibble