Why Did Stanley Water Bottles Suddenly Become a Cultural Phenomenon?
Plain English with Derek Thompson
The Contingency of Success in Culture
Success in culture isn't predetermined, but contingent and flooky. The story of 'Rock Around the Clock' illustrates how the preferences of one boy shaped the course of music history, turning the song from a failure in 1954 to a sensation in 1955. This highlights that the difference in success often isn't due to quality, but rather chance.
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