And with good reason, unfortunately.
Since the '60s, the media have shown fiction which has made the avant garde appear to be normal. People act often as they think other people are acting, and the media have controlled what the 'norm' is through fictionalized accounts of abnormal behaviour presented as normal, through atypical lifestyles presented as typical (or at least much more common than they are), through portrayals of violence and crudity far beyond what is ordinarily acceptable, even morphing the sense of what is "funny" with laugh tracks in sitcoms. (Yes, it has been shown that people will laugh when others are laughing, even though they do not know what is "funny". Coughing and yawning are similarly 'contagious' in a crowd.).
By playing off the 'herd instinct' in the human population, the media have successfully distorted what people consider "good", "normal", and "acceptable" behaviour over the past four decades, have altered what is commonly considered humorous, and have changed the behaviour of our society.
Those who resist such are protrayed (when portrayed at all) as (depending on their reasons) anywhere from the lunatic fringe to hopelessly 'out of touch' with modern society.
People unthinkingly have watched years of crap and then rushed out to buy the latest, new, improved, extra-strength, lemon-scented, sponsor product in the smaller package for just 'pennies more'.
Why wouldn't the media think they control the country?
You’ve made my point. Now is the time for Americans to wake-up. Thanks for the reply. :)