People tend to pick either "Piece of media X had no effect on culture" or "media X had these specific, clear, well-defined effect on culture." Both are cop-out

People tend to pick either "Piece of media X had no effect on culture" or "media X had these specific, clear, well-defined effect on culture." Both are cop-outs, born from what the speaker wants to be true. The more interesting question is: Given that Portland has long since replaced San Francisco as the most prominent uniquely-cultured west cost city, what changes are inevitable? And what role did Portlandia play in the larger picture of that change?