The public's attention often works like the beam of a searchlight, focussed on 1 spot/subject. Or (at best) everyone has their own searchlight, and @ times thos

The public's attention often works like the beam of a searchlight, focussed on 1 spot/subject. Or (at best) everyone has their own searchlight, and @ times those of many people all shine on the same spot. Whatever is in that focal point, gets burned, raised to fame, ridiculed, scrutinized extremely, subject to harassment, etc. While things nearby (but outside that focus) escape such treatment. Who or what is moving that searchlight's direction, is usually more fuzzy. TV talent shows work like that. Social media do. Memes that go viral may have same effect. An influential book/science paper/movie etc, or a politician's speech may do it. But the public's attention span is short, and the beam's focus moves on to burn something/someone else.