I really enjoyed the article. I do have some questions however. The 4 people who defined the culture, who did they perceive to be the people who defined the culture? They are only human after all, and by all accounts they weren't really aware of defining the culture. Therefore they must have had people that they looked up to in that regard.

What I am leading up to is when one of the 4 left, what were his motivations, maybe he left because someone that he perceived as defining culture also left?

It seems to me that culture is not really defined by several individuals, but is rather a result of many people 'feeding' off what is important to them. Some particular individuals may become more prominent but only because they reflect the underlying leanings of the majority.

Just my amorphous thoughts, I apologise if it sounds cyclical or confusing (I confused myself a little bit as well :)).