I commented this morning before I knew about Orlando. My “current events” referred to the election and the widespread establisment vs people mood. The lack of self awareness and overly inflated egos come in part from, or at the very least is illustrated by, refusing to listen to readers, i.e. the general public. That refusal to listen drives much of the anti-establishment frustration. In art, it plays out as you describe. In commentary and policy, egoism has bigger consequences.