Is it a cliche that we perpetuate because we want to believe it, at some level? It helps to put distance between us as well as give us significant cues on how to feel, in the pop-cultural sphere. The blatancy of the work of, say, Spielberg, is just catering to that need in us. Because, surely, the need is created by some psychological need for it, even though it may be sustained by pop-cultural forces for reasons of their own?