The psychological effect of being a member of a formerly great civilization that has decayed in significance is not trivial. I wonder how societies deal with th

The psychological effect of being a member of a formerly great civilization that has decayed in significance is not trivial. I wonder how societies deal with this "cultural status anxiety" through art. Italians these days seem to emphasize how they are experts at "enjoying life". I wonder if this was always the case, or if this is in some sense a compensation for lost glory.