it's material and political. the most interesting people have enough resources to focus on non-survival tasks, and the individual or collective ability to act freely. today, people generally have higher expenses, less free time, and there are more cops. you'll still see interesting culture among
1. cities where living expenses are generally high, so discretionary spending is low, but a subculture has successfully secured low-cost housing or workspace somewhere the cops can't easily go.
2. rural areas where wages are generally low, so discretionary spending is low, but a subculture has successfully exploited region-exclusive exports or experiences somewhere the cops don't bother to go.
3. wealthy people
4. indigenous people that have resisted the incursion of wage labor and state power
All three statements are manifestly true. I'd only add that free time is bi-modal; under- and over-employed with few people (in the USA) having "just right" work-life balances.
1. cities where living expenses are generally high, so discretionary spending is low, but a subculture has successfully secured low-cost housing or workspace somewhere the cops can't easily go.
2. rural areas where wages are generally low, so discretionary spending is low, but a subculture has successfully exploited region-exclusive exports or experiences somewhere the cops don't bother to go.
3. wealthy people
4. indigenous people that have resisted the incursion of wage labor and state power