Opulent days are over at Vogue, Vanity Fair, and other once-powerful glossies. Anna Wintour is giving up (some) control. Now that everyone’s a gatekeeper, why do we keep recreating their status-obsessed world?

Credit...Illustration by Chantal Jahchan; Photos: Getty Images

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By Michael M. Grynbaum

Michael Grynbaum writes about media for The Times. This article is adapted from his upcoming book, “Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America.”