"The way that a handful of corporations in Los Angeles dictate how our stories are told creates a real poverty of imagination and it's a big problem"

Alex Cox's quote is a review of the focused power held by a few significant corporations in Los Angeles, especially within the home entertainment and media industries, and how this monopoly impacts storytelling. By specifying that "a handful of corporations in Los Angeles dictate how our stories are informed," Cox highlights the influence and control these entities wield over the stories that reach the public. This can refer to movie studios, tv networks, and media conglomerates that dominate content production and circulation.

The expression "hardship of imagination" suggests that this concentration of power stifles imagination and diversity in storytelling. When just a small number of voices have the authority to choose which stories are told and how they are represented, the variety of narratives and perspectives is inherently restricted. This can result in formulaic and homogenized content that focuses on revenue over creative or multiculturalism, as these corporations typically rely on reliable methods that maximize monetary returns.

Moreover, this "poverty" can have broader cultural implications. Stories are effective tools for forming social mindsets, worths, and beliefs. When storytelling becomes an item of corporate decision-making, it risks ignoring or misrepresenting marginalized voices and complex narratives that don't fit nicely into mainstream expectations or classifications.

Cox suggests that this pattern is "a big issue" due to the fact that it curtails the potential for storytelling to challenge norms, influence change, and foster understanding throughout different communities. The imaginative landscape ends up being narrowed, and audiences are deprived of the richness that varied voices and ingenious narratives may supply.

In essence, Cox's declaration calls for a more equalized and varied technique to storytelling in the media, one that allows a more comprehensive spectrum of voices and stories to surface and be commemorated. This would not only enhance cultural richness however also nurture an environment where imagination can really prosper, unshackled from the restraints of business interests.