Regarding sea shanties and popular culture: "yo ho, me hearties, you ho". I believe Johnnie Depp and Pirates of Whatever have helped make shanties more interesting to the general public.

I actually LIKE the fact that various breeds of folk music aren't widely popular. They exist for those who find them and like them. Most of them do age better than most pop, but I think that comes down to instrumentation. I'm happy thinking people can find shanties if they want to. I don't have to think everyone loves them.