The first example I can think of dates back only about 100-120 or so years in the English speaking world so I don’t know if that qualifies as a ‘past culture.’ But if it does, you should investigate the writing of Amanda McKittrick Ros, an Irish novelist and poet who began publishing her work a few years prior to 1900.

She first rose to fame (infamy?) when a review of her first novel was published in a journal called Black & White in London in 1898. The review was almost entirely sarcastic and filled with mock-awe. Some other documented reactions to her work include an essay written by a fascinated Aldous Huxley in 1923, as well as a literature club at Oxford holding contests to see who could read her work the longest without laughing. Famous participants included JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. Mark Twain was also reported to be an ironic admirer of her work.

This has all the same hallmarks as something more recent like the film The Room; a cult following that engages in repeat viewings, sarcastic praise, and semi-serious attempts at actual analysis.

There is a biography that mostly focuses on her writing called “O Rare Amanda!: The Life of Amanda McKittrick Ros” (1954) which I believe is out of print. It was my introduction to Ms Ros when I stumbled on it in my university library many years ago. Excerpts from the 1898 Pain article are scattered throughout the internet, but I’ve never seen it in it’s entirety. Huxley’s article “Euphuism Redivivus” can be found here