I think that there are some perks to being dumb. Don’t see that word as an insult. In this scenario, I’m treating “dumb” as a compliment. I am dumb when it comes to technology. Yes, I can use a smartphone, a smartwatch, a laptop, and a desktop to do a variety of things. But most of those activities can also be performed by a toddler nowadays. So, relatively speaking, I am dumb, and that is why I’m never up-to-date with most technological advancements. And there are a ton of developments that are happening in this digital age every single second. However, since most of them are being made without any long-term goals in mind, they are coming and going so quickly that I just can’t keep up. The upside of that is I’m immune to making bad investments. Since NFTs is the topic of this discussion, yes, I didn’t make a ton of money by selling digital art or buying a badly drawn JPG file of a monkey. However, I didn’t have a panic attack when I saw the NFT market crash and burn. That’s a win-win for me, and Minted kind of encourages me to stay firm on that stance (even if that’s not the intent of the film).
Nicholas Bruckman’s Minted is largely centered around Beeple, Latasha, Justin Aversano, Kina Matahari, Kevin McCoy, Diana Sinclair, Young & Sick, Jasti, Taesirat and Taslemat Yusuf, and more artists who made a living out of the NFT boom. Beeple is famous for creating anti-capitalist art where he turns memes about politicians and businessmen into something that’s both gross and provocative. Latasha creates music videos. Justin Aversano is a photographer who is famous for taking photos of twins from all over the globe. Kina Matahari’s paintings are incredibly anti-establishment and hence, considered controversial in her home country, Cuba. And while all of these artists express themselves in their own unique ways, at one point in their lives, they struggled to monetize their work. When they learned about NFTs, though, they decided to take their chances, and they hit big. A lot of their financial problems were solved, and they could see themselves doing this for the foreseeable future. However, after the debacle in 2022, as the market is still only showing “signs of recovery,” all of these folks are grappling with the fact that making and selling art (even though the point of making art is not making money, you have to make money to make art) will probably never be the same again.
As mentioned before, I am a dumb person. I am sure that Minted has done a great job of explaining how NFTs work, but I still don’t understand the point of purchasing the “proof of ownership” of… the copy of a piece of art that’s on something called a blockchain or something? I’m not necessarily against what anyone is doing with their money, but what’s the point of owning digital art that is on your phone or some server? I come from a financial class where buying art seems like a dream. I am knowledgeable enough to differentiate between good and bad art. I wish to support every talented artist out there. However, I have neither that kind of money nor that kind of space in my house to display all the amazing artisans that I have helped monetarily. But I am guessing that those who can spend thousands of dollars on a whim can actually do what I wish to do. Instead, they are buying digital copies so that they can use them as conversation starters at a party? I’m not kidding; a guy in the documentary literally says that. What? Why? Where’s the exclusivity? Where’s the tangibility? What was in the air back then, other than the coronavirus, that was making people act like this? I have no clue.
I know that my thoughts about NFT art are probably dated, but that doesn’t prevent me from recognizing the fact that this phenomenon helped someone like Kina Matahari free herself from the shackles of Cuban tyranny. I mean, that’s truly amazing. Do I wish people bought physical copies of her art at some insane price instead of getting a digital copy of it, which can vanish if there’s a server crash? Yes, sure. At the same time, do I hope that she continues to make anti-establishment art, which is purchased through this complicated virtual process, thereby allowing her to give her daughter a bright future? Absolutely, yes! Because as long as good art is being purchased, it shows that people have an interest in supporting artists, right? It means that even if something as trendy as NFTs dies, people will find some other way to allow artists to platform their work and art enthusiasts to buy it, right? Okay, and has that happened yet? Well, as far as my understanding goes, it hasn’t, which makes me question the whole reason for this fad. Sure, there are some heartwarming stories that have emerged out of this episode. However, who are the real winners here, and who are the losers? Was chasing this trend even worth it? I don’t know; you tell me.
While Minted does a good job of giving a basic idea of the highs and lows of NFTs, I think it has failed to address a key factor for the general disdain towards this particular project: its environmental impact. Yes, I am a self-proclaimed dumb guy, and if that gives you some form of relatability, I have to break your illusion and reveal that I am smart enough to read the news. I did miss the hype train when it comes to NFTs, but I actually learned about their existence when tech experts and YouTubers began talking about how the process of blockchain transactions is actually deteriorating our ecosystem. Sure, I am no activist, but I really care about the world we live in, and I vehemently hate anyone who jeopardizes the future of this planet. It’s true that these blockchains have claimed they have cut their energy usage. But what have they actually done to make amends? Have they planted trees? Are they working towards making alternative forms of fuel viable for the common folk? Are they using their money and influence to challenge capitalist companies and industries that are destroying our ecosystem? I doubt it. Anyway, if you like somebody’s art, just go and buy it, put it on your wall, and appreciate it. Don’t complicate simple things just because they are old.
