The Decline of Meaningful Art in the NFT Era
Social media has transformed the art world in many ways, some good and some less so. One concerning trend is the prioritization of quantity over quality seen in certain NFT (non-fungible token) artist communities.
Scroll through NFT Twitter or Instagram and you’ll see post after post with near-identical comments like “Gm” “Gn” “great work” and “congrats”. These generic phrases are often posted by other NFT creators, part of a tacit expectation that to get comments and engagement on your own posts, you must first comment on theirs.
While building a supportive community is admirable, this frequent flattery risks becoming meaningless. Worse, it incentivizes artists to spend less time crafting unique and thoughtful work, and more time leaving brief, promotional comments. Some creators even pay for NFT “engagement pods” where groups of accounts are contractually obliged to like and comment on each others’ posts.
In the rush to mint and market NFTs, their artistic merit seems secondary. Much of the artwork, while pretty, feels derivative of what came before. The sheer volume of NFTs being produced means standing out from the crowd is a challenge. Yet from Andy Warhol’s soup cans to Banksy’s street art, the most impactful art often subverts expectations. “Different” is precisely what makes art interesting.
As technology opens new possibilities for creativity, we must be careful not to lose sight of what makes art meaningful. Quality should be valued over quantity. Originality and craft should matter more than likes and comments. By reflecting on the purpose of art in the digital age, NFT creators can lead their community back to more mindful, intentional work with heart and meaning behind it. The potential for NFTs to transform the art world is immense, but only if artists stay true to their vision and values.
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