Reclaiming Beauty: Why a New Monetary System is Essential for True Art
Art in its various forms has always captivated our imagination while providing insights into our collective identity. The works of art we create with our hands are a profound manifestation of our creativity, each serving a purpose and conveying a message. It is more than just an outlet of creative expression, but can also be viewed as a mirror of a society that reflects its values, and is thus an accurate representation of the people that produced it. In essence, art embodies the spiritual state of humanity at a particular point in time, as well as humanity's enduring quest to depict the divine and abstract in physical form. It is unequivocal that art and beauty are two sides of the same coin, and that they share an intrinsic connection. What is art after all, if not an exalted celebration of the beauty that surrounds and permeates our lives?
The beauty of art is more than just aesthetics. It possesses a transformative power that transcends the mundane and elevates our spirits to a higher realm. When we encounter a truly beautiful work of art, we are transported to another world, a place where time stands still and the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In that moment, our hearts are stirred, our minds are expanded, and our souls are touched. This celebration of beauty manifests in countless forms, each of which mirrors diverse aspects of human experience.
Whether in breathtaking paintings that evoke a sense of awe and wonder where the attention to detail of the artist are profoundly evident or in the heart-warming melodies of a song where the composer’s emotions are poured into every note, or in the graceful movements of a dancer where we witness the embodiment of beauty in motion, or in the poignant words of a poem that resonate and connect to the depths of our souls; the beauty of art undeniably captivates our hearts.
This is why the transition from aesthetically pleasing and inspiring art to dark, depressing, and unsightly forms is often one of the earliest indications of a society gradually succumbing to pessimism and depression. If we view architecture and the physical spaces we inhabit as extensions of art then the same principle holds true for our cities and neighborhoods. Brutalism, an architectural style that emerged in the United Kingdom in the 1950s and was predominantly used in communist countries, has a design aesthetic that is anything but inspirational or uplifting to the human spirit. The buildings are characterized by minimalist designs that prioritize functionality, “honesty” and social purpose while also emphasizing the bare building materials and structural elements over decorative design.
While brutalist structures are eyesores and emotionally distressing, they are a perfect reflection of the socio-political era of their time. During its peak in the United Kingdom, brutalism was primarily used in the design of low-cost social housing, and interestingly, this style gained popularity in Eastern Europe, where it became a common visual element in urban landscapes. In contrast to traditional architectural styles characterized by aesthetically pleasing structures that were associated with the bourgeoisie, brutalism was associated with the concept of equality, symbolized by the use of concrete as a building material. Living in an environment devoid of aesthetic beauty does have a detrimental impact on our well-being and society as a whole.
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“It goes on and on and on, concrete, plastic, concrete, plastic, traffic fumes, concrete, plastic, traffic fumes, everybody working very hard for not very much reward, buying consumer goods that they’re supposed to buy, undertaking the leisure pursuits they’re supposed to undertake, on the computer, living this life in which they are neither rich nor poor, not particularly free, and without any real cultural or artistic release — I see that as the future of the whole world, turning into the suburbs of Istanbul.”
What Hitchens laid out here is usually a consequence of when art gets hijacked by the state. For example, when the communists seized power in 1949, Chinese artists were compelled to align with the party's artistic directives. This meant embracing Soviet-style "social realism," an overtly didactic art style that was also used as a communist propaganda tool, resulting in art that was anything but beautiful. Is it any surprise then, that brutalist architects were also sympathetic towards socialism?
"Contemporary art is an epoch of false money allied with false culture."
Alexander Stoddart
In recent years there has been a growing trend of some of the most ridiculous works of art being auctioned for thousands and even millions of dollars. Everything from invisible sculptures to bananas duct-taped to a wall now passes for art worth collecting at a hefty price tag. Despite the grandiose and verbose justifications of the charlatans behind these fraudulent creations, the exorbitant price tags they demand are merely a reflection of a larger cultural malaise. A spiritually bankrupt society that is addicted to fraud.
This cunning grift relies on finding gullible individuals (often called bag holders) who can be deceived into parting with their money for these fake forms of art. Nothing of value or beauty is actually produced; it's all a smoke and mirrors act, but the scam succeeds because the buyer at the end of the transaction is often convinced that they can sell the artwork for a higher price in the future. However, as with all such schemes, there comes a point when reality sets in and the whole scam collapses, leaving a trail of victims who believed they were investors or traders but were essentially trying to profit from a fraudulent operation.
This pervasive cancer has engulfed every sector of society from Wall Street to Main street.The deceptive allure of getting something for nothing has led to an increase in; superficial and transactional relationships, children aspiring to become TikTok influencers as opposed to being engineers or astronauts, dogmatic science, indoctrination masquerading as education and meaningless work that may be financially rewarding but spiritually draining.
Our culture's admiration for fraudsters as geniuses perpetuates the widespread prevalence of fraudulent behavior. Their inferior productions, presented as music, films, and art, are aggressively shoved down our throats through propaganda in an attempt to convince us of their greatness. Acclaimed critics, who are instrumental in upholding this fraud, craft glowing reviews of these inferior works, intending to captivate us and numb our senses’ ability to recognize truly beautiful works of art. In the process, they profit financially at our expense. While it is well-known that dishonest behavior has been prevalent throughout history, it would be an oversight to not acknowledge fiat money’s influence in shaping this fraud addiction .In fact, it’s at the root of it.
The creation of art is a sacred act, a way of connecting with the divine. Artists channel their inner light and creativity to bring forth works that are imbued with spiritual energy. This energy is palpable to viewers, who are able to connect with the artist's soul and share in their vision. Art becomes a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, a conduit through which we can access the transcendent. This delicate balance is corrupted the moment fiat money enters the equation.
At its core, fiat money is a control system that is designed to enslave and give central bankers the unfettered power to steer the course of humanity’s destiny. Just as communism suppressed the creative human spirit by enthroning the state as master of all, leading to the production of hideous architecture and art works (among many other ills), the warped incentives inherent in this corrupt monetary system also give the state the power to pick winners and losers within the market; thereby stifling creativity in artists and entrepreneurs.
That’s not all, the gradual erosion of a currency’s value fosters a short-term mindset that permeates every aspect of life. This is further exacerbated by an addiction to excessive consumption, fueled by the continuous influx of money into the financial system. Ultimately, this results in a considerably diminished and impoverished human experience. As survival becomes the primary objective, fraud becomes the norm, leading to a gradual shift towards a “Hunger Games” society. In this society, the ends justify the means, and the pursuit of art and beauty is replaced by the destruction of all that is beautiful and artistic. This is exemplified by controversial activists like "Just Stop Oil" who deface and vandalize classical artwork in the name of protesting climate change.
Where in times past, greats like Lorenzo Ghiberti with low time-preference, painstakingly labored for twenty seven years to create the iconic “Gates of Paradise” for the Florence Baptistery; miseducated youths destroy magnificent works such as these in a few minutes, seemingly without any consequences or remorse. These are all downstream effects of the fiat financial system.
If humanity is to be freed from the creativity recession that it is currently suffering under, a new monetary system that isn’t debt based is required. Such a monetary system would need to be decentralized, deflationary and whose monetary policy is transparent. This kind of financial system would be the basis for a truly free market that isn’t rigged where the best ideas are rewarded and mediocre ones perish without seeing the light of day. This won’t be due to any political process or policy but will be the natural consequence of a level playing field. Bitcoin is that monetary system.
For timeless works of art to become the norm once more in various forms, including music, film, dance, and even paintings, adopting a Bitcoin standard is an absolute necessity. Nothing enduringly beautiful and everlasting can ever be created in a world where the value of your money can be cut in half in a matter of months. It’s time to awaken from the hypnotic stupor of stagnation and fiat money imposed regression that has been plaguing our world for over a century. Bitcoin is our best shot at making this a reality.