JIMMY SONG | An author, educator and Bitcoin developer makes a passionate argument for how fiat debases art | #015

The Bitcoin Muse

"This system of having artists get approval from the people who are higher up on the status ladder is an entirely fiat game."

— Jimmy Song

Jimmy Song, a formative voice in my bitcoin journey, joins me for a blistering critique of modern and contemporary art including NFTs. Using his latest book, Fiat Ruins Everything, and specifically, Chapter 26: "Fiat Debases Art" as the frame for our conversation, Jimmy jumps right in with his strong opinions and passionate disdain for Picasso, Rothko and their ilk. Unpacking the broken incentives across a huge swath of the art world, we simultaneously lament and posit solutions for the downstream distortions created by fiat.

This is the kind of conversation that could have gone on for a long time but I'm committed to making these rips bite-sized points of departure for your own rumination. The Bitcoin Muse is intended to be an evergreen catalyst for conversation and thought, therefore, I do my best to avoid current events so as to explore the recurring themes surrounding art under the emerging bitcoin standard. I think Jimmy's opinions perfectly fit into that mission but I'll leave you to judge that for yourself.

Be sure to follow @jimmysong as you listen to our chat and to share, rate and subscribe to The Bitcoin Muse.

Any support you can show me inspires me to keep going with this labor of love. I'm grateful for any and all reposting from my Twitter, Vero or NOSTR feeds. And if you listen on a podcasting 2.0 app like Fountain or Breez, you should know that 10% of all those streams and boosts split to help @OpenSats fund bitcoin and other free and open-source projects. Thank you.

Guest Links

Website: https://vida.page/jimmysong

Latest Book on Amazon: Fiat Ruins Everything

Twitter Feed: @jimmysong

Podcast: Bitcoin Fixes This

Substack: Bitcoin Tech Talk

YouTube: Off Chain with Jimmy Song

NOSTR: npub10vlhsqm4qar0g42p8g3plqyktmktd8hnprew45w638xzezgja95qapsp42

Mentioned in the Episode

Fiat Ruins Everything

Cryptograffiti

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Ceiling