In the Middle Ages, due to high illiteracy rates, paintings often served as the main medium of communication. Today, media communicates through monitor screens and their pixels. Pixels are rectangular dots created by hardware that combine to form text or images. Currently, the pixel is the smallest unit of media communication. Cryptopunks, NFTs created by Canadian software developers Matt Hall and John Watkinson in 2017, are images composed of rough-resolution pixels. Although their value has increased due to their historical significance, ‘Cryptopunk #7523’ from the series was sold for $11,754,000 at Sotheby’s auction on June 10, 2021, because it conveyed rarity and history through its rough pixelation. This NFT, which utilizes square pixels as a tool, conveys a similar concept to Lego blocks, which are meant to be constructed with blocks. In media, messages are created, distributed, and valued based on the nature of the expression tool. The tool is the message. - Joseph’s “just my th...
Tesla earns revenue through car sales, but its real profits come from other sources. Although Hyundai-Kia Motors sells more cars annually than Tesla, it does not have the same profit structure, which is unique to Tesla. Tesla capitalizes on environmental assets by selling carbon credits each year. While the company experiences overall losses in car sales, the sale of these carbon credits results in surplus income, positively affecting its stock price. Traditional automakers contribute to Tesla’s profitability by purchasing cars and paying fines for carbon emissions. This dynamic is also a key reason why Tesla establishes operations in regions with strict pollution regulations. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”