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...
Addiction arises from the allure of immediate rewards. These instant gratifications clearly activate our brains, attracting those who favor such rewards. They play a critical role in shaping human activities and contributing to addiction. For example, if a student struggling to focus notices immediate improvements after studying for just a little while, they are likely to keep studying diligently. Similarly, if stock investors can confirm the traded stock price a month or a year later during their transactions, they may lose interest in trading. The timing of rewards greatly influences human interactions and societal structures. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”