Welcome to New Society — From the Editor

Hello!

Welcome to our world, where we explore the impact of technology on creative life.

When we talk about creative life in New Society, we mean in a core sense. As in, that feeling that makes you tick and pick up a paintbrush or CGI software. Over the past decade, the proliferation of technology including blockchain, NFTs, and virtual worlds has allowed new stems to sprout from this creative core.

In this new ecosystem, creative life is curious and unexpected. It extends swiftly from stacks of numbers and layered code to reality-warped renderings of giant gummy worms.

Here’s one example that may not be obvious at first blush. Creativity through software development led to decentralized technologies like blockchain and bitcoin, which in turn led to the birth of new kinds of financial exchanges. As a result, billions of dollars are being traded in financial markets. That may not seem so sexy or creative — but the spirit that backs these markets is.

There are elsewhere thousands of examples (millions if you count every NFT)  that are more obvious. This same decentralized energy — again spurred by these new technologies — led to the birth of digital collectibles and assets in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Here, assets take on new meaning, from RTFKT’s virtual sneakers and Deadfellaz’s ‘community of the undead’ to the fantasy gaming world of Cross The Ages.

New Society focuses on an intersection — one that has been building exponentially for the past several years. This intersection is the nexus of technology, infrastructure, gaming, finance, art, collectibles, and fashion.

Our team of writers and editors have tried a million and one ways to find a word that accurately and succinctly captures this space:

Do we use “Web3” as a catch-all? Well, that’s not technically accurate.

Do we say “Web3 and the metaverse”? Maybe, but it’s a little clunky.

How about “in and around Web3”? This one kinda works!

Opinions differ. There are technical definitions and arguments that point one way, while colloquial usages and insider language point the other. But, we did find one usage that is completely accurate — because we’re sort of establishing it now: new society.

This new society is composed of people — builders, creators, collectors — who believe that decentralization has the power to save culture.

We are not here to judge or assess any single creator’s form of expression, be it a couture gown, oil painting, or algorithm-generated collection of monkeys. Instead, we are here to identify that all creative life starts with an encounter. Thanks to Web3, that encounter is finding new life.

In the book, you’ll find thought pieces, interviews, galleries, and more. To help guide your exploration, our articles are split into a few categories:

• Set: These are the introductions of each chapter. We take on the big picture and the ecosystem as a whole.
  
  
• Read: Read if you’re up for it. Check out some diagrams. We did our best not to waste words.
  
  
• Rest: We all need rest. These are designed as visual breaks featuring work from brilliant artists. Stimulate your mind in a different way.
  
  
• Meet: Get to know a new person, group of people, company, and their ideas.
  
  
• Play: Feeling playful? Want to build an avatar? Or add to your NFT collection? This is your spot.
  

Our inaugural book is available in three editions: Foundation, Creator, and Collector.

Click to pre-order your copy now.

Welcome,
Enrique Menendez
Editor-in-Chief