Front and Back Covers, Volume 39, Number 4. August 2023

IF 1.5 Q2 ANTHROPOLOGY
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Front and back cover caption, volume 39 issue 4

CBDC'S BOTANICAL IMAGERY

In the ever-evolving landscape of global finance, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has cultivated a botanical metaphor to illustrate the concept of central bank digital currency (CBDC). In this issue, Swartz & Westermeier explore this metaphor (illustrated here by Matthew Kurina), presenting a fascinating anthropological perspective on the intersection of technology, economy and imagination.

The BIS's metaphorical ‘money tree’ positions the central bank as the sturdy trunk, providing stability and support to the financial ecosystem. The branches, representing various financial institutions, extend from this trunk, while the leaves, symbolizing the diverse forms of money, flourish at the periphery. This metaphor not only encapsulates the hierarchical structure of the financial system but also naturalizes the concept of CBDC, subtly implying its inevitability and organic integration into the existing monetary ecosystem.

The BIS uses the ‘money flower’, another botanical metaphor, to classify the past, present and future forms of money. The petals of this flower represent different characteristics of money, such as whether it is digital or physical, centralized or decentralized. This metaphorical taxonomy provides a framework for understanding the evolution of money and the potential role of CBDCs in the future financial landscape.

However, while visually appealing and conceptually insightful, these botanical metaphors also raise anthropological questions. They mask the sociopolitical implications of CBDCs, presenting them as natural phenomena rather than human-made constructs. This portrayal glosses over the potential power dynamics, control mechanisms and geopolitical tensions inherent in adopting CBDCs.

As we stand at the precipice of a new era in digital currency, these metaphors serve as a reminder of the need for critical engagement with the narratives that shape our understanding of complex financial technologies. The ‘money tree’ and ‘money flower’ are not just symbols of financial evolution, but also tools of persuasion, framing our perception of the future of money.

CULTURAL EVOLUTION IN THE AGE OF NFTs

The Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), an intriguing collection of algorithmically generated cartoon ape NFTs etched into the Ethereum blockchain, has not only sparked a cultural phenomenon but also inspired the first ever NFT-themed restaurant, Bored & Hungry, in Long Beach, California, USA.

Why apes? A BAYC founder suggests it is a response to the existential ennui that follows the attainment of vast wealth through crypto investments. ‘Once you've achieved unimaginable wealth, what's next? You join a swamp club with a bunch of apes and embrace the unusual’. Or, you could always enjoy a burger.

Yet, these seemingly whimsical endeavours are more than just a pastime for the crypto rich. NFTs signify a profound shift in the political discourse surrounding blockchain technology. They challenge the financialization of blockchain, aligning with a contemporary wave of anti-finance far-right populism and potentially offering an alternative to the prevailing capitalist democratic order.

In this issue, Bill Maurer delves into the uneasy relationship between the concept of non-fungibility and anthropological theories of embedded or social economies. This tension, he suggests, could pave the way for a post-neoliberal future, one that is not rooted in finance but in regenerative models for future social worlds.

From an anthropological perspective, the rise of NFTs and blockchain technology represents a fascinating evolution of societal norms and values. It challenges our traditional understanding of ownership, value and community, creating a new form of ‘digital tribalism’ where belonging is tied to shared digital assets. Furthermore, the boredom expressed by the crypto wealthy and their subsequent retreat into a virtual ‘swamp club’ can be seen as a form of digital ‘potlatch’, a ceremonial feast of the Kwakiutl, where status is asserted not through wealth accumulation, but through its ostentatious disposal.

As blockchain technology continues infiltrating all aspects of life, anthropology grapples to understand its impact. The cultural shift it brings is as significant as it is complex, and its full implications are yet to be unravelled.

封面和封底,第39卷,第4期。2023年8月
第39卷第4期CBDC的植物图像在不断变化的全球金融格局中,国际清算银行(BIS)培养了一个植物隐喻来说明央行数字货币(CBDC)的概念。在本期节目中,斯沃茨&;韦斯特迈尔探索了这个比喻(由马修·库里纳(Matthew Kurina)在这里说明),提出了一个关于技术、经济和想象力交集的迷人的人类学视角。国际清算银行比喻的“货币树”将央行定位为坚固的树干,为金融生态系统提供稳定和支持。树枝,代表着各种金融机构,从树干延伸出来,而树叶,象征着各种形式的货币,在外围蓬勃发展。这个比喻不仅概括了金融体系的层级结构,也将CBDC的概念自然化,巧妙地暗示了其与现有货币生态系统的必然性和有机融合。国际清算银行使用另一个植物学比喻“货币之花”来对货币的过去、现在和未来形式进行分类。这朵花的花瓣代表了货币的不同特征,比如它是数字的还是实体的,是中心化的还是去中心化的。这种隐喻分类法为理解货币的演变和cbdc在未来金融格局中的潜在作用提供了一个框架。然而,尽管这些植物隐喻在视觉上很吸引人,在概念上也很有洞察力,但它们也引发了人类学上的问题。它们掩盖了cbdc的社会政治影响,将它们呈现为自然现象,而不是人为构建。这种描述掩盖了采用cbdc所固有的潜在权力动态、控制机制和地缘政治紧张局势。当我们站在数字货币新时代的悬崖上时,这些隐喻提醒我们,有必要批判性地参与塑造我们对复杂金融技术理解的叙事。“摇钱树”和“摇钱花”不仅是金融进化的象征,也是说服的工具,塑造了我们对未来金钱的看法。无聊猿游艇俱乐部(BAYC)是一个由算法生成的卡通猿nft蚀刻在以太坊区块链上的有趣集合,它不仅引发了一种文化现象,还激发了有史以来第一家以nft为主题的餐厅Bored &饥饿,在长滩,加州,美国。为什么猩猩?BAYC的一位创始人表示,这是对通过加密投资获得巨额财富后存在的无聊感的回应。一旦你获得了难以想象的财富,接下来是什么?你和一群猿猴一起加入沼泽俱乐部,拥抱不寻常。”或者,你也可以一直吃汉堡。然而,这些看似异想天开的尝试不仅仅是加密富人的消遣。nft标志着围绕区块链技术的政治话语的深刻转变。他们挑战区块链的金融化,与当代反金融的极右翼民粹主义浪潮保持一致,并有可能为现行的资本主义民主秩序提供一种替代方案。在本期中,Bill Maurer深入探讨了不可替代性概念与嵌入式或社会经济的人类学理论之间令人不安的关系。他认为,这种紧张关系可能为后新自由主义的未来铺平道路,这种未来不是植根于金融,而是植根于未来社会世界的再生模式。从人类学的角度来看,nft和区块链技术的兴起代表了社会规范和价值观的迷人演变。它挑战了我们对所有权、价值和社区的传统理解,创造了一种新形式的“数字部落主义”,归属感与共享的数字资产联系在一起。此外,加密货币富人所表达的无聊,以及他们随后撤退到虚拟的“沼泽俱乐部”,可以被视为一种数字“potlatch”形式,一种Kwakiutl的礼仪盛宴,在这里,地位不是通过财富积累来确立的,而是通过炫耀的处理。随着区块链技术继续渗透到生活的各个方面,人类学努力理解其影响。它带来的文化转变既重要又复杂,其全部含义尚待揭示。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Anthropology Today
Anthropology Today ANTHROPOLOGY-
CiteScore
2.30
自引率
7.70%
发文量
71
期刊介绍: Anthropology Today is a bimonthly publication which aims to provide a forum for the application of anthropological analysis to public and topical issues, while reflecting the breadth of interests within the discipline of anthropology. It is also committed to promoting debate at the interface between anthropology and areas of applied knowledge such as education, medicine, development etc. as well as that between anthropology and other academic disciplines. Anthropology Today encourages submissions on a wide range of topics, consistent with these aims. Anthropology Today is an international journal both in the scope of issues it covers and in the sources it draws from.
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