Are NFTs works of art? There is a heated discussion on the subject on Wikipedia

A heated debate is underway on Wikipedia, the most popular online encyclopedia, about NFTs: can they be considered works of art? That was the question that started a heated discussion that has been going on for the past few days (and is still being updated) among some Wikipedia editors regarding the construction of the encyclopedia’s entry on the list of the most expensive works of art in history, and for the time being ended, as is Wikipedia’s practice for much-discussed topics, with a poll on which the editors themselves commented.

The question was, “Should NFTs be included in this list?” Six editors took a stand: four voted against, one in favor, and one “weakly in favor.” The arguments varied. Among those against, there are those who say that NFTs should be included in the list only if they are performed by important artists known for their works made outside the NFT world (the example of Banksy is given). “Too early to tell,” says another editor, “I don’t think society has figured out whether NFTs are visual artworks per se, computer code, or contract documents.” Another writes that NFTs are “a ’thing’ in their own right.” Still, another editor who voted against points out that “it could be dangerous for Wikipedia to become the arbiter of what is art and what is not, and since there does not yet seem to be sufficient consensus among reliable sources on how to categorize artistic NFTs, I say they should be kept separate for the time being. I am sure that in the coming months and years much will be written about NFTs and we will have more time to work on them. This will not be our last discussion on the subject.”

The only fully supportive editor cites journalistic sources (Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Forbes) that the now famous Everydays - Beeple’s The First 5000 Days, the work that sold for more than $69 million last year in an auction at Christie’s, should be considered a work of art in its own right. Finally, theeditor who gave “weak support” simply leans in the only favorable one.

The discussion, at any rate, although it seems to be leaning in a certain direction (most are not inclined to believe that NFTs, for the time being, can be mixed with artworks), will certainly be taken up again in the future. It should be noted, however, that Wikipedia already has an entry on the most expensive NFTs in history, which at the time of writing are therefore on a double list (in fact, they have not yet been separated from that of the most expensive works). Many cite articles by experts, others suggest convening meetings of specialists to settle the issue, and there are those who advocate letting some time pass. In short: for fans of the topic, there is plenty to spend time in front of their computers.

Pictured: Beeple, Everydays - The First 5000 Days (2007-2021; JPG file, 21,069 x 21,069 pixels)

Are NFTs works of art? There is a heated discussion on the subject on Wikipedia

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