Some notes I made on Michael Saylor’s recent keynote. Let’s win together!

The Digital Gold Rush

The Investor’s Dilemma

• How do I make money?
• How do I outperform the cost of capital?

Few asset classes outperform monetary inflation. The expansion of the money supply closely tracks the performance of the S&P index over 100 years. When you invest your money in the S&P index, you’re not making money; you’re just not losing money. If you were rich 100 years ago and held a diversified portfolio of stocks, you’re still rich. If you bought a bunch of currency or bonds, you’re poor.

Is Bitcoin the Solution?

Over the last four years, Bitcoin has had annualized returns of 46%—crushing every other asset class and beating the rate of monetary inflation. Bitcoin has been winning 11 out of the past 14 years.

Advocates of Bitcoin Believe:

• Bitcoin is the first perfect money.
• Bitcoin is a paradigm shift.
• Bitcoin is the singularity where science collides with economics.

Rethink Economics, Money, Capital, Business, and Corporate Finance

There is a fundamental technology and paradigm shift.

Bitcoin is Digital Gold

It has all the virtues of sound money and none of the vices of physical gold (“that barbaric relic”).

Skeptics of Bitcoin Believe:

• It’s too good to be true.
• It’s money for criminals.
• There’s no use case.
• It’s too volatile.
• It’s backed by nothing.
• The government will ban it.
• It will become obsolete.
• It will be hacked.

If you’ve ignored something that’s winning 11 out of the past 14 years, either you didn’t know about it, or maybe you thought one of these concerns was enough to keep you out of the asset.

Everyone is Against Bitcoin Before They Are For It

Once you spend 1,000 hours of study and become a Bitcoin maximalist, you realize that this is an ethical imperative. The world is a better place with Bitcoin. The money is broken. The world is broken. Billions of people are suffering.

Fix the money, fix the world.

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Bitcoin Requires a Return to First Principles

Bitcoin represents the digital transformation of energy.

Energy Transformations Throughout History:

• Fire (early man): Discovery of energy that can be extracted from matter and converted into heat and light.
• Water (Greek/Roman): Discovery of a method to extract energy from water, flowing downhill, and convert it into mechanical power.
• Steam (James Watt): Discovery of the method to convert fire into mechanical power for manufacturing and transport.
• Oil (John D. Rockefeller): Discovery of chemical energy that can be stored, transported, and converted into mechanical, thermal, light, and electrical energy, as well as petroleum products.
• Electricity (Thomas Edison): Discovery of electrical energy that can be channeled cleanly and silently over long distances and converted into mechanical, heat, light, and sound energy.
• Fission (Enrico Fermi): Discovery of a method to create controlled nuclear reactions, leading to nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.
• Bitcoin (Satoshi Nakamoto): Discovery of digital energy that can be programmed by a computer and channeled through space and time.

The Name “Satoshi Nakamoto”

The name Satoshi Nakamoto has been widely speculated to have intentional or symbolic meanings, though it remains unclear whether it was chosen by an individual or group as a pseudonym.

1. Satoshi (さとし): This Japanese name can have several meanings depending on the kanji used. Common interpretations include:

• “Wise,” “intelligent,” or “quick-witted” (聡).
• “Clear-thinking,” or “enlightened” (悟).

1. Nakamoto (中本): A common Japanese surname that can be broken down into:

• Naka (中) meaning “inside,” “central,” or “middle.”
• Moto (本) meaning “origin,” “foundation,” or “base.”

Taken together, Satoshi Nakamoto could be interpreted as “wise central origin” or “enlightened foundation,” reflecting the groundbreaking nature of the Bitcoin protocol.

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The Digital Transformation of Capital

Global wealth is distributed across a variety of assets: gold, art, cars, collectibles, equities, real estate, bonds, money, and Bitcoin. These assets provide utility and preserve value.

• $450T in assets are held for utility.
• $450T is long-term capital (store of value).

Capital is Economic Energy

Capital represents money, wealth, power, and value.

Bitcoin represents the transformation of our capital from financial and physical assets to digital assets.

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The First Law of Money: L = V/M

• L = Lifespan of asset
• V = Value of asset
• M = Maintenance cost

Financial Assets

Financial assets constantly degrade in value due to inflation, regulation, and political change.

• Peso: 2 years
• Lira: 2 years
• USD: 14 years
• Stocks: 25 years
• Bonds: 30 years
• Funds: 100 years

Physical Assets

Physical assets constantly degrade in value due to the laws of entropy and political chaos.

• Ferrari: 2 years
• Yacht: 6 years
• Home: 17 years
• Silver: 22 years
• Warehouse: 40 years
• Gold: 62 years
• Painting: 72 years
• Land: 91 years

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Satoshi’s Discovery

Small Idea: Transfer of Value Without a Trusted Intermediary

Satoshi discovered a method to transfer value through space, for example, sending $1 million from here to Tokyo.

Big Idea: Storage of Value Without a Trusted Intermediary

You can store value for 1,000 years. Nobody in human history has ever found a way to do this until now.

Satoshi created an asset without the financial risk of currency, stocks, and bonds, or the physical risk of real estate or property. Bitcoin is a revolutionary advance in asset lifespan.

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Digital Capital

Bitcoin is digital capital. Digital capital offers many advantages to investors. Bitcoin offers the benefits of owning a building without the liability of a conspicuous, immobile asset.

Bitcoin Eliminates Negative Factors:

• No tax
• No traffic
• No tenants
• No tort
• No trouble
• No mayor
• No weather
• No corrosion
• No regulator

Bitcoin Brings Positive Factors:

• Invisible
• Indestructible
• Immortal
• Teleportable
• Portable
• Programmable
• Divisible
• Musical
• Fungible
• Configurable

Digital capital is global capital. Bitcoin is superior to foreign debt, equity, real estate, and currency as a capital asset.

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Factors That Drive Bitcoin Volatility

Bitcoin is traded globally, in real-time, 24/7. There are no limits on trading, leverage, collateral, or risk.

• 1,492+ active crypto exchanges worldwide.
• Bitcoin markets trade 8,760 hours per year (versus 1,638 hours for traditional stock exchanges).
• Bitcoin volatility is a feature, not a bug.

Volatility is Vitality

Volatility attracts superior capital, interest, talent, and technology to the asset.

• For investors, high volatility drives superior long-term returns.
• For traders, high volatility drives superior near-term yields.
• For financers, high volatility creates superior opportunities to securitize the asset class.
• For analysts, high volatility creates superior interest.

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Bitcoin’s Performance and Institutional Adoption

Key Questions from an Institutional Perspective:

• Can it be banned?
• Can it be copied?
• Can it be hacked?

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Where Bitcoin is Legal

Bitcoin is legal in many countries across the globe, including most of North America, the European Union, and parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Some key countries include:

• North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
• Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands
• Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel
• South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile
• Africa: South Africa, Nigeria (regulated)
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

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Countries Where Bitcoin is Illegal

As of 2024, Bitcoin ownership is illegal or heavily restricted in several countries. These include:

• China
• Algeria
• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Iraq
• Qatar
• Tunisia
• North Macedonia

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Has Bitcoin Ever Been Hacked?

The underlying Bitcoin network and blockchain have never been hacked due to their strong cryptographic design. However, exchanges and wallets have been hacked numerous times. For example:

• Mt. Gox (2014): Millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin were stolen.
• Bitfinex (2016): A similar hack took place.

These incidents involved security breaches in centralized platforms, not the Bitcoin protocol itself.

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Has Bitcoin Ever Been Copied?

Yes, Bitcoin has been copied in the form of forks, such as:

• Bitcoin Cash (2017)
• Bitcoin SV
• Bitcoin Gold

None of these forks come close to Bitcoin’s success.

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The Future of Bitcoin

Factors Driving Bitcoin Adoption and Price:

• Advances in technology
• Improvements in regulation
• Economic growth
• Approval of banking custody, trading, and credit
• Approval of ETFs and digital assets frameworks
• Issuance of sovereign debt by nations worldwide
• Integration with big tech software and hardware
• Increased awareness over time

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Bitcoin’s 21-Year Price Forecast (2045)

• Bear Case: $3M
• Base Case: $13M
• Bull Case: $49M

Bitcoin is cyber Manhattan.

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The Digital Gold Rush Starts Today

We are headed to a point where 99% of Bitcoin will be mined. The point of absolute scarcity will be reached, and only 200,000 Bitcoin will be mined over the next 106 years. As of today, there are 19.7 million Bitcoin in existence. By 2034, there will be 20.8 million Bitcoin.

Reflective Price Shock

At 99% mined (around December 26, 2034—about 3,759 days away, or 10.3 years), expect a reflective price shock.

• There are only 1,145,000 BTC for sale at today’s price ($74 billion).
• 305 BTC are acquired per day ($20 million per day).

At this inflection point, Bitcoin becomes the world’s first deflationary asset, more scarce than any land in Manhattan. Bitcoin becomes the world’s first perfect money.

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Institutional Adoption of Bitcoin

Entities Holding Bitcoin:

• ETFs
• Countries
• Private companies
• Public companies
• Mining companies

There are 40 global spot Bitcoin ETPs that hold 1+ million Bitcoin, and over 70 publicly traded Bitcoin-related securities.

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The Digital Transformation of Global Capital Markets

Money based on an open, digital protocol grows exponentially—faster, smarter, and harder.

The digital future is faster, smarter, and stronger.

We don’t want 19th-century speed in the 21st century.

• Bars of gold took one year to settle in the 19th century.
• Stocks and bonds took a week to settle in 1970, and eventually got down to a day in the 20th century.
• Bitcoin takes one hour to settle in the 21st century to anyone, anywhere, anytime. On the open protocol, Bitcoin settles in one minute. On the Lightning Network, one second.

We are headed toward a world where we can settle in T+1 millisecond.

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The Future of Bitcoin

Factors That Drive Bitcoin’s Adoption and Price:

• Advances in technology
• Improvements in regulation
• Economic growth
• Approval of banking custody, trading, and credit
• Approval of ETPs
• Approval of digital asset frameworks for innovation
• Integration with artificial intelligence
• Issuance of sovereign debt by nations worldwide
• Integration with big tech software and hardware devices
• Increased awareness and chaos from the passage of time

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Bitcoin’s 21-Year Price Forecast (2045)

• Bear Case: $3M
• Base Case: $13M
• Bull Case: $49M

Bitcoin is cyber Manhattan.

Imagine a city in cyberspace, 276 blocks wide, 276 blocks high, 276 blocks deep. You buy a block—that’s a Bitcoin. You buy 276 blocks—that’s a boulevard.

“It might make sense just to get some in case it catches on. If enough people think the same way, that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” – Satoshi Nakamoto (1/17/2009)

Keep your money forever.

Philadelphia has an impressive park system that provides both urban and natural green spaces across the city. Here are some key highlights about the parklands in Philadelphia:

Fairmount Park

• Size: Over 2,000 acres, making it one of the largest urban park systems in the U.S.

• Description: Fairmount Park is often considered the crown jewel of Philadelphia’s parklands, divided into East Fairmount Park and West Fairmount Park by the Schuylkill River. It is home to miles of trails, historic landmarks, cultural institutions, and scenic areas. The park includes the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Boathouse Row, the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and the Philadelphia Zoo, among other attractions.

• Recreation: The park offers biking, running, and hiking trails, as well as recreational sports fields and spaces for picnics. Rowing on the Schuylkill River is another popular activity in the park.

Wissahickon Valley Park

• Size: Approximately 2,042 acres.

• Description: A large forested park within Philadelphia, Wissahickon Valley Park is one of the city’s most beloved green spaces. It follows the Wissahickon Creek and features deep ravines, steep hillsides, and a variety of trails. Forbidden Drive, a 7-mile trail, runs through the heart of the park.

• Recreation: The park offers hiking, horseback riding, and birdwatching opportunities. Its natural landscape makes it a haven for people seeking outdoor activities close to the city. It also connects with the larger Fairmount Park system.

Pennypack Park

• Size: Around 1,600 acres.

• Description: Located in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennypack Park follows the Pennypack Creek and offers a mix of wooded areas, wetlands, and meadows. It’s one of the city’s larger parks, providing a tranquil escape from urban life.

• Recreation: The park is popular for biking, fishing, birdwatching, and picnicking. The paved trails are also frequented by joggers and cyclists. Historic bridges and a diverse ecosystem are key features of the park.

FDR Park

• Size: Around 348 acres.

• Description: Situated in South Philadelphia, FDR Park is known for its lakes, lagoons, and marshy areas. The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers (sons of the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted) and offers a mix of recreational and natural areas.

• Recreation: FDR Park has sports fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, and fishing opportunities in its waterways. It’s also home to the American Swedish Historical Museum.

Tacony Creek Park

• Size: About 300 acres.

• Description: Tacony Creek Park stretches along Tacony Creek in Northeast Philadelphia. It features woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, providing important habitat for wildlife and a serene setting for outdoor activities.

• Recreation: The park offers multi-use trails for walking, running, and biking. It’s also an important part of the Philadelphia watershed and green stormwater infrastructure.

Cobbs Creek Park

• Size: Approximately 800 acres.

• Description: This park is located in West Philadelphia, following Cobbs Creek. It has a mix of forested areas, open meadows, and creek-side trails.

• Recreation: Cobbs Creek Park offers hiking, birdwatching, and biking. The park is home to a golf course and several historic sites.

Benjamin Rush State Park

• Size: 275 acres.

• Description: Located in the Far Northeast section of the city, Benjamin Rush State Park is the only state park within Philadelphia. It’s known for its open meadows and community gardens.

• Recreation: The park is primarily used for passive recreation, such as walking, biking, and community gardening. It also has a popular radio-controlled airplane field.

Schuylkill River Trail

• Size: A 75-mile multi-use trail, with portions running through Philadelphia.

• Description: The Schuylkill River Trail is part of a larger network that follows the Schuylkill River from Philadelphia to Berks County. The section through Philadelphia is a key artery for bikers, runners, and walkers.

• Recreation: The trail offers stunning views of the river and connects some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Fairmount Park and Boathouse Row.

Bartram’s Garden

• Size: 50 acres.

• Description: Bartram’s Garden, located in Southwest Philadelphia, is America’s oldest botanical garden. Founded by botanist John Bartram in 1728, the garden is both a historic site and a peaceful green space along the Schuylkill River.

• Recreation: Visitors can explore the historic gardens, kayak on the river, and learn about native plants. Bartram’s Garden also hosts events and educational programs.

Green Space Impact

Philadelphia’s vast network of parks and green spaces provides important environmental, recreational, and social benefits to the city. The parklands help to:

• Reduce Urban Heat by providing tree cover and green space.

• Support Biodiversity with varied ecosystems from wetlands to woodlands.

• Promote Physical Activity through trails, sports fields, and open spaces for recreation.

• Improve Air and Water Quality by absorbing pollutants and managing stormwater through green infrastructure.

These parklands collectively make Philadelphia a greener and more livable city, blending urban life with natural beauty.

Cities in the USA with most parkland

The U.S. cities with the largest parkland areas, often measured by total park acreage within city limits, include the following:

1. Anchorage, Alaska – Anchorage leads in parkland size with over 223,000 acres of municipal parkland, largely due to the vast Chugach State Park, which extends into the city. It offers incredible wilderness areas, hiking trails, and wildlife.

2. New York City, New York – With parks like Central Park and Pelham Bay Park, New York City has around 30,000 acres of parkland. Despite its dense urban environment, the city’s large and diverse park system provides important green spaces.

3. Houston, Texas – Houston is home to about 52,000 acres of parkland, including the massive George Bush Park and Cullen Park. The city has been expanding its green spaces over recent years.

4. Phoenix, Arizona – With the largest municipal park in the U.S., South Mountain Park, Phoenix boasts over 41,000 acres of parkland. Its desert preserves and mountain parks provide outdoor recreation for residents and visitors.

5. San Diego, California – San Diego’s parks cover about 47,000 acres, including Balboa Park and Mission Trails Regional Park. The city’s parks range from urban green spaces to nature preserves.

6. Los Angeles, California – Los Angeles has over 35,000 acres of parkland, with Griffith Park being one of the largest urban parks in the country. The city also includes beach parks and mountain ranges.

7. Dallas, Texas – With more than 40,000 acres of parkland, Dallas offers green spaces like the Great Trinity Forest, which is the largest urban hardwood forest in the U.S.

8. Chicago, Illinois – Chicago has approximately 8,800 acres of parkland, including iconic parks like Grant Park and Lincoln Park along Lake Michigan. While smaller in total acreage compared to others, its extensive park network is integral to city life.

9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia’s park system includes over 10,000 acres, with Fairmount Park being one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.

These cities stand out for their commitment to maintaining large park systems, offering a range of urban, suburban, and wilderness green spaces for recreation and conservation.

In the image, you have a focused expression and a composed demeanor, standing outdoors with autumn-colored trees in the background. Your hair is dark and neatly styled, and you are wearing a dark jacket with a zipper, carrying a black backpack with a Carhartt logo visible on the strap. The lighting is soft and natural, with the warm tones of the fall foliage creating a contrast against the cool blue sky, giving the image a calm and reflective atmosphere.

Describe my face

Your face has a strong, symmetrical structure with a well-defined jawline. Your expression is neutral, with a slightly serious or contemplative look. You have dark, straight eyebrows, evenly spaced eyes, and a straight nose. Your skin tone appears fair in the soft outdoor light, and there’s a sense of calmness in your overall facial expression. There are no strong visible lines or signs of tension, suggesting a relaxed demeanor.

Money, when viewed as energy, is a representation of value and a medium for exchanging that value between people or entities. It functions as a stored form of effort, labor, and resources, similar to how fat stores energy in the body. Both money and fat serve as reserves that can be used when needed, and they are transformed forms of input—whether it’s labor and skills (in the case of money) or nutrients from food (in the case of fat).

1. Money as Energy:

• Storage: Just as the body stores fat as a reserve of energy for times of need, money is a way to store the value of work, skills, and resources for future use.

• Flow: Money flows through economies like energy flows through biological systems. It moves from one person or entity to another, constantly transferring the energy of production, effort, or value.

• Transformation: Money, like energy, can be transformed. You can invest money in different ventures (much like converting fat into work) to yield different kinds of results, such as services, goods, or further financial gains.

• Limited Resource: Just as the body must regulate fat storage to maintain balance, societies must manage money (through savings, spending, investment) to maintain economic balance.

2. Fat as Stored Energy:

• Efficient Storage: Fat from meat is a highly efficient way for the body to store energy. The body can rely on these reserves when it is not consuming food, much like how people save money for times when they are not earning.

• Usage Over Time: When the body needs energy, it taps into fat stores to fuel movement, thinking, and metabolic processes. Similarly, we spend money to fulfill needs and desires when we want something, drawing from our financial reserves.

• Excess and Deficit: If you have excess fat, it’s like having a large financial reserve; however, too much (hoarding or lack of circulation) can become detrimental. On the other hand, if fat stores are depleted or if there is a deficit of money, it can lead to struggles in energy or resources.

3. Similarities Between Money and Fat:

• Both are reserves: Fat and money are forms of stored potential that can be tapped into when needed, whether for physical energy or material needs.

• Conversion: Just as fat is converted into usable energy when the body requires it, money can be converted into goods, services, or investments. Both are mechanisms for survival and growth.

• Flow is necessary: Energy from fat must be burned for the body to function optimally, just as money must circulate through an economy to foster growth and sustainability. A balance is essential in both cases—too much hoarding or too much usage can cause problems.

Understanding money as energy—and comparing it to fat—highlights its role as a tool for sustaining life, growth, and balance, both on an individual and societal level.

The Dorian and Phrygian are both ancient Greek musical modes, which are scales characterized by a specific sequence of intervals. These modes were the foundation of much of Western music in antiquity and have continued to influence music theory, particularly in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. They are also connected to certain moods or feelings in ancient Greek philosophy and thought.

Dorian Mode:

The Dorian mode is often associated with a sense of strength and nobility. It’s similar to the natural minor scale but with a raised sixth note. In modern terms, if you play all the white keys on a piano starting from D (D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D), you are playing the Dorian mode. The intervals are:

• Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step

In practical terms, it has a minor feel but with a slightly more optimistic or brighter quality due to that raised sixth note.

Phrygian Mode:

The Phrygian mode has a more exotic or tense quality and is often associated with a sense of mystery or melancholy. It’s like the natural minor scale but with a lowered second note. To hear the Phrygian mode, you would play all the white keys on a piano starting from E (E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E). The intervals are:

• Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step

This lowered second gives the Phrygian mode its distinct, darker sound, often used to evoke a sense of tension or foreboding in music.

Both modes were part of the system of ancient Greek music theory, which attributed different emotional or ethical qualities to various modes, with the Dorian often being seen as strong and warrior-like, while the Phrygian was more emotional or tragic.

Philadelphia and Paris share several interesting commonalities:

1. Urban Design and Architecture:

• Both cities are renowned for their planned urban layouts and architectural beauty. Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, for example, was inspired by the grand boulevards of Paris, particularly the Champs-Élysées. French architect Paul Philippe Cret played a significant role in designing parts of Philadelphia, adding to this connection.

2. Cultural Hubs:

• Both cities are centers of arts and culture. Philadelphia, with institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, mirrors Paris’s cultural prominence with museums like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Public art and sculptures also play a key role in the character of both cities.

3. Historical Significance:

• Both Philadelphia and Paris hold pivotal places in their nations’ histories. Philadelphia was central to the American Revolution, hosting events like the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Paris, similarly, was the heart of revolutionary activity in France, including the French Revolution. Both cities represent the struggle for independence and liberty in their respective countries.

4. Educational Institutions:

• Both cities are home to world-class universities and intellectual communities. The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Sorbonne in Paris are examples of institutions that have made lasting contributions to education and research.

5. River Cities:

• Philadelphia and Paris are both built around significant rivers—the Delaware River and the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, and the Seine River in Paris. These waterways have historically contributed to the economic and cultural life of the cities.

6. Monuments and Landmarks:

• Both cities are known for iconic landmarks. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe, while Philadelphia has the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The monumental feel of both cities’ architecture draws parallels in civic pride and tourism.

Their blend of history, culture, and design connects them as influential global cities.

Specifically, the parkway

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia was directly inspired by the grand avenues of Paris, specifically the Champs-Élysées. The Parkway was designed in the early 20th century as part of the City Beautiful movement, which aimed to beautify cities with grand, open spaces and majestic architecture.

Here are the key commonalities between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Champs-Élysées:

1. Boulevard Design:

• Both are wide, tree-lined boulevards that create a scenic, ceremonial route. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a grand diagonal boulevard, much like the Champs-Élysées, offering a dramatic sightline through the city.

2. Monuments and Cultural Institutions:

• Similar to how the Champs-Élysées is lined with landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is home to several important cultural and civic institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, and Logan Circle. In Paris, landmarks such as the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre Museum create a similar cultural axis.

3. Civic Spaces:

• Both the Parkway and the Champs-Élysées were designed to serve not just as transportation routes but as civic spaces for public gatherings, parades, and celebrations. They function as ceremonial centers for their respective cities, adding to their cultural and political significance.

4. Architectural Influence:

• The Parkway’s design involved French landscape architect Jacques Gréber, who sought to emulate the grandeur and formal layout of Parisian streets. This influence is especially evident in the Parkway’s radial design, drawing inspiration from the Place de l’Étoile, where the Arc de Triomphe stands at the center of radiating avenues.

5. Symbolic Connection:

• Both boulevards are symbolic of the cities’ connections to broader ideals of civic beauty and cultural prominence. The Champs-Élysées represents the historical and cultural heart of Paris, just as the Benjamin Franklin Parkway serves as a symbol of Philadelphia’s dedication to art, culture, and public space.

The Parkway, much like the Champs-Élysées, enhances the grandeur and appeal of the city by connecting major civic landmarks and offering an elegant urban promenade.

Surreality refers to a quality or state that is dreamlike, bizarre, or beyond ordinary reality. It often evokes a sense of strangeness or unreality, where normal logic and expectations are distorted or suspended, similar to what one might experience in a surreal dream or work of art. Surrealist art and literature frequently emphasize this by blending the real with the fantastic, creating scenes or experiences that challenge conventional perceptions of the world.

Individualism Is the New Collectivism

Standing at the Spanish Steps in Rome, surrounded by the grandeur of history and the ever-present symbols of modern luxury—Dior, Balenciaga, Montcler—one is struck by the juxtaposition of past and present, of timeless culture and fleeting consumerism. In a place that has long inspired artists, philosophers, and thinkers, I couldn’t help but reflect on the notion of individualism and what it means today, particularly in the context of our consumer-driven society.

The Illusion of Choice in Consumerism

As I gazed at the advertisements around me, I thought about the opportunities we have in today’s world. The ability to buy whatever we want, to become whoever we want through the power of commerce, to augment our identities with jewels, rings, and designer brands.

But is this true individualism? I don’t think so. In fact, I believe that the more we indulge in fashion and material possessions, the further we move away from real individualism. Instead, we become slaves to the brands, to the glossy images fed to us by celebrities and the media.

Personally, I’d rather live a frugal life, focused on experiences rather than possessions. Fashion and possessions don’t interest me.

What interests me is the freedom to make that choice—the ability to define myself by what I reject rather than what I consume. In America, and much of the world today, we have this ultimate freedom—the freedom to choose, to live the American Dream, as they say. But what does that dream look like? Is it the pursuit of wealth and possessions, or something deeper?

True Individualism: Defined by What You Reject

In my view, true individualism is not about what you buy; it’s about what you choose not to do. It’s about rejecting the trends and pressures that society pushes on us. When you buy into the brands, into the designer labels, you’re not asserting your individuality—you’re conforming. You’re allowing yourself to be swept up in the collective desire to fit in, to signal status, to be part of the crowd. And this is where individualism gets distorted. The more we consume, the more we become part of the masses, rather than standing apart as individuals.

It’s far more interesting to create your own trends, to build something of your own, whether it’s clothing, art, or ideas.

As an artist, I don’t seek possessions. Once I have my camera and an iPad, I’m fine. There’s nothing more I need beyond that. For me, the goal is to live in a state of production, not consumption. The more we create, the more we photograph, the more we engage with the world, the more we become ourselves.

Creation as the Path to Becoming

Through the medium of photography, I’ve found what I believe is the ultimate state of becoming. To photograph is to engage with the world, to capture moments that reflect not just what we see, but who we are. It’s in this act of creation that we truly become individuals. We are not defined by the labels we wear or the goods we buy but by the things we make, the ideas we express, the art we produce.

The more we create, and the more that we make and photograph, the more that we live, the more that we are, the more that we can become.

As I stood there at the Spanish Steps, I thought about the choices we make and how they define us. Do you need a Patek Philippe watch? A Rolex? These symbols of wealth, often flaunted by celebrities and rappers, may seem like markers of success, but they are also chains. Chains that tie us to a culture of consumption, to the idea that our value is measured by what we own. But in reality, all you really need is meat, coffee, and water. The essentials of life are simple, and it’s in that simplicity that we find true freedom.

Rejecting Modern Slavery

In today’s world, where we have so much choice, slavery is a choice. We can choose to be enslaved by the brands, by the propaganda of consumer culture, or we can choose to do our own thing. To define ourselves by what we create rather than what we consume. This, to me, is the essence of individualism—the freedom to reject the noise of society and to live according to our own values.

Avoid the propaganda, and instead, embrace the freedom to create, to define yourself not by what you own, but by what you do.

Embracing Freedom Through Creation

So, as I reflect on individualism here in Rome, I encourage you to think about what it means to be truly free. True freedom comes from rejecting societal pressures and embracing a life of creation. It is in doing, not buying, that we shape who we are. The power lies in choosing simplicity, in living a life focused on what truly matters—our ability to create, to experience, and to be individuals, free from the chains of consumerism.

Many photographers have left an indelible mark on the art world, from pioneers of the medium to those who revolutionized photographic techniques and themes. Here are some of the greatest photographers of all time, each known for their unique contributions to the field:

1. Ansel Adams

• Known for his breathtaking black-and-white landscapes, particularly of the American West, Adams helped elevate photography to fine art. His mastery of light and shadow, as well as his development of the “Zone System,” set new standards for landscape photography.

2. Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Often called the father of street photography, Cartier-Bresson coined the term “the decisive moment,” capturing fleeting, spontaneous scenes with incredible composition. His work spans various subjects, from everyday life to political events.

3. Robert Capa

• A renowned war photographer, Capa covered some of the most important conflicts of the 20th century, including the Spanish Civil War and World War II. His raw, emotional images brought the realities of war to the public in unprecedented ways.

4. Dorothea Lange

• Known for her powerful documentation of the Great Depression, Lange’s work, particularly “Migrant Mother,” became iconic symbols of hardship and resilience. She humanized the struggles of ordinary people through her empathetic lens.

5. Richard Avedon

• Avedon revolutionized fashion photography with his dynamic, often high-contrast portraits of celebrities, artists, and models. His work extended beyond fashion, capturing raw, sometimes unsettling portraits of everyday people in his series In the American West.

6. Sebastião Salgado

• A Brazilian documentary photographer, Salgado is celebrated for his stunning black-and-white images of workers, migrations, and landscapes. His projects often focus on the dignity and struggles of marginalized communities around the world.

7. Diane Arbus

• Arbus is known for her intimate, often unsettling portraits of people on the fringes of society, including those with disabilities, circus performers, and eccentrics. Her work challenged conventional notions of beauty and normalcy.

8. Man Ray

• A central figure in the Surrealist movement, Man Ray experimented with photography, particularly in his creation of “rayographs,” images made by placing objects directly onto photographic paper. His work blurred the line between art and photography.

9. Walker Evans

• Evans’ documentary work during the Great Depression, particularly his collaboration with James Agee in Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, is considered a masterpiece of American photography. His images depicted the struggles of poor rural families with a stark, straightforward style.

10. Cindy Sherman

• Known for her conceptual self-portraits, Sherman explores themes of identity, gender, and representation. She assumes different personas in her photographs, interrogating stereotypes and societal expectations.

11. Vivian Maier

• A relatively recent discovery, Maier was a nanny who took thousands of street photographs, mostly in Chicago, which were discovered after her death. Her candid, intimate scenes of urban life have since earned her posthumous acclaim as a master of street photography.

12. Elliott Erwitt

• A Magnum photographer, Erwitt is known for his humorous, poignant, and often whimsical street photography. His ability to find irony and humor in everyday moments set him apart from his contemporaries.

13. Irving Penn

• Penn’s elegant and minimalistic style transformed fashion and portrait photography. His use of clean backgrounds and attention to detail created iconic images of models, artists, and everyday objects.

14. Steve McCurry

• Best known for his photo Afghan Girl, McCurry’s vibrant color images capture human emotion and tell stories of conflict, culture, and resilience around the world.

15. Helmut Newton

• Newton pushed the boundaries of fashion photography with his provocative, often erotic images. His bold, controversial style influenced fashion photography for decades and remains a benchmark for creative daring.

These photographers represent a range of genres—documentary, fashion, portraiture, and street photography—and their work has profoundly shaped both the history and future of photography as an art form.

Some of the most influential visual artists of the 21st century have made significant contributions through diverse mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and conceptual installations. Here are a few notable figures:

1. Gerhard Richter – Known for his abstract and photorealistic paintings, Richter has pushed the boundaries of painting with his blurred photo-based works, colorful abstractions, and use of squeegees to create layered effects.

2. Ai Weiwei – A Chinese contemporary artist and activist, Ai Weiwei is known for his political activism and provocative installations that challenge ideas of freedom, human rights, and government control. His use of materials like ancient pottery and dismantled furniture speaks to cultural heritage and destruction.

3. Kara Walker – An American artist renowned for her exploration of race, gender, and identity through her silhouettes, sculptures, and installations. Walker’s work often confronts the legacy of slavery and racism in America.

4. Cindy Sherman – Known for her self-portraits where she assumes various identities, Sherman’s work interrogates issues of identity, gender, and representation. Her photographs have been central in discussions of postmodernism and feminism.

5. Banksy – An anonymous street artist who gained fame for his provocative, politically charged stenciled graffiti, Banksy’s work often critiques societal issues, from consumerism to war. His elusive identity has only fueled the intrigue surrounding his work.

6. Yayoi Kusama – Known for her immersive installations, often filled with polka dots and infinity mirrors, Kusama explores themes of mental illness, infinity, and personal obsession in her works. Her “Infinity Mirror Rooms” have become globally iconic.

7. El Anatsui – A Ghanaian sculptor who transforms simple materials such as bottle caps and aluminum into monumental, shimmering wall pieces. His work explores themes of history, colonialism, and consumerism.

8. Olafur Eliasson – A Danish-Icelandic artist known for his large-scale installations that play with light, perception, and natural phenomena. His piece “The Weather Project” in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall brought the sensation of an artificial sun indoors.

9. Takashi Murakami – Merging fine art with popular culture, Murakami’s vibrant, colorful works incorporate elements from traditional Japanese art with anime and manga influences. His “Superflat” movement critiques consumerism and the post-war culture of Japan.

10. Julie Mehretu – A painter who creates intricate abstract works that combine architectural, historical, and geographic references. Her large-scale canvases often seem to depict a chaotic, layered mapping of urban spaces.

These artists have significantly shaped the visual art landscape of the 21st century, each in their unique way, responding to contemporary global challenges while influencing new generations of creators.

Here’s a list of some of the greatest visual artists throughout history, known for their immense influence on art and culture:

1. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) – Renowned for masterpieces like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, da Vinci was a polymath whose works exemplify the Renaissance.

2. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) – A master sculptor, painter, and architect, Michelangelo created iconic works such as David, the Pietà, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

3. Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) – A Post-Impressionist painter whose emotionally charged works like Starry Night and Sunflowers have become cultural icons.

4. Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) – A founding figure in modern art, Picasso’s groundbreaking work in Cubism and surrealism, including Guernica and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, reshaped 20th-century art.

5. Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) – One of the greatest Baroque artists, known for his portraits, biblical scenes, and mastery of light, especially in works like The Night Watch.

6. Claude Monet (1840–1926) – A leading figure in the Impressionist movement, Monet’s series of works like Water Lilies and Impression, Sunrise capture the beauty of light and color.

7. Raphael (1483–1520) – Known for his harmonious compositions and works like The School of Athens, Raphael was one of the leading artists of the High Renaissance.

8. Caravaggio (1571–1610) – A Baroque master, famous for his dramatic use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro), seen in works like The Calling of St. Matthew.

9. Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) – An influential figure in Abstract Expressionism, Pollock revolutionized painting with his drip technique, epitomized by works like No. 5, 1948.

10. Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) – A surrealist master, Dalí’s dreamlike, bizarre images like The Persistence of Memory have made him one of the most recognizable 20th-century artists.

11. Henri Matisse (1869–1954) – A leading modernist, Matisse is known for his vibrant colors and forms, as seen in Dance and his innovative cut-outs in his later years.

12. Francisco Goya (1746–1828) – Often seen as a bridge between Old Masters and modern art, Goya’s works like The Third of May 1808 convey raw emotion and social commentary.

13. Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) – A pioneer in modern sculpture, Rodin’s expressive works such as The Thinker and The Kiss transformed the art of sculpture.

14. Edvard Munch (1863–1944) – A precursor to Expressionism, Munch’s works, especially The Scream, explore human emotion and anxiety.

15. Andy Warhol (1928–1987) – A leading figure in Pop Art, Warhol blurred the line between high and low art with iconic works like Campbell’s Soup Cans and portraits of celebrities.

Each of these artists contributed significantly to their respective eras and movements, shaping how we see and understand visual art.