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While some blockchain projects aim to change the world in sweeping, singular ways, it's the communities experimenting on the fringes that will ultimately spearhead the broader cultural shift towards web3. These vibrant tokenized communities have not been covered in existing crypto documentaries, most of which focus on high-profile implosions and paint a skewed portrait of the industry.
But for the first time ever, the world is getting an in-depth look at some of the most unique web3 artists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers through Let’s Form Group (LFG) – a limited documentary series captured by cryptonatives James and Anjali Young of Collab.Land, Thobey Campion of Lore Machine, and documentary filmmaker Adrian Buitenhuis.
For far too long, the prevailing narrative around crypto culture has [been on] focused on the unfortunate minority of cutthroat, greedy, and morally dubious incidents occurring within the space. By contrast, LFG offers a high fidelity glimpse of the colorful personalities who make up the web3 space, and how they are using blockchain as a connective tissue between their personal interests and the real world.
We contain multitudes, as individuals and as an industry
Most media coverage of web3 paints a picture of faceless mega-projects working to redefine the internet, create a new global reserve currency, or cash out quickly. What this coverage misses is that blockchain is among the most inherently community-centric technologies ever created, and the web3 space is a vast tapestry of different communities and projects – each with their own sub-cultures, interests, and aspirations. This zeitgeist is precisely what the LFG series, with high-end aesthetics and production value, hopes to capture.
It’s this drive to connect with others that motivates artists like ThankYouX, a creator [that] who occupies the cross-section of multiple art scenes. The more interactive elements of his latest work are made possible through the fractionalized ownership capabilities of blockchain technology, and the LFG documentary tells the story of how he involves community members in his creative process.
And while art and web3 are often seen as complementary scenes, there are also countless communities that are leveraging blockchain technology to elevate seemingly disparate interests. It’s been fascinating to see how MNTGE, a digital fashion house, offers community members a custom token-gated “phygital” experience that gives them access to customizable vintage products – each with their own unique history.
These types of projects highlight the fact that all sorts of independent creators have found a way to express and combine elements of different backgrounds and interests into an inviting, unified platform that like-minded individuals can access and contribute to. The reason for Web3's existence is not just Web3 itself. These very communities are the ones that bring life and meaning to the space by using web3 as a means rather than an end.
Every community is built on shared attention & interests
While legacy brands and web2 businesses have traditionally viewed “community” as little more than a customer base, LFG showcases a growing number of web3 projects that are leveraging blockchain technology to incentivize broader forms of community engagement and governance.
These projects, like other organic communities, grow based on common interests and motivations - many that exist beyond market factors. Token ownership provides [a] detailed insight into people's focus and values, making them a more effective means for coordination and identity than money.
For instance, consider PizzaDAO – which has gone on to foster new ways for community members to support local businesses and bond over their love of pizza. AOK1VERSE, which also features in LFG, is another great example of an interests-based project that has expanded its range to encapsulate new forms of engagement and value creation.
Collectively, projects like these are building both culture and meaning. Unlike traditional corporate memberships or loyalty programs, community-specific crypto assets make it easy for different communities to store, swap, and transfer their holdings according to their imagination. As a result, members of token-gated communities can easily come and go as their passions change, meaning they can spend their energy connecting like-minded people regardless of geography or background.
Every community should tell their own story
It's crucial to acknowledge and appreciate the shared meaning that each community offers, as well as its lasting impact on our lives. This is especially true for communities that are so busy with their own work that they might not consider whether a wider audience would find what they are doing relevant or interesting.
That is why it is so important for these communities to share their own stories rather than letting outsiders define the narrative. So tune in to Rug Radio, a platform that gives independent creators a chance to share their voices, or uncover how artists like Aslan Ruby push for more diverse representation across novel media formats – you'll see passion shining through authentically.
And as important as it is for the web3 community to collectively push back on misleading narratives, there are industries that have been maligned for much longer and are now leveraging blockchain technology to flip the script. For instance, Spankchain, despite its playful name, is doing serious work to destigmatize the adult industry and protect it from systemic biases and human costs of top-down storytelling and capital formation.
The web3 community is the end goal, not just a means
Powerful documentaries like Let's Form Group aim to inspire communities of all sizes to share a more accurate and nuanced understanding of who they are. But let’s be clear – the exciting projects featured in LFG are just the tip of the iceberg, with many more waiting to share their stories.
All of which is to say, the rapid growth of these vibrant communities highlights web3's ability to create new possibilities for trying out fresh ideas and developing innovative communities. Projects like LFG reinforce the fact that crypto is meant for everyone, not just techies and the wealthy. With the tools that exist today, including Collab.Land, anyone with a passion or mission can connect with others like them. This open-invitation approach is precisely what makes the ongoing community experimentation with blockchain technology so exciting.
This surge in creativity means there's likely a perfect community for each person out there, even if we haven't found it, or founded it, yet. Embracing these diverse communities and their stories will allow us to better understand and appreciate the transformative potential of web3 and its impact on our interconnected world.
Author Bio
Anjali Young is the Co-Founder of Collab.Land, an automated member management system for tokenized communities. Over 50,000 projects use Collab.Land as their primary tool for community management including Adidas, World of Women, Pudgy Penguins, Doodles, BankLessDAO, and more. Anjali has a 30+ year history with online communities as a creator, member, and in leadership. She has also worked as a lawyer, adjunct professor, and early tech startup employee. In addition to her interest in community and web3 onboarding, she has a passion for NFTs and the artists who create them. Anjali is one of only a handful of web3 leaders to have received recognition from Salesforce, and is listed as one of its Web3 Advisory Board Members. She co-produced the very first documentary series focused on web3 communities, called Let’s Form Group.
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