Published Nov 11 2022

‘What Happens Next?’: Can NFTs Help Digital Artists?

Susan
Carland
Academic, author and social commentator
Jon mccormack
Professor, and Director, Monash SensiLab, Faculty of Information Technology
Ben hayward
Senior Lecturer, Business Law and Taxation. Monash Business School
Josh drummond
Artist and writer
Alana kushnir
Arts lawyer and adviser

NFTs – non-fungible tokens – are an interesting use of crypto technology, and could enable artists to make a living from their work. Do they work? Are they here to stay? Are NFTs as nifty as they seem? Stay with us as over the next two episodes of What Happens Next as we take a look at NFTs.

Host Dr Susan Carland is joined this week by Professor Jon McCormack, Director of SensiLab and Professor in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University; Dr Benjamin Hayward, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Law and Taxation at Monash Business School; Joshua Drummond, NZ artist and writer; and Alana Kushnir, arts lawyer and adviser.

Read more: The paradox of NFTs: What are people actually paying for?

In this episode, we find out what an NFT actually is, how they can potentially benefit artists, and the risks associated with buying and selling them. We also look at some of the associated environmental issues. 

“I think people get excited about anything that's new. People got excited about the Beatles and Elvis when they hit the scene. And I wonder if it's really much different to that. I think it's a way for us to explore new types of trade. And in the future, this may be something that persists.”

Dr Ben Hayward

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The matters discussed in this podcast are intended to be of a general nature only. They are not legal advice, and should not be relied on as such. You should seek independent legal or other professional advice in relation to any particular matters that you or your organisation may have.

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About the Authors

  • Susan carland

    Director, Bachelor of Global Studies, and Lecturer, School of Language, Literature, Cultures and Linguistics

    Susan's research and teaching specialties focus on gender, sociology, contemporary Australia, terrorism, and Islam in the modern world. Susan hosted the “Assumptions” series on ABC’s Radio National, and was named one of the 20 Most Influential Australian Female Voices in 2012 by The Age.

  • Jon mccormack

    Professor, and Director, Monash SensiLab, Faculty of Information Technology

    Jon is a professor in computer science in the Faculty of Information Technology, an ARC Future Fellow, and founder and director of SensiLab. His research interests include generative art, design and music, evolutionary systems, computer creativity, visualisation, virtual reality, interaction design, physical computing, machine learning, developmental models, and physical computing. Since the late 1980s, Jon has worked with computer code as a medium for creative expression. Inspired by the complexity and wonder of a diminishing natural world, his work is concerned with electronic “after natures”.

  • Ben hayward

    Senior Lecturer, Business Law and Taxation. Monash Business School

    Ben’s research interests lie in private international law, the international sale of goods, international commercial arbitration, and Australian contract, commercial, sales, and consumer law. His teaching at the Monash Business School helps students understand the law's importance for work in a variety of business disciplines.

  • Josh drummond

    Artist and writer

  • Alana kushnir

    Arts lawyer and adviser

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