Is web3 on a hero's journey?
Are we destined to return with the magical elixir or crash into the cold embrace of tragedy?!
joshyote ✌️👽
December 16, 2022
gm ✌️
Adventure, mentors, tests, allies, enemies, obstacles, ordeals, rewards, and a resurrection?!
Holy hieroglyphics, Batman!
I think web3 might be on the hero's journey!
But are we destined to return with the magical elixir or crash into the cold embrace of tragedy? Let's look at the web3 story so far and try to sort it out.
But first, this week's top collections by volume:
Valhalla saw some serious price action this week. Surprisingly, BEANZ are back in the weekly top 5!
Web3 and the hero's journey
First, a quick refresher on the hero's journey.
If you've ever read an adventure book or watched a fantasy movie, you're probably already familiar with it.
Popularized by Joseph Campbell — one of the greatest minds of all time — the hero's journey is a common narrative structure that can be found in many stories, myths, and legends. It involves a hero who embarks on a quest, faces challenges and obstacles, and ultimately emerges victorious and transformed.
It looks like this:
So where is web3 on this journey?
The call to adventure:
Oh yeah, we've heard the call! Web3 is a new technology that offers the potential for decentralization and creating a more open and inclusive digital economy.
Refusal of the call:
Many people are hesitant to adopt web3 due to a lack of understanding or skepticism about the benefits of decentralization. Truthfully, this one is still occurring for most people, especially with recent events. And don't even think about telling normies about NFTs!!
Meeting the mentor:
As web3 gains more attention and support, experts and thought leaders in the field can act as mentors, providing guidance and support for those who are interested in learning more about the technology. Mentors are emerging for sure, but so are charlatans! So you need to be careful out there. Hopefully, the best and most honest voices and personalities will rise to the top!
Crossing the threshold:
As individuals and organizations begin experimenting with web3 and decentralized applications (dApps), they are taking the first steps towards fully embracing the technology and entering the decentralized web. New heroes are crossing the threshold every day!
Tests, allies, and enemies:
As web3 becomes more widely adopted, it will face challenges and obstacles, such as the need for user-friendly interfaces and the need to overcome skepticism and resistance from those who are not yet convinced of its benefits. At the same time, web3 will gain allies in the form of supporters and advocates who believe in its potential.
Not to mention, some of our worst enemies come from within...whispers SBF (he who must not be named)
Approach to the inmost cave:
In this stage, web3 will face its greatest challenges and obstacles as it strives to achieve widespread adoption and become a mainstream technology. Maybe we are in the inmost cave now?
Things look grim out there with CEXs collapsing left and right, the threat of oppressive legislature, and public sentiment at an all-time low.
The ordeal:
Web3 will need to overcome challenges such as security and privacy concerns, scalability issues, and the need to provide a seamless user experience.
Can we make it through? According to the builders, we sure can! Despite seeing massive collapses, the builders are still out there, and they're still freakin stoked!
The reward:
If web3 is able to overcome these challenges, it has the potential to bring about a new era of the internet where individuals and organizations have greater control over their digital lives and can participate in the digital economy on more equal terms.
The tastiest fruit, a decentralized future where we have full control of our own destiny — and data!
The road back:
As web3 becomes more widely adopted, it will become integrated into our daily lives and the way we interact with the internet and each other.
Once we reach true adoption, the internet might look like nothing has really changed at all, but we'll know, oh yes, we will!
The resurrection:
Just like a hero on a journey, web3 will emerge transformed and victorious, having overcome its challenges and realized its full potential.
New use cases will be unleashed, and the creative revolution will really start! Plus, my cat and frog jpegs will finally be worth a small fortune. please please please.
Return to the everyday world:
We'll return with the fruits of our web3 adventure and bring it back to the masses!
Once we reach true adoption, the internet might look like nothing has really changed at all, but we'll know, oh yes, we will!
So, where does that leave us?
Feels like the inmost/ordeal stage, but I'll leave interpretation up to you!
The only thing I can say is that while the hero's success is never certain, the ones that do succeed become legends!
I think we come out on top, but hey, I've been called annoyingly optimistic.
And if you're interested in learning more about the hero's journey, definitely check out this series: The Power of Myth
It's a series of conversations between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. The conversation ranges through, life, death, spirituality, and eternity — with mythology as the thread that weaves the universe together.
Have you been scoping out the icy.tools Learn section?
We have some stellar guides and resources for learning about all things NFTs. New guides are added weekly.
Pretty sweet, we know.
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