The Purple Square, our memetic icon, was always intended to be imbued with Season 1 energy. As we’ve crossed the Dunbar Number and harnesses the Farcaster Protocol as our primary form of communication, the energy has changed into what feels like Season 2. As such, new artwork should be commissioned to represent this new energy. While I hope many artists are inspired to create new artworks for our token, I couldn’t be happier that we have selected 0xen to be the first to deface our icon. 0xen was the very first artist I followed on Farcaster, where he was already minting and sharing art with the community.
Memetic icons are the foundation of Hypercultures, allowing participants of the culture to identify with, play, deconstruct, extend and participate. They are an inviting beacon for others to join the Hyperculture. “What is the Purple square?” was a much asked question that allowed others to enter the culture.
As the first DAO launched with Nouns Builders we experienced the full spectrum of reaction from awe to critique. Many critiqued our lack of noggles or couldn’t comprehend the appeal of the Purple Square, with the prevailing belief that profile pictures must be anthropomorphic and unique to the individual. These views overlook the potency of memetic symbols and collective identities.
Moreover, Purple stands for a Hypercommon — a collective promise to enrich the common good through an abundant flow of creativity, cooperation, and compassion. We have embarked on redefining our public space, one that is anchored on the open Farcaster protocol, unclaimed by any corporation, yet accessible and open to all. Our Hypercommon is an onchain collective aimed at supporting projects that enhance the Farcaster ecosystem. It aims to “fill in the gaps of traditional funding mechanisms by offering grants and funds to builders and creatives who are improving the Farcaster ecosystem.”
The Purple Square communicates this mission with perfect minimalism. Members take pride in displaying their Purple Square, viewing it as an emblem of our mission, the values it encapsulates and their own role in creating the culture.