The tech world is abuzz with a peculiar trend: a race to build colossal statues, but with a twist. It's a competition among tech investors to create the ultimate symbol of America's... less desirable traits?
But here's the twist: these statues are not just about art or history; they're a reflection of a political ideology. According to Bloomberg, Republican-aligned tech moguls are on a mission to erect statues across the nation, seemingly preparing for a dystopian future.
The article highlights four key players in this 'statue-maxxing' game. First, Ross Calvin, a Bitcoin miner, aims to build a 450-foot Prometheus statue on Alcatraz, lobbying to reclassify it as a national monument. This statue, dwarfing the Statue of Liberty, is proposed to be accompanied by a tech museum, all for a cool $450 million.
Next, Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir, is a self-proclaimed 'classical aestheticist'. He's commissioned sculptures of Greek goddesses and a bust of Bari Weiss, and supports the National Monuments Foundation, led by a former Trump appointee.
Elad Gil, an angel investor, has a venture called Monumental, aiming to finance grand statues as an 'ode to the future'. He seeks inspiration from diverse sources, including Aztec temples and the Great Wall of China, diverging from the 'Western' focus of his peers.
Mo Mahmood takes the cake for scale, planning a 650-foot George Washington statue. He's starting with a 50-foot version, set to be unveiled on America's 250th anniversary. Mahmood's company has already built the largest monument in Austin, Texas, a 54-foot oil derrick statue.
These plans, as outlandish as they may seem, could find support in the White House. President Trump has allocated funds for a National Garden of American Heroes and a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., indicating a potential affinity for such grandiose projects.
And this is where it gets intriguing: Are these statues a harmless expression of artistic vision, or a subtle attempt to shape public perception and policy? Do they represent a genuine desire to celebrate history, or a veiled agenda to promote a specific political ideology? The line between art and propaganda is often blurred, and these statues might just be the latest example. What do you think? Is this a harmless trend or a cause for concern?
