Firstslop

Firstslop is a critical term for art that is valorized primarily for its novelty within new media contexts, particularly blockchain art. The term specifically critiques works that claim significance merely for being "the first" to implement a particular technical approach, regardless of conceptual merit. Firstslop was coined by Charlotte Fang in October 2025 as part of their critique of mainstream approaches to blockchain-based art. The term specifically targets works that emphasize technological novelty over aesthetic or conceptual depth, particularly in the context of NFT art.

Fang introduced this term in contrast to Remilia's approach to blockchain art, which emphasizes engagement with the social and financial dimensions of crypto platforms rather than technical novelty alone.

Origin

The term was coined by Charlotte Fang on October 16, 2025, in a Twitter thread critiquing what she characterized as superficial approaches to blockchain art. In a critique of "NFT Fine Art," Fang described "firstslop" as art following "a rule of novelty—scrambling to be 'the first' to do something in new media, no matter how obvious or trite."

Fang specifically mentioned generative art that emphasized technical implementation ("It uses Ethereum for the random hash... so what?") and conceptual works that claimed significance primarily for being early blockchain adopters.

Related Concepts

• Squigglecore: Another term coined by Fang to describe generative art projects focused on algorithmic aesthetics rather than deeper engagement with blockchain's affordances
• Avant NFT: The alternative approach advocated by Remilia, focusing on crypto's potential for creating new relationships between artists, audiences, and markets