Anti-State Propagandist Julia Tourianski: “How to be a Bitcoin Hater”
Julia Tourianski, who grew up on a small farm in a family of small business owners in Russia, has become an internet sensation through Brave The World thanks to her intriguing, educational and entertaining catalogue of videos.
Her sense of humor and intrepid journalism have made her a favorite in multiple thought circles. Her interview with a Bilderberg attendee in 2014 might as well have been a Pulitzer Prize consideration.
Julia owns a body jewelry line, SCREW YOURSELF . Her paintings bring the viewer into sometimes psychedelic worlds, nostalgic and multi-dimensional.
She writes in her spare time, volunteers at the Toronto Humane Society and helps out at Mises Canada.
Who are you? What are you?
My name is Julia, I’m an anti-state propagandist.
Since we’ve gotten right to the point on that one, who are some of your favorite musicians?
Currently, Kendrick Lamar.
Last year, Lana Del Rey.
Always, David Bowie, Die Antwoord, Burzum, Dolly Parton, A$AP, Danny Brown.
When I was young, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Skinny Puppy, Bjork
What are some of your favorite movies?
The Labyrinth, Indiana Jones, Gone with the Wind, 5th Element, Beyond the Pines, Nymphomaniac, Ghost in the Shell, Akira, Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Aladdin.
What are some of your favorite books?
White Fang, Jane Eyre, Silverwing & Sunwing, Helen O’loy, Flowers for Algernon, Geek Love, Les Miserables, The Moomin Series, The Hobbit.
What made you decide to start your own media “empire?”
I guess I owe it to three men; the first for boring me, the second for throwing me in a cold lake, the third for making me uninhibited.
How has the response been to Brave The World?
Haha…divided? Confused? I get enough love though. Thank you to those.
Do you have any tips for people looking to do similar?
I’m sorry, I don’t. I think the fun of it is finding your own way.
What are your favorite social networks? Which ones are most useful for you?
Twitter! I like the bluntness and I like that it forces people to be concise and creative. I love Vine for this too; Facebook is so long-winded.
Has monetizing it been a goal? Has it been easy?
It’s a bonus. A small bonus. YT does not pay well. But the donations is what warms me, and I’m so thankful for everything I receive. I still work offline, but the donations enable me to travel to where I need to be.
What inspired you to make “How to be a Bitcoin Hater?” Do you think the internet fosters “hating?”
Idiotic comments inspired that one, the best of which are featured in the video. I think the internet is not alone in the “fostering” of hate…Do you drive? People are assholes when there’s no face-to-face consequences. I might start driving with a crowbar….online is trickier. I don’t mind mean comments…the comments that get to me are from people who assume they know better. It’s sad how stagnant minds can be, and how arbitrary the root of peoples’ conclusions are.
The role of the public/private spheres in “civic” life has been debated by academics for decades and centuries. What are you learning, if anything, about identity and the internet? (social networks, bitcoin, online identity, offline identity, private/public shere)
“Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world.” –A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto
Obviously the ability to have various levels of anonymity is absolute to the idea of freedom. The harder this becomes to achieve, the less we have of ourselves.
What does your family think of your online life?
My father watches all the videos I make but doesn’t speak English well so it’s tricky. They didn’t fully get it (although they supported my passion and travel to events/protests) until my IamSatoshi interview was re-published in Russian. Then they were like, “Wow, you sound like you know about this Bitcoin stuff.” Haha, it was a great moment. I was happy I finally made sense to them.
Why are you keeping a close eye on the Silk Road trial?
Lyn and I have been broken records on this: it’s important for the future of our internet freedom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbS24ul7mCE
What is coming for you and Brave The World?
I’m focusing on a few art projects. Other than that, I have no clue. That’s how I like it.
Julia’s Twitter can be found here .
Her Facebook here .
Her Vine here.
and Instagram here .
