SKETCH #1

SKETCH #1: MARILYN MONROE CONDO

THIS IS THE CONDO CALLED THE MARILYN MONROE BECAUSE ITS SHAPED JUST LIKE HER BODY (IT IS LOCATED IN MISSISSAUGA WHERE I LIVE). IT IS CREATED BY A DESIGN CALLED ABSOLUTE WORLD WHICH IS IN MISSISSAUGA, IS PART OF A DEVLOPMENT OF 5 CONDOMINIUMS. THE CONDO WAS AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION THAT RECEIVED 90 SUBMISSIONS FROM 70 COUNTRIES. BASICALLY THE APPROACH WAS TO CHANGE THE LOOK OF THE CITY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS SO MANY BUILDINGS AND IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE DOWNTOWN TORONTO. ALOT OF THE CITIZENS DIDN'T LIKE THIS WHOLE IDEA OF THEIR CITY LOOKING SO MUCH LIKE TORONTO. I BELIEVE IT'S NOT THAT BAD BECAUSE THEY'RE BUILDING BEAUTIFUL CONDOS, BUT DISADVANTAGE IS THAT THERE IS NO MORE LAND AND ALOT OF THE NATURE IS DISAPPEARING. THE PERSON WHO DESIGNED IT WAS YANSONG MA WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE BEIJING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FIRM MAD STUDIO.
WHEN HE DESIGNED THIS YANSONG MA SAID THAT " Suburbs around the world want to become metropolises, but we don't think they should. They have their own character. They should create their own identity." THERE IS ALSO AN ADVANTAGE TO THE CURVING DESIGN BECAUSE IT WILL CREATE PLENTY OF SPACE FOR BIGGER BALCONIES WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE FLOOR TO CEILING GLAZING--AND ALSO LETS THE RESIDENTS TO LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN INCREASING THE IMPRESSION OF HEIGHT...SO EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE ON THE LOWER FLOORS WILL HAVE THAT SAME HEIGHT. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN LOUNGES AND CLUB CALLED CLUB 50. THIS HAS LED ABSOLUTE WORLD TO CREATE A SECOND TOWER AND THE ARCHICTECT LOOKS WITH A FENG SHUI EYE AND SAYS "they talk to each other and harmonize with each other. There is a synergy between them, an aura which transcends each of the individual buildings." IT IS HIS VISION OF YING AND YANG--THE 1ST CONDO TOWER WILL HAVE A FEMININE SILHOUETTE AND THE 2ND WILL BE MORE RUGGED AND ALSO HAVE A TWISTING SHAPE. THE CONDO DESIGN ROTATES 360 DEGREES FROM THE BOTTON TO TOP AND IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE 360 DEGREE TOWER. T WILL BE THE TALLEST BUILDING IN MISSISSAUGA AND THE TALLEST MULTI-STOREY BUILDING IN ONTARIO OUTSIDE OF TORONTO.



AMERICAN LIFE- MADONNA

THE SONG "AMERICAN LIFE" WAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY MADONNA AND RELEASED IN 2003. THIS SONG DIDN'T MAKE THE 2009 GREATEST HITS COMPILATION BECASE OF THE HUGE CONTROVERSY BY THE ORIGINAL VIDEO AND THE WAY THE LYRICS CRITICIZE THE AMERICAN LIFESTYLE. THERE WERE TWO VIDEOS, THE FIRST ONE HAD TO BE RE-DONE BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY. IN THE FIRST ONE, THE VIDEO INVOLVES A MILITARY-INFLUENCED MADONNA AND SOME MALE AND FEMALE LEGION TROOPS AT A FASHION SHOW. MADONNA HAD A SAY IN THIS, SHE SAID:
I feel lucky to be an American citizen for many reasons - one of which is the right to express myself freely, especially in my work. I understand that there have been reports about my upcoming video "American Life" in the media - much of which is inaccurate. I am not Anti-Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro Peace. I have written a song and created a video which expresses my feelings about our culture and values and the illusions of what many people believe is the American dream - the perfect life. As an artist, I hope that this provokes thought and dialogue. I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view. I am grateful to have the freedom to express these feelings and that's how I honor my country. THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OF THE COUNTRY WAS UNSTABLE AND MADONNA CHANGED HER MIND AND PULLED THE VIDEO AND SAID THAT "I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video."
THE DIRECTOR'S CUT VIDEO HAD MOST OF THE FOOTAGE IN THE ORIGINAL BUT THE ENDING IS MUCH MORE GRAPHIC AND IN THE SCENE WHERE THERE IS A FASHION SHOW, MADONNA HOSES DOWN THE PAPARAZZI AND ALOT OF WAR-INJURED MODELS ARE CARRIED BY NURSES WITH THEIR CLOTHES SOAKED IN BLOOD. THERE ARE ALSO FAST MOVING IMAGES OF WAR.
FINALLY AFTER PULLING OUT THE ORIGINAL MADONNA RELEASED THE EDITED VERSION WHERE SHE IS SINGING IN FRONT OF A BACKDROP OF FLAGS THAT TRANSCENDS INTO A DIFFERENT FLAG.
-WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS WHEN SHE SINGS THE PART IN HER SONG:
"I'd like to express my extreme point of view
I'm not Christian and I'm not a Jew
I'm just living out the American dream
And I just realised that nothing
Is what it seems".
CAUSE IN THE END SHE'S JUST A NORMAL AVERAGE PERSON
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SONG SHE SINGS ABOUT HERSELF CHANGING HER NAME, PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE SHE'S NOT JUST TO FIT IN AND LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM

VIDEO:
Director's Cut: http://raf.se/index.asp?director=02jonas_akerlund&category=03Music_Videos