We’re not shy to say that, stylistically speaking, we love everything about Madonna’s 17-minute short film. In September last year, the 55-year-old superstar released her secretprojectrevolution, a film she co-directed with Steven Klein. Shot beautifully on a Red camera and entirely in black and white, the cinematography, soundtrack and communication are flawless. And to be perfectly honest, we’re surprised that the video hasn’t had more than 1,1 million views on YouTube yet.
Image: Screenshot
The video starts with Madonna’s voice saying –
‘Economic markets are collapsing. People all over the world are suffering and people are afraid. And what happens when people are afraid? They become intolerant’
We’re led into two worlds – the world of the incredible baroque dancers that Madonna shoots with a silver gun (a gun which apparently represents branding), and the world where Madonna is oppressed in a prison, incarcerated for having a point of view. This short film was aimed to help launch Art For Freedom, an online global initiative to facilitate free expression, and was created by Madonna, curated by VICE, and distributed by BitTorrent. On the Art For Freedom website, visitors are welcome to share their videos, music, poetry, and other visual art with the world. Madonna hopes that this will fuel free speech, saying ‘it is an online public art project encouraging the world to express their personal meaning of freedom and revolution’. In January 2014, Katy Perry became a guest curator of the project.
Katy Perry and Madonna with Steven Klein
It has to be said that Madonna is famous for re-inventing herself – and indeed, the question arises as to whether this project is yet another reinvention or advocacy project. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. Regardless, the message is strong: we all deserve love, and it asks us to stop and think during a time when our world is torn apart by intolerance and fear.
When you have some time, during your lunch break today or while surfing the internet before bed tonight, take a moment to watch the 17-minute masterpiece above.
What are your thoughts about Madonna’s initiative? Is it just a clever branding scheme or do you believe it aims to create positive change? Feel free to tweet us @onesmallseedSA or leave a comment below.
Words Gosia Podgórska
Image: Screenshot
Image: Screenshot
