What does an architect look like? How would this architect act or sound? Comedian Arturo Castro skillfully portrays a fictional "visionary architect" in his humorous sketch series, Alternatino.
The new series airing on Comedy Central illustrates a self-absorbed, pretentious "genius." From the round-framed glasses to his grandiose rhetoric, Castro's take on the fictional visionary Gerhardt Fjuck is indeed comical. Why? Because sadly, this portrayal is not far off from many vapid and semi-altruistic architects of the 21st century.
When watching the four-minute comedy sketch, it causes one to laugh and pinpoint which architects Castro used to inspire this "virtuoso." The comedian's brilliantly overdramatized parody aptly captures the essence of those famed architects we all love to hate and hate to love.
"When you enter a Gerhardt environment, I want you to feel something. I want you to feel challenged. Interrogated. Tired. I want you to feel like I hate you personally because I do."
Fantastic and dead on.
Apart from him, that entire stable of enabling, moron sycophants is priceless! The stooge client, the dilettante publisher, the masochistic staffers, and of course the credulous podcast host. Without folks like these, you don't have starchitects.
Best of all is that human mop of an assistant. Is there any doubt Hans subs in 9/10 classes when Gerhardt deigns to teach studio?
"... pretty sure he owns a concrete company."
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Such a perfect skewering of charlatans like Daniel Libeskind. It's shocking to think anyone ever took that clown seriously.
I took a studio with Libeskind back in the day. An unpleasant waste of time back then, but a wellspring of amusing anecdotes since.
Just read about Libeskind at that great source, Wikipedia. The fellow seems to have done pretty well for himself.
It occurs to me that the practice of architecture is about doing one building, just one, at a particular time and place. It is not necessarily about putting forth an aesthetic for all buildings at all times and in all places. Just one at a time. Seems like that is what he has done.
Fantastic and dead on.
Apart from him, that entire stable of enabling, moron sycophants is priceless! The stooge client, the dilettante publisher, the masochistic staffers, and of course the credulous podcast host. Without folks like these, you don't have starchitects.
Best of all is that human mop of an assistant. Is there any doubt Hans subs in 9/10 classes when Gerhardt deigns to teach studio?
"... pretty sure he owns a concrete company."
Love this sketch, after all, how many architects and especially critics dress up a material profession with real consequences in abstract ideas. In the end they all "own a concrete factory," and really have their own stable of clients.
Every time I meet an architect or a designer wearing those round Corb glasses and spewing esoteric crap, it makes me cringe!! Such a bunch of pretentious wannabes!
You are kidding me. Do they really wear those glasses? You are not fooling me, I hope.
And more broadly - I've been pleasantly surprised at Alternatino for the subtle accuracy in its skewering of various genres and archetypes. Its a less in-your-face angle of Nick Kroll's show, with all the thoughtfulness.
Unfortunately, that's not too far off. The whole point of being that self absorbed is not having to worry what the public thinks, and if you do, your modernist schooling will have taught you that the public doesn't know shit about real architecture, unless it's the developing world. In which case, let's do some critical regionalism!
Our world would be a better place if more people had laughed at Daniel Libeskind instead of pretending to admire his garbage. Aiding and abetting that jackass’s career should be a punishable offense.
"In a Gerhard environment, I want you to feel... challenged...interrogated...tired. I want you to feel like I hate you personally...because I do."
perfect. :)
I saw him as a Calatrava/Eisenman hybrid... writers got it spot on, 'portfolio' and language. As good as the silly UCB sketch of green architects working in the forest.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/2zifz2/upright-citizens-brigade-woodsy-office
This commercial!
Filled with so much pretension, it made my skin crawl. youtube.com/watch?v=yXvaM7kSYQ4
after you put in the www and the dot.
Excellent 9.5/10.
Daniel’s ideas are inspired by his special Nina Libeskind Idea Generator Pencil Sharpener.
Been a film afficionado for fifty years. This is one of the best I've seen.
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