Wanna One’s Comeback Teaser Accused Of Copying “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, Agency Responds
Wanna One has recently released a series of teasers for their upcoming album “1¹¹=1(POWER OF DESTINY)”, which will be released on November 19.
Wanna One l 2018.11.19 Coming Soon
"한때 나였던 너를 찾는 것,
우리는 이를 사랑이라 부른다"우리의 운명, 그 시작에 대한 이야기
This is, The Origin of our Destiny#WannaOne #워너원 #20181119 pic.twitter.com/XQDWD0Z0ob— Wanna One (@WannaOne_twt) October 28, 2018
The new album concept seems to revolve around the theme of destiny.
Wanna One l 2018.11.19 Coming Soon
너와 나의 운명, 그 시작에 대한 이야기
This is all about our Destiny#WannaOne #워너원 #20181119 pic.twitter.com/WSvCpdSqnf— Wanna One (@WannaOne_twt) October 29, 2018
The concept of “the origin of love” was used as well.
Wanna One l 2018.11.19 Coming Soon
우리의 운명,
그 시작에 대한 이야기“Find that other, original part of yourself…
That is the Origin of Love”#WannaOne #워너원 #20181119 pic.twitter.com/Nbi1JgR0Ml— Wanna One (@WannaOne_twt) October 26, 2018
The latest released video also reveals an intriguing astronomical theme.
Wanna One l “1¹¹=1(POWER OF DESTINY)” Teaser
불완전함, 만남 그리고 약속
이 모든 것은 너와 나의 운명이었다워너원 첫 번째 정규앨범
Wanna One “1¹¹=1(POWER OF DESTINY)”2018.11.19 Release#WannaOne #워너원 #20181119 pic.twitter.com/oGUleMmSHB
— Wanna One (@WannaOne_twt) October 30, 2018
After the release of these teasers, director and actor of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, John Cameron Mitchell, shared a post on his Instagram expressing his thoughts about Wanna One’s concept, claiming that they had used Hedwig’s imagery and the song title “The Origin of Love”.
“Thoughts on Kpop band @wannaone.official’s use of #hedwigandtheangryinch/Platonist/Taoist imagery as well as @stephentrask’s song title #theoriginoflove. An ancient myth is certainly fair game to use as a metaphor for a band and its caring fans coming together but I’m sad to think that their managers felt the need to borrow so flagrantly from Hedwig without attribution and flatten the myth (much like my face in this video).”
In response to accusations, Wanna One’s agency has issued an official statement stating that there are no issues with Wanna One’s comeback concept in terms of copyright matters.
“Wanna One’s concept teaser was produced using the concept of the origin of love from Plato’s ‘Symposium’. The symbols were also produced based on this concept using elements from destiny, binary numbers and infinity. During the review process, we came up with the ‘idea’ gaining inspiration from the values that humankind must share based on the philosophical concept of the origin of love and therefore, we have confirmed that it does not pose as an issue in terms of copyright matters.” ㅡ Wanna One’s Agency
The concluded by stating that although various interpretations of the origin of love exist, they also respect John Cameron Mitchell’s opinion.
“This concept became well-known through the song called “The Origin of Love”, which was used in the musical/movie Hedwig. Because various interpretations of the concept of the origin of love exist, we respect the opinion of Hedwig‘s creator, John Cameron Mitchell.”
