www.dezeen.com: Set designers Es Devlin and John McGuire have responded to singer Lorde's accusation that Kanye West stole the design of his latest live show, by stating that glass boxes are nothing new.
Lorde took to Instagram earlier this week to accuse Kanye West and Kid Cudi of stealing the idea of performing in a suspended glass box from her previous performances, which included a set designed by Devlin.
10 comments:
This is just yet another case of similar work being done as in the past. I find it so difficult when thinking of concepts, and feeling as though I am original. Art precedes me, and will go on to be created long after me (if the world doesn’t end from capitalism first). Glass is a medium that people constantly look to, for with its use there is an innate quality that is expressed about what it is to be human. This is also true for mirrors; because this expression is so often desired, it is hard to come up with something “original”. It is important to give credit where credit is due, but it is also just as important to just create what you want to, and not let the boundaries of existing art hold your creations back. I have no answer to what to do about this conundrum, however I do not think these things are exclusive of each other. I just hope that if someone is inspired by another's work, they are honest about it.
It’s really interesting that this whole agreement between Lorde and Kanye occurred without ever hearing from the actual designers of the scenery. I understand that performers at this level have an immense amount of say in what their concerts look and sound like. Essentially, they are the designers in some way. But it’s a little wild to me that their party would claim their concert’s designs in the way they have. Clearly the actual designers in the situation do not see the situation in the same light. And really, Lorde isn’t accusing Kanye of stealing a design, she’s accusing that design firm. And those people’s reputations mean a lot. I know, objectively, at the end of the day this is all likely a publicity stunt. And that it’ll get a lot of likes for now then blow over. But it feels wrong to question the validity of someone’s intellectual property in a bit to gain popularity.
I think this article is a great example of how hard it is to truly come up with a new idea and concept, chances are that it has been done before. I can see the issue that Lorde has with this situation, however. Her recent tour featured the floating glass boxes and Kanye has chosen to have a similar aesthetic. While Kanye’s timing is pretty soon after Lorde’s tour, like the article stated, Lorde does not own that design concept. I am surprised that accusations like this do not come up more often with large-scale tours because I feel like I have seen a number of different artists with similar stages and designs but they always feel different because of what the artist decides to do with the set. While Kanye’s set may look similar to Lorde’s, it is the way he decides to interact with it that will be original to him.
This seems like an issue of contracts and intellectual property, and I am willing to bet that the designers are more closely acquainted with who owns the design, and what parts of it are actually ownable. As for the recurring glass box in Devlin’s designs: it’s not unusual for a designer, like any other artist, to be captivated or inspired by an image or idea. A glass box is a useful symbolic tool, and it’s visually very striking. This whole situation also makes me think of occasions when, of all of the plays in the world, neighboring companies will coincidentally produce the same show in the same season. People are often thinking similar or parallel thoughts about current events, and they come to similar conclusions. All that said, the designer working on two artists with glass boxes in such a small span of time seems like poor practice at best. As they say, don’t throw stones.
Unknown 10:09am is Chase Trumbull. Computer goof.
OH boy am I tired of petty, inconsequential spats between self-involved famous people that only involves their pride and whoever dissed them and not the actual work done by designers. The actual content in this little spat only interests me as far as the ridiculousness of its claims. Lorde is gonna claim that she has ownership over designs with hanging glass boxes? Is she going to sue the makers of hanging plant holders next? I understand that these personalities have a tremendous amount of input into the shows they put up, but they're not the ones who actually design them, they just approve the drawings. How about giving some credit to the people who put together your show, rather than fawning over yourself and your image all the time. I realize that this is a lot of saltiness for just one person, but I believe it's a righteous saltiness. They're the ones who give us our jobs, yes, but without us they wouldn't have a show!
It is interesting to see outside opinions on set design and what people think is theft and what is just “inspiration.” This is not the first time that Kanye will face some sort of “idea theft” controversy, nor is it the last. However, to respond to the scenic designers in this article, while the idea of glass boxes may not be new, Kanye probably thought he was being innovative, and more likely would have been exposed to the idea via Lorde, another popular music artist, rather than an eleven year old Opera. Or if he had seen the opera, he likely would have reused the idea sooner. Normally in this scenario, I would place more blame on the designer of the set, however, I am aware that Kanye is very controlling of most aspects of his creation of art, and thus, was likely very, very involved with the design of this show.
I think the first line for Julians comment up there about sums it up. I am pretty sick of listening to all of these people who have more money than I can even conceptualize complaining about that someones stage looks too much like theirs. Also, if you think for a second that Kanye or Lorde designed those stages you are out of your mind. They didn't design them, or build them, or maintain them. It is not their work just because it is in the pictures with them and their name is attached to it. I totally understand and appreciate the need to hold people responsible when they steal intellectual property or ideas but I just can no longer entertain Kanye Went doing anything and I am pretty sick of rich people just complaining about whatever is annoying them that day and it being on the news. I guess we'll see how this plays out and Kanye will still be a jerk and we will still care the next time someones feelings get hurt because they think they invented glass boxes.
I am with many others that have commented on this post regarding the validity of the performing artists fighting over these set designs. Neither one of the designed, built, or deals with the sets in any way except getting on them to perform. I really liked that the designers quickly called this out and refused to fuel the fire by simply pointing out that nothing is new, every piece of art draws from something in the past, and no one owns the concept of a glass box. That, to me, is the most ridiculous part of the whole situation. The idea that once someone creates a piece of art using a specific medium that they then own that medium is ludicrous, and if that were true there would be no mediums left. It seems like the designers are just as fed up with the drama as we are, and I applaud them for not participating in this ordeal.
This article brings up a very interesting problem as I have never thought scenery design with musical artists. I see the issue that Lorde’s team brings up, but I’ll have to agree with Kanye’s team; neither group came up with an original idea. Having to be creative and practical with concert tour set designs, a glass box really isn’t a new thought when trying to convey an idea or image to your audience. Lorde and Kanye have very different aesthetics when it comes to their music and their fanbase so the implication each set gave probably got a completely different reaction from both fanbases. The fact that this is “news” is really weird to me, and as I can see, a lot of other people that commented on it as well. The designers are in this ridiculous drama when there are plenty of other things that they could be doing, like thinking up a new design if it really means this much.
Post a Comment