Cool (aesthetic): Difference between revisions
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'''Cool''', in [[popular culture]], is an [[aesthetics|aesthetic]] of attitude, behaviour, comportment, appearance and style. Because of the varied and changing connotations of ''cool'', as well its subjective nature, the word has no one meaning. It has associations of composure and self-control (cf. the [[Oxford English Dictionary|OED]] definition) and is frequently used as an expression of admiration or approval. A great deal of literature has been committed to understanding the concept of ''cool'' in societies. |
'''Cool''', in [[popular culture]], is an [[aesthetics|aesthetic]] of attitude, behaviour, comportment, appearance and style. Because of the varied and changing connotations of ''cool'', as well its subjective nature, the word has no one meaning. It has associations of composure and self-control (cf. the [[Oxford English Dictionary|OED]] definition) and is frequently used as an expression of admiration or approval. A great deal of literature has been committed to understanding the concept of ''cool'' in societies. |
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==Origins |
==Origins== |
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===In the West=== |
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The word ''cool'' is of Germanic origin, represented in Middle English by ''cole'' and in Old English by ''col''.[http://www.bartleby.com/61/17/C0621700.html] The vernacular, or [[slang]], use of ''cool'', defined as an inner attitude of tranquillity, calm, self-control and composure, arose independently in different places. [[Dick Pountain]] and [[David Robins]] suggest that attitudes similar to modern ''cool'' have existed for centuries in several cultures, and trace modern ''cool'' back to the "[[machismo]]" of Hispanic cultures, the ethic of the Samurai caste in Japan, the warrior castes of India and East Asia, to the "Aristocratic cool" ([[sprezzatura]]) in Europe, and to the "Anatolian smile" of Turkey used to mask emotions.<ref>Dick Pountain and David Robins, Anatomy of an Attitude, Reaktion Books Ltd., 2000.</ref> |
The word ''cool'' is of Germanic origin, represented in Middle English by ''cole'' and in Old English by ''col''.[http://www.bartleby.com/61/17/C0621700.html] The vernacular, or [[slang]], use of ''cool'', defined as an inner attitude of tranquillity, calm, self-control and composure, arose independently in different places. [[Dick Pountain]] and [[David Robins]] suggest that attitudes similar to modern ''cool'' have existed for centuries in several cultures, and trace modern ''cool'' back to the "[[machismo]]" of Hispanic cultures, the ethic of the Samurai caste in Japan, the warrior castes of India and East Asia, to the "Aristocratic cool" ([[sprezzatura]]) in Europe, and to the "Anatolian smile" of Turkey used to mask emotions.<ref>Dick Pountain and David Robins, Anatomy of an Attitude, Reaktion Books Ltd., 2000.</ref> |
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Others trace pop culture use of the word ''cool'' to [[African American]] slang, the [[black (people)|black]] [[jazz]] scene and its [[beatnik]] groupies in the early part of the twentieth century. Scholar [[Robert Farris Thompson]] traces the roots of modern ''cool'' beyond African American culture to its earlier beginnings in the spiritual concept of "Itutu" in traditional [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] culture, and describes ''cool'' as a "spiritual cool that freezes your face up".[http://www.afropop.org/multi/interview/ID/86/A%20Tango%20with%20Robert%20Farris%20Thompson]. He acknowledges similarities between African and European ''cool'': |
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===African roots=== |
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''Main article: [[African aesthetic]]'' |
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Others, however, trace pop-culture cool to traditional [[African]] cultures, transmitted to white American society and later internationally via the [[African American]] experience. The [[Black people|black]] expatriate [[jazz]] scene in [[Paris]], with its [[beatnik]] groupies, helped popularize notions of cool in the U.S. in the [[1940]]s. Scholar [[Robert Farris Thompson]] has described African American cool has having corollaries in several African cultural traditions, citing, the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] concept of "Itutu". Thompson also has noted similarities between African and European notions of cool. |
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<blockquote>"Africa and Europe share notions of self-control and imperturbability, expressed under a metaphysical rubric of coolness, viz, notions of sang-froid and coolheadedness"<ref>African Art in Motion, 1979, New York, p. 43.</ref></blockquote> |
<blockquote>"Africa and Europe share notions of self-control and imperturbability, expressed under a metaphysical rubric of coolness, viz, notions of sang-froid and coolheadedness"<ref>African Art in Motion, 1979, New York, p. 43.</ref></blockquote> |
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Thompson also, however, finds the cultural value of cool in Africa and the [[African diaspora]] different from that held by Europeans. He cites a definition of cool from the Gola people of [[Liberia]], who define it as the ability to be mentally calm or detached, in an other-wordly fashion, from one's circumstances, to be nonchalant in situations where emotionalism or eagerness would be natural and expected.<ref>Thompson, Robert Farris. "An Aesthetic of the Cool." ''African Arts'', Vol. 7, No. 1 (Autumn, 1973).</ref> |
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There is significant weight, meaning and spirituality attached to cool in traditional African cultures, something which, Thompson argues, is absent from the idea in a Western context. "Control, stability, and composure under the African rubric of the cool seem to constitute elements of an all-embracing aesthetic attitude." African cool, writes Thompson, is "more complicated and more variously expressed than Western notions of ''sang-froid'', cooling off, or even icy determination."(Thompson, ''African Arts'') |
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<blockquote>The telling point is that the "mask" of coolness is worn not only in time of stress, but also of pleasure, in fields of expressive performance and the dance. Struck by the re-occurrence of this vital notion elsewhere in tropical Africa and in the Black Americas, I have come to term term the attitude "an aesthetic of the cool" in the sense of a deeply and completely motivated, consciously artistic, interweaving of elements serious and pleasurable, of responsibility and play.(Thompson, ''African Arts'')</blockquote> |
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==Uses== |
==Uses== |
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Revision as of 22:23, 18 February 2007
- For other uses of cool, see Cool (disambiguation).
- For cool in the context of indigenous African cultures, see African aesthetic.
Cool, in popular culture, is an aesthetic of attitude, behaviour, comportment, appearance and style. Because of the varied and changing connotations of cool, as well its subjective nature, the word has no one meaning. It has associations of composure and self-control (cf. the OED definition) and is frequently used as an expression of admiration or approval. A great deal of literature has been committed to understanding the concept of cool in societies.
Origins
The word cool is of Germanic origin, represented in Middle English by cole and in Old English by col.[2] The vernacular, or slang, use of cool, defined as an inner attitude of tranquillity, calm, self-control and composure, arose independently in different places. Dick Pountain and David Robins suggest that attitudes similar to modern cool have existed for centuries in several cultures, and trace modern cool back to the "machismo" of Hispanic cultures, the ethic of the Samurai caste in Japan, the warrior castes of India and East Asia, to the "Aristocratic cool" (sprezzatura) in Europe, and to the "Anatolian smile" of Turkey used to mask emotions.[1]
Others trace pop culture use of the word cool to African American slang, the black jazz scene and its beatnik groupies in the early part of the twentieth century. Scholar Robert Farris Thompson traces the roots of modern cool beyond African American culture to its earlier beginnings in the spiritual concept of "Itutu" in traditional Yoruba culture, and describes cool as a "spiritual cool that freezes your face up".[3]. He acknowledges similarities between African and European cool:
"Africa and Europe share notions of self-control and imperturbability, expressed under a metaphysical rubric of coolness, viz, notions of sang-froid and coolheadedness"[2]
Uses
While slang terms are usually comprised of short-lived coinages and figures of speech, cool is an especially ubiquitous slang word, especially among young people. As well as being understood throughout the English-speaking world, the word has even entered the vocabulary of several languages other than English. Cool is often used as a general positive epithet or interjection which has a range of related adjectival meanings. Among other things, it can mean calm, stoic, impressive, intriguing, or superlative. Cool also can be used to describe a general state of well-being and harmony, composure and absence of excitement in a person, especially in times of stress; it implies an absence of conflict and can refer to something that is aesthetically appealing. Cool can also be used to express agreement or assent.
Theories of cool
Cool as social distinction
According to this theory, cool is a zero sum game, in which cool exists only in comparison with things considered less cool. Illustrated in the book The Rebel Sell, cool is created out of a need for status and distinction. This creates a situation analogous to an arms race, in which cool is perpetuated by a collective action problem in society.[3]
Cool as an elusive essence
According to this theory, cool is a real, but unknowable property. Cool, like "good", is a property that exists, but can only be sought after. [4] In the New Yorker article, "The coolhunt"[5], cool is given 3 characteristics:
- "The act of discovering what's cool is what causes cool to move on"
- "Cool cannot be manufactured, only observed"
- "[Cool] can only be observed by those who are themselves cool".
Cool as a fictional concept
[Cool is] a heavily manipulative corporate ethos.
According to this theory, cool is an empty idea, manufactured top-down by the "Merchants of Cool"[6]. An artificial cycle of "cooling" and "uncooling" creates false needs in consumers, and stimulates the economy. "Cool has become the central ideology of consumer capitalism".[3] Supporters of this theory avoid the pursuit of cool.
Cool as raw knowledge
According to this idea, a cool person is one who knows much about life. Those that are considered cool often have knowlege of a trend before the masses catch on to it.
Cool as an opinion
Quite often cool is in the eye of the beholder. One person, usually a member of a certain social demographic could consider something to be cool whereas a member of a separate social demographic could consider completely the opposite to be worthy of the label. Trends are usually considered cool when only a small minority are involved in them. More people becoming interested in this trend pushes it towards the mainstream, therefore classifying it as uncool. Something else will then emerge as a new trend, and the cycle will repeat indefinitely.
Cool as a family resemblance concept
If cool cannot be defined by a set of necessary and sufficient conditions, then it is better understood as a family resemblance concept.
Start with a set of paradigmatically cool individuals (for example, perhaps {Lenny Kravitz, Lily Allen, Fonzie}), and understand coolness as the union of overlapping penumbra centered on these cool individuals.
The paradigms of cool change with each generation and within each subculture.
Cool definitions
- "Cool is a knowledge, a way of life."[4]
- "Coolness is the proper way you represent yourself to a human being."[5]
- "Cool is an age-specific phenomenon, defined as the central behavioural trait of teenagerhood."[6]
See also
References
- ^ Dick Pountain and David Robins, Anatomy of an Attitude, Reaktion Books Ltd., 2000.
- ^ African Art in Motion, 1979, New York, p. 43.
- ^ a b Heath, Joseph and Potter, Andrew. The Rebel Sell. Harper Perennial, 2004.
- ^ Lewis Macadams, author of "Birth of The Cool" [1].
- ^ Robert Farris Thompson , Flash of the Spirit, New York: Vintage Books, 1983, p. 13.
- ^ Marcel Dansei, Cool: The Signs and Meanings of Adolescence, p. 1.