Elusive “˜coolness’ more than name, it’s attitude

  David Holmberg Holmberg lives in an
existential world where he does not care if you care that he does
not care, but if you do care you can contact him at [email protected], but he won’t
care.
Click Here for more articles by David Holmberg

Coolness; maybe you’re born with it, maybe it’s
Maybelline. Actually no, coolness, or “hipness” if you
prefer, has nothing to do with special hair care products, at least
not directly. Instead it is a state of mind, an attitude, a
realization by everyone who walks by you on the street that,
“Yeah, that dude’s got it.”

But what is “it”? Shakespeare may well have said
“To be it or not to be it, that is the question,” and
indeed a compelling inquiry he raised.

Throughout the history of mankind, many have aspired for
“it,” this holy grail of social status, and many have
believed they have achieved the so-sought-after treasure. Most of
these poor souls are mistaken. While researchers have yet to
determine whether the acknowledgment of one’s own coolness
automatically negates it, there is considerable data to suggest
that those who believe themselves most cool are also the least
likely to be hip. There is certainly a correlation, but what it is
exactly remains to be seen.

There is considerable data to suggest that those who believe
themselves most cool are also the least likely to be hip.

When unsure as to a definition, a dictionary is typically an
excellent place to solve the question. Unfortunately, my own
Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary lists the definition for
“hip” as, “part of the body on either side just
below the waist,” and while that’s something
interesting to ponder in relation to coolness, we will have to look
further.

Although there are a number of factors that go into making an
individual “cool,” there are few qualities which
instantly make someone uncool. If a hip person were to perform an
act previously considered “lame,” then that act
automatically becomes the thing to do. Fashion is the most blatant
example of this, where usually a piece of clothing is used in a
non-functional way as a statement of hipness. For example, wearing
baseball hats backward has been a long standing fad that counters
the whole purpose of wearing a cap, or the recent female trend to
wear pants underneath their skirts or dresses. Why?

Well, because it is cool, and in being so does not have to
follow any conventions of usefulness. This is part of the reason
that older generations constantly oppose younger trends. With age,
everything takes on a more utilitarian purpose, and since cool fads
are not ultimately necessary, they meet with disapproval.

But returning to the underlying question, it would appear that
much of what is cool is determined by celebrities and then
disseminated by the media all across the globe, albeit always about
a month late. In doing so, coolness takes on a more universal
definition and is not as culturally specific as in previous
times.

Maybe it would help to identify some acknowledged hipsters. In
the actor realm, Brad Pitt is a clear example, as is Angelina
Jolie. Musician-wise, Dave Matthews and Madonna are undeniably
cool. Historically, John F. Kennedy was pretty rad and so was
Marilyn Monroe.

Unfortunately, there are few connecting threads between all of
these personae, except for that hip factor, and no I don’t
mean that part below the waist.

As you can tell, I am avoiding actually defining this rather
philosophical question. Perhaps Socrates and friends discussed this
dilemma at length, and given that no specific answer exists, never
took to writing down their failure. Fashion is an element of
coolness, as is the use of slang terminology. But the difficulty in
solidifying the concept lies in its own fluid mobility.

I mean, it was once a cutting-edge fashion for men to wear
tights or for only those in the know to say “groovy.”
Or think about all those supposedly “cool” kids in high
school who now probably live in a trailer park somewhere and watch
“Facts of Life” reruns.

And in the end, we’re no closer to determining what
exactly is cool. Who knows? Maybe it is Maybelline.