Wednesday, September 25, 2013

How to be cool while being uncool

Watch an episode of Saved by the Bell, and you will be dropped into the culture of what is cool. Saved by the bell, which began in 1989, displayed a culture where teenage kids got into wacky situations and sometimes, mature ones. One underlying theme that constantly was brought up for me was one of the character's desire to be "cool." Zack Morris was that "kid." He always wanted the newest thing, the cutest girl, and, of course, to be cool.

When I think of Zack Morris, I go back to the discussion we had in class today. What is cool. I feel the definition can float differently from person to person. Everyone has their own definition of what is cool. A soccer fan will find England cool for the European influenced on soccer. A comedian will find comedy movies cool because they make them laugh. Each person has their own preference and no one definition is any more right than the other.

The desire to be cool drives from the desire to be liked and "popular." In the show, Zack always tried to come up with some scheme that would afford him the opportunity to be the "cool" guy at Belmont. Whether it was a prank on Mr. Belding, or a wacky plan to get some time to get close with Kelly, Zack always had desire to be popular.

Being cool is nothing more than a circle of topical and popular ideals that cycle back through. Clothing companies go out of their way to find what's cool to not only be up to date with pop culture, but also to be able to find what they can later call back as "vintage" wear later on. 

In the reading we did for class, it brings up a good question... do we know what is cool? Is Zack's cell phone really that cool? Is the new shirt you bought from American Eagle really cooler than the shirt someone bought from Walmart for half the price? 

"Cool" is a very argumentative term that I feel can be debated for years. What I think it really should show us as humans that consume popular culture and subcultures is that no matter what, what you think is cool is what YOU think is cool. No one can take that away nor should they. 

Go out and be cool


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