HW 37- Final Cool Paper

Whether they realize it or not, everyone is worried about being cool. We are more worried about how other people view us and if they accept us or not. I believe people are engrossed into this is superficial view of cool, instead of what is causing this desire for the coolness. The idea of being cool actually comes from feeling meaningless. There is something missing that causes people to have this empty feeling, in turn making them crave attention (or the need to be cool). What exactly is missing though? Is it something that we as humans are commonly missing which is causing us to crave attention? Trying to be cool makes us feel important. We cover up our insecurities with this important feeling that gives our lives meaning.

While in a class discussion, it was hard for us to come to a conclusion what was really cool. People were trying to seem down to earth by saying that they didn't think that they were cool, therefore there is no set definition of cool. However, when Andy asked us to name people we thought were cool in our grade, most responses were: Jerald, Anias, Egypt, Charles, and Javon. When you think about these 5 people, they share some similar characteristics. For the most part they all play a sport, are boys, buy what some say are expensive clothes, and are black. They all appear confident in who they are, and put on like they don't care what anyone thinks of them. Even if they don't recognize that they are considered cool, they still put on this mask to hide their insecurities.

I feel that the media contributes to teenagers opinion of cool. Celebrities are admired by most of society because they are something we are not. They have a talent that everyone doesn't have, they seem confident in who they are, and they make enough money to buy the lavish things that they want... so who who wouldn't want to be like them? Celebrities have such an impact on the teenager consumer, that they are directly dictating what is/should be cool, whether it's shoes (Michael Jordan = Jordan's), Drinks (Derek Jeter = Gatorade, 50 Cent = Vitamin Water), or even food (Michael Phelps = Subways). By endorsing these products, they are showing us what we should buy, look like, and even act like. If we try to emulate them, then we will feel our lives will have meaning just like theirs.

From these responses, I would have to say that teenagers (especially in our school) are clear on what they think is cool. Confident sport players that can afford expensive clothes seems to be the cool trend. Kids are doing whatever they can to buy the Prada shoes or the Monlcler jackets because that is what is portrayed as cool. The 'cool' kids are seen as important people, so if they have these material items they will be cool too... right? I understand that we are only in high school, but it's troubling that having superficial items gives us the satisfaction of having a meaningful life.


Tattoos, a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars, are another thing that people do to be cool. It's crazy that a lot of people have, but most want these ingraining marks. A tattoo is looked at as a way for one to express themselves and shouldn't be a pointless fad that you have to live with for the rest of your life.

In the 1950's and 60's tattoos represented looking 'bad ass', and being a rebel. However, in 2009 people get tattoos for obscene reasons. I feel that sometimes people get a tattoo is used as an excuse for paying tribute to someone, such as their dead grandmother. Why is inking your skin the only way to remember your grandmother? Isn't there a picture you can carry in your wallet, or a piece of clothing you can keep forever? Tattoos have gone from being a selective and unique thing to becoming a trend. People are getting tattoos because everyone else is doing it. I agree with Mr. Fanning when he said "tattooing is a addictive fad that has become a part of American society." I am one of the many teens that is anxious to get their first tattoo. I know I sound like a hypocrite, but I'm going to follow this trend when I turn 18. Sometimes it seems like we hide behind the trend of tattoos and other things to hide the various flaws we see in our selves. Having this tattoo makes us cool, and look important to someone.

Ivan Ilych's obsession for being cool is portrayed through Leo Totsky's book "The Death of Ivan Ilych". Very similar to now, he feels that living a lavish lifestyle means that he is living a meaningful and important life. In reality, all it is giving him is acceptance in society. Before he gets sick, you can see how excited and happy he gets when he talks about decorating or buying things for himself. He wants to have nice to stand out in society. However in reality "it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore only succeed in resembling others like them selves"(p.13). Very similar to today, everyone thinks that they are standing out by buying expensive things. How is that considered unique when everyone is doing the exact same thing. That shouldn't make you feel important, but like a follower. It seems like Ivan felt being accepted or 'popular' in society means that you were living a meaningful life.

The need to feel important to not only the people around you, but society is represented in "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison. The main character is a black man that has been given the chance to attend college. He felt that since he was one of the few black people in is town able to go to college, he was cool. His idea of cool, was being in charge, and having a title. He wanted to succeed only because it would make him better than other blacks, and give him a sense of importance.

His idea of cool was being a man with a title. All he really wanted was to feel important/needed in life. However, after he gets kicked out of college, unable to find work, and used by his 'brothers' in his brotherhood, his cool has no meaning. He was working so hard towards this, that when it was taken away he "felt suddenly empty... up until now I had felt a wholeness... a wholeness that guaranteed that it would change the course of history" (p.406). Even though his cool wasn't based off of material items, he was trying to cover up his insecurities by making himself seem important. He was hoping this would give him a meaningful life.

The more I analyze cool, the more I wonder what is missing from people’s life, what makes them crave this attention? "Cool is not just some phase you go through... but rather something that if once attained remains for life.(p19), what makes this something that is hard to live without? I feel that this wanting cool stems from everyone wanting to feel approved, to mask their flaws/insecurities. Take a bully for example, he feels important because everyone is scared of him. He thrives off of the weakness of other kids to mask his own insecurities.