buffyverse tattoos
- Thread starter goldenboy
- Start date
Maybe modern tattoos are another manifestation of the original American search for "cool". Almost every young person wants to be cool. Did "cool" begin with the hipsters, the Beatniks? Maybe it goes back further.
What is "cool"? Some sort of desire to rebel against the dominant culture. To be "in the know", hip, with it.
So, perhaps a combination of rebellion, a desire to strike out on one's own path. Yet, simultaneously combined with a search for other people with whom you can relate. A search for "cool" people who are like you, but maybe just a little smarter or "better" than you are.
That seems to kinda sum up the "American" psyche to me. The intense desire to strike out on a new path, fully exercise your personal freedom. Yet, tempered by a natural human desire to belong, be a part of something.
What is "cool"? Some sort of desire to rebel against the dominant culture. To be "in the know", hip, with it.
So, perhaps a combination of rebellion, a desire to strike out on one's own path. Yet, simultaneously combined with a search for other people with whom you can relate. A search for "cool" people who are like you, but maybe just a little smarter or "better" than you are.
That seems to kinda sum up the "American" psyche to me. The intense desire to strike out on a new path, fully exercise your personal freedom. Yet, tempered by a natural human desire to belong, be a part of something.
Yeah, I'm starting to think that "cool" is a combination of things:
"¢ rebelliousness, individuality
"¢ a search for novelty, newness
"¢ a search for belonging, bettering one's self through others
It seems to me it can't just be rebelliousness, individuality. Why do folks get so concerned about an artist "selling out", for example? Why should a rebel musician care if he sells one record or 15 million? A rebel does what he does, consequences be damned.
Someone in search of "cool" wants his art to be seen or heard by many, but not too many. He doesn't want to be perceived as a part of the mainstream. He wants to seem new, unique, yet still part of a general trend of coolness.
I think the search for cool can apply to modern tattooing as well.
"¢ rebelliousness, individuality
"¢ a search for novelty, newness
"¢ a search for belonging, bettering one's self through others
It seems to me it can't just be rebelliousness, individuality. Why do folks get so concerned about an artist "selling out", for example? Why should a rebel musician care if he sells one record or 15 million? A rebel does what he does, consequences be damned.
Someone in search of "cool" wants his art to be seen or heard by many, but not too many. He doesn't want to be perceived as a part of the mainstream. He wants to seem new, unique, yet still part of a general trend of coolness.
I think the search for cool can apply to modern tattooing as well.
eponinethen
Majk
Hm, I think all those things have a lot to do with being "cool" but the one most important thing to me is that to be really cool, you have to not try to be cool, you have to not care about being cool. And definitely not knowing or thinking you are cool (damn, that makes me soo uncool). Which is so hard, cause, well, pretty impossible. Mhm.
Anyways, if I'd ever get a tattoo it would be cause I sometimes think I lack personality, and that a truly original and personaly designed tattoo could give me one. Well, that's how I think when I'm pessimistic and when I'm optimistic I'd say I would get a tattoo just cause I'f so friggin cool (which could also be a reason not to get one, of course.. like "duh, I don't need a tattoo to be cool").
I know lots of people who have tattoos, only one or two people with good looking tattoos though (in my opinion), so I'm thinking if I ever got one, it'd have little to do with them actually..
Anyways, if I'd ever get a tattoo it would be cause I sometimes think I lack personality, and that a truly original and personaly designed tattoo could give me one. Well, that's how I think when I'm pessimistic and when I'm optimistic I'd say I would get a tattoo just cause I'f so friggin cool (which could also be a reason not to get one, of course.. like "duh, I don't need a tattoo to be cool").
I know lots of people who have tattoos, only one or two people with good looking tattoos though (in my opinion), so I'm thinking if I ever got one, it'd have little to do with them actually..
eponinethen
Majk
Because when you start searching, it's too late.. you're uncool already. Which is why people trying to be cool always end up losing.. until they admit their uncoolness, heh..
Yeah, I think to actually BE cool, you have to actually be very single-minded, unselfconscious. Not worry about trends, what other folks are doing.
Cool is an opinion about you that is reached by others. Yet people still try to self-consciously search for it.
But, for some reason, I'm hesitating and maybe contradicting myself a bit here. I'm not sure.
A rebel isn't necessarily cool. A rebel could just be a fool or a nutcase or a jerk.
Cool people often end up starting trends or at least expanding on trends in interesting ways. Seems like cool has to relate to some idea or trend or culture that already exists in some form. The cool person reacts against it, tweaks it in some new, unexpected way. But maybe not...
Is it possible to be a self-conscious cool person? Joss strikes me as cool, but not purely original. He's self-consciously recycling existing ideas in interesting ways. Adding his spin to them. Hmm....more pondering needed.
Cool is an opinion about you that is reached by others. Yet people still try to self-consciously search for it.
But, for some reason, I'm hesitating and maybe contradicting myself a bit here. I'm not sure.
A rebel isn't necessarily cool. A rebel could just be a fool or a nutcase or a jerk.
Cool people often end up starting trends or at least expanding on trends in interesting ways. Seems like cool has to relate to some idea or trend or culture that already exists in some form. The cool person reacts against it, tweaks it in some new, unexpected way. But maybe not...
Is it possible to be a self-conscious cool person? Joss strikes me as cool, but not purely original. He's self-consciously recycling existing ideas in interesting ways. Adding his spin to them. Hmm....more pondering needed.
OK, so, maybe the key to being artistically cool is taking a conscious look at something in the culture and honestly reacting to it. Recycling what you like, criticizing what you hate. Bottom line, being intellectually and emotionally honest in your artistic creation. It will be a reflection of both the culture you're in and also your own uniqueness.
The people who search for artistic cool take a look at the cool person rather than an idea or the culture at large. They directly imitate. They don't honestly relate their own personal reaction.
This is becoming a weird and fun thread....
The people who search for artistic cool take a look at the cool person rather than an idea or the culture at large. They directly imitate. They don't honestly relate their own personal reaction.
This is becoming a weird and fun thread....
eponinethen
Majk
Well, you don't have to be original to be cool. That's the thing. There is nothing less cool than people trying to be original. You can definitely follow trends and still be cool, and you can be a self-conscious cool person, in my opinion.. You definitely do not need to be a rebel to be cool. To me, just realizing the fact that you don't need to be a rebel, can make you into a cool person..goldenboy said:
As I see it, most "rebels" try really hard to be rebels, and that is so not cool. That is trying to be cool, in my opinion. Since most "rebels" consider rebels to be cool.
To be a true rebel is even harder than to be truly cool. Because to be a rebel you need to be original and all, in more ways, and still not try to be..
Cookie Dough
Prophecy Girl
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2004
- Messages
- 208
- Age
- 39
Oz was cool. I don't think rebel and cool are synonamous at all. Cool is realizing the social constraints of society, abiding by them and still maintaining individuality.
I think you're right that rebels can look foolish. Depends on what they're rebelling against and why. I think one could say that "maintaining your individuality" is like a form of rebellion, to a degree.
You might feel inclined by society or guilt or fear or whatever to do exactly what someone else is doing. But what if the social constraints of society seem ridiculous or outmoded to you? You might feel afraid to "just be yourself". If you can overcome that fear, "rebel" against what might be expected of you, a side effect may be that you achieve coolness in other's eyes. You can actually change the constraints of a society by rebelling against those constraints.
I think maybe we're all kinda describing the same thing in different ways. But you be the judge.
And I think it may actually be impossible to create unselfconscious art. We aren't in a vacuum. We consciously react against ideas and society at large.
Again, cool is an opinion of you that's held by others. Yet people search for it, try to achieve it. But you can't buy it, have it rub off on you by being around others you perceive as cool. You can only imitate cool that way.
You're cool in other's eyes by virtue of the thoughts you have and share, the paintings you paint, the songs, poems you write, etc. At least, those are the people I perceive as cool. People who actually say, do, make cool things.
I think people get tattoos for different reasons. Some as an initiation, some to rebel. Some to comemmorate a birth, death or important event. Some even as an act of religious devotion.
But I think some people get tattoos in an attempt to "buy coolness". Some kind of shortcut to hipness. The tattoo maybe cool, but that doesn't mean you are. Even if you design it yourself, to me it seems like second-tier coolness.
I'm less impressed with your haircut, your clothes, the ink on your skin, than the interesting ideas in your head. The ideas you pour out in a painting or a song or a book. It's possible to share your uniqueness with the whole world that way. I understand that some people to choose to express themselves through their appearance. It's just my personal opinion, preference.
(And this is probably my ideal self speaking. I get as bowled over by beautiful tattoos, hair, fashion as anyone.)
You might feel inclined by society or guilt or fear or whatever to do exactly what someone else is doing. But what if the social constraints of society seem ridiculous or outmoded to you? You might feel afraid to "just be yourself". If you can overcome that fear, "rebel" against what might be expected of you, a side effect may be that you achieve coolness in other's eyes. You can actually change the constraints of a society by rebelling against those constraints.
I think maybe we're all kinda describing the same thing in different ways. But you be the judge.
And I think it may actually be impossible to create unselfconscious art. We aren't in a vacuum. We consciously react against ideas and society at large.
Again, cool is an opinion of you that's held by others. Yet people search for it, try to achieve it. But you can't buy it, have it rub off on you by being around others you perceive as cool. You can only imitate cool that way.
You're cool in other's eyes by virtue of the thoughts you have and share, the paintings you paint, the songs, poems you write, etc. At least, those are the people I perceive as cool. People who actually say, do, make cool things.
I think people get tattoos for different reasons. Some as an initiation, some to rebel. Some to comemmorate a birth, death or important event. Some even as an act of religious devotion.
But I think some people get tattoos in an attempt to "buy coolness". Some kind of shortcut to hipness. The tattoo maybe cool, but that doesn't mean you are. Even if you design it yourself, to me it seems like second-tier coolness.
I'm less impressed with your haircut, your clothes, the ink on your skin, than the interesting ideas in your head. The ideas you pour out in a painting or a song or a book. It's possible to share your uniqueness with the whole world that way. I understand that some people to choose to express themselves through their appearance. It's just my personal opinion, preference.
(And this is probably my ideal self speaking. I get as bowled over by beautiful tattoos, hair, fashion as anyone.)
Faith's Man
Vampire Hunter
I've heard that tat described by fans as a series of crescent moons, symbolizing female strength and that some mean that they are guardians to the person that is tatooed in the circle of crescent moons.
eponinethen
Majk
Mhm, yeah I agree with what you said goldenboy.
The thing is that I used to be one of those who thought I had to be original and somewhat a rebel to have a personality at all. But I found that I became much "cooler" when I stopped feeling the need to rebel, when I started admitting I like to dress in clothes that aren't completely unique, when I stopped telling everyone what unusual and smart ideas and opinions I have about things.. I became a far more relaxed person, because to me that "having to be different and original" thing was what made me incredibly uncool. These days there's nothing I find more annoying than people trying to be original and rebels. I do understand them though, but it's really pointless... (I could rant about that forever... I won't though.)
That is why I see nothing wrong in wanting to have a nice haircut, pretty clothes or a "cool" tattoo. Because people trying not to have that is even more annoying to me...
The thing is that I used to be one of those who thought I had to be original and somewhat a rebel to have a personality at all. But I found that I became much "cooler" when I stopped feeling the need to rebel, when I started admitting I like to dress in clothes that aren't completely unique, when I stopped telling everyone what unusual and smart ideas and opinions I have about things.. I became a far more relaxed person, because to me that "having to be different and original" thing was what made me incredibly uncool. These days there's nothing I find more annoying than people trying to be original and rebels. I do understand them though, but it's really pointless... (I could rant about that forever... I won't though.)
That is why I see nothing wrong in wanting to have a nice haircut, pretty clothes or a "cool" tattoo. Because people trying not to have that is even more annoying to me...
Faith's Man
Vampire Hunter
How are tatoos Bioharzardous I'm going to get one but mine is going to be an wiccan arm the repersents power and strength.
eponinethen
I agree. I think you need to be relaxed, comfortable with yourself. Emotionally honest with yourself. Maybe that's part of where "cool" comes from: being relaxed, comfortable. Free to explore ideas honestly.
And fashion, personal "bodily" expression is actually important to a degree. Shows the world what you think about yourself and how you relate to the rest of the world. Hopefully, your fashion reflects your feelings, your goals, your ideals and not someone else's.
I actually have a very boring, generic fashion sense. I just don't really care. I don't want to be slob or anything. Just choose to be expressive in other ways.
I agree. I think you need to be relaxed, comfortable with yourself. Emotionally honest with yourself. Maybe that's part of where "cool" comes from: being relaxed, comfortable. Free to explore ideas honestly.
And fashion, personal "bodily" expression is actually important to a degree. Shows the world what you think about yourself and how you relate to the rest of the world. Hopefully, your fashion reflects your feelings, your goals, your ideals and not someone else's.
I actually have a very boring, generic fashion sense. I just don't really care. I don't want to be slob or anything. Just choose to be expressive in other ways.
E
eponinethen
Yeah I agree with all the things you just said.. Yup.
Interesting...
"[cool's] history is more than a little complicated, because several of its senses overlap, and it's hard to be sure when the rather ill-defined modern slang term came into the language. Also, it's not always possible to understand how it was being used in some older examples.
One slang sense is "controlled, cautious or discreet", which was fashionable in the early 1950s in the phrase stay cool. This is first recorded near the end of the nineteenth century, but it's really a subtle transformation of a standard English form that goes back to Beowulf, in a rather literary metaphor for being unexcited, calm or dispassionate. This turned up in the eighteenth century in the slangy expression cool as a cucumber that is still with us, and in the mainstream language as keeping a cool head"”being unemotional or in total command of oneself.
Some researchers suggest that at about the same time a second sense grew out of this standard English meaning, to refer to something that was superlative, exciting or enjoyable (or less strongly, something merely satisfactory or acceptable). The older English meaning was sometimes rather negative, since to be unemotional and in control might imply you were also withdrawn or depressed, lacking warmth, or unenthusiastic (as in someone getting "a cool reception"). Black American English, it is suggested, could have turned this on its head to make something cool its very opposite. If this is true, it would be the first example of a type of slang construction common in modern American Black English"”for example bad or wicked. This use of cool only really caught on in the 1930s, but is still common (and is well known, for example, among young people in Britain as well as America, even though a few now insist on spelling it kewl).
This overlaps somewhat with another slang sense, recorded from the beginning of the nineteenth century, that referred to somebody who was assured, audacious or impudent. This turned up in phrases like a cool customer or a cool fish and is also recorded in American English from the 1840s onwards. Yet a fourth sense, of something sophisticated or fashionable, is first recorded from the middle 1940s but is probably rather older. (There are other senses, but let's not make an already complicated story even more difficult to understand.)
Elements of all these ideas came together in the jazz world in the 1940s, especially in cool jazz"”for example Charlie Parker's Cool Blues of 1947; jazz aficionados used the term to distinguish this style from the hot jazz then in vogue, but also with undertones of at least some of these earlier meanings. It's with jazz that the slang term was most closely associated and out of which it became more widely known throughout the English-speaking world. In the fifties cool could variously mean restrained, relaxed, laid-back, detached, cerebral, stylish, excellent, or other affirmative things. It became the keyword of the Beat generation and in the 1960s it moved into teen slang"”where it has largely stayed.
What is surprising about cool is how long it has been around. Even if you ignore its pre-history, it has stayed in fashion for 50 years or more, a long time for a slang term. And it has remained slang, and not moved into the mainstream. Today it's just as commonly encountered as it was in the fifties and sixties. Now that's cool ..."
source:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-coo1.htm
"[cool's] history is more than a little complicated, because several of its senses overlap, and it's hard to be sure when the rather ill-defined modern slang term came into the language. Also, it's not always possible to understand how it was being used in some older examples.
One slang sense is "controlled, cautious or discreet", which was fashionable in the early 1950s in the phrase stay cool. This is first recorded near the end of the nineteenth century, but it's really a subtle transformation of a standard English form that goes back to Beowulf, in a rather literary metaphor for being unexcited, calm or dispassionate. This turned up in the eighteenth century in the slangy expression cool as a cucumber that is still with us, and in the mainstream language as keeping a cool head"”being unemotional or in total command of oneself.
Some researchers suggest that at about the same time a second sense grew out of this standard English meaning, to refer to something that was superlative, exciting or enjoyable (or less strongly, something merely satisfactory or acceptable). The older English meaning was sometimes rather negative, since to be unemotional and in control might imply you were also withdrawn or depressed, lacking warmth, or unenthusiastic (as in someone getting "a cool reception"). Black American English, it is suggested, could have turned this on its head to make something cool its very opposite. If this is true, it would be the first example of a type of slang construction common in modern American Black English"”for example bad or wicked. This use of cool only really caught on in the 1930s, but is still common (and is well known, for example, among young people in Britain as well as America, even though a few now insist on spelling it kewl).
This overlaps somewhat with another slang sense, recorded from the beginning of the nineteenth century, that referred to somebody who was assured, audacious or impudent. This turned up in phrases like a cool customer or a cool fish and is also recorded in American English from the 1840s onwards. Yet a fourth sense, of something sophisticated or fashionable, is first recorded from the middle 1940s but is probably rather older. (There are other senses, but let's not make an already complicated story even more difficult to understand.)
Elements of all these ideas came together in the jazz world in the 1940s, especially in cool jazz"”for example Charlie Parker's Cool Blues of 1947; jazz aficionados used the term to distinguish this style from the hot jazz then in vogue, but also with undertones of at least some of these earlier meanings. It's with jazz that the slang term was most closely associated and out of which it became more widely known throughout the English-speaking world. In the fifties cool could variously mean restrained, relaxed, laid-back, detached, cerebral, stylish, excellent, or other affirmative things. It became the keyword of the Beat generation and in the 1960s it moved into teen slang"”where it has largely stayed.
What is surprising about cool is how long it has been around. Even if you ignore its pre-history, it has stayed in fashion for 50 years or more, a long time for a slang term. And it has remained slang, and not moved into the mainstream. Today it's just as commonly encountered as it was in the fifties and sixties. Now that's cool ..."
source:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-coo1.htm
"Cool" is definitely versatile and complex in its history and meanings.
I wonder if perhaps the actual sound of the word itself helps explain its longevity. For example, "love". It just sort of sounds like what it is: soft, rolls off the tongue easily, naturally. "Hate" feels like a very natural combination of sounds you'd make with your teeth clenched and your temper high.
"Cool" sounds like "ooh", a sound of awe, wonderment, excitement. Plus you've got the sharp "c" sound at the beginning for added punctuation, emphasis.
I wonder if perhaps the actual sound of the word itself helps explain its longevity. For example, "love". It just sort of sounds like what it is: soft, rolls off the tongue easily, naturally. "Hate" feels like a very natural combination of sounds you'd make with your teeth clenched and your temper high.
"Cool" sounds like "ooh", a sound of awe, wonderment, excitement. Plus you've got the sharp "c" sound at the beginning for added punctuation, emphasis.
Mr. Pointy
By George - I think you've got something there :)
Trying to define cool is like trying to plait smoke - can't be done 🙂...this quote from The Simpsons shows what I mean...
Homer: So I realized that being with my family is more important
than being cool.
Bart: Dad, what you just said was powerfully uncool.
Homer: You know what the song says: "It's hip to be square."
Lisa: That song is so lame.
Homer: So lame that it's... cool?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Am I cool, kids?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Good. I'm glad. And that's what makes me cool"”not caring, right?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Well, how the hell do you be cool? I feel like we've tried
everything here.
Homer: Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to
be told you're cool.
Bart: Well, sure you do.
Lisa: How else would you know?
😀 😀 😀
Homer: So I realized that being with my family is more important
than being cool.
Bart: Dad, what you just said was powerfully uncool.
Homer: You know what the song says: "It's hip to be square."
Lisa: That song is so lame.
Homer: So lame that it's... cool?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Am I cool, kids?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Good. I'm glad. And that's what makes me cool"”not caring, right?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Well, how the hell do you be cool? I feel like we've tried
everything here.
Homer: Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to
be told you're cool.
Bart: Well, sure you do.
Lisa: How else would you know?
😀 😀 😀
nerd4hire
Cool