In an artistic sense, cool came to refer to someone with a…
““In an artistic sense, cool came to refer to someone with a signature artistic style so integral as to exude an authentic mode-of-being in the world: Miles, Bogart, Brando, Eastwood, Greco, Elvis, Lady Day, Sinatra. Such a person created something from nothing and gave the world some new artistic or psychological 'equipment for living,' to use a phrase of Kenneth Burke's. A signature style is yours and can only be carried by you: it cannot be abstracted except through dilution and commodification since it reflects an individual's complex personal experience. In this sense, cool was 'making a dollar out of fifteen cents,' to pull another phrase from the Africa-American vernacular. Lester Young was once at a bar when a tenor saxophone solo floated out of the jukebox. 'That's me,' he said happily. As he listened his mood collapsed - he realized it was one of his many imitators. 'No, that's not me,' he said sadly. To steal someone else's sound or style and capitalize on it has always been un-cool, the pretense of posers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
“Cool” denotes an authentic, indivisible personal style that cannot be truly replicated without losing its essence; imitation dilutes originality.
In simple terms: Authentic style is unique and cannot be copied.
Key Takeaway
Preserve personal authenticity.
Themes
authenticity
style
originality
Mood
analytical
insightful
Type
cultural
philosophical
When to use this quote
- branding
- fashion design
- music performance
- personal branding
Key Concepts
cultural criticism
identity
artistic expression
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines your unique style?
- How do you resist commodification?
A Different Perspective
Originality can be influenced by trends and market forces.