(HW 29) merchants of cool...

After watching the videos posted I realized that a few things in the video have changed. I feel cool comes and goes and it changes so often that we cant really grasp the cool aspect. The main aspect of cool in the videos were targeting teenagers and showing what "cool" was. In the video they had a boys group and the boys were explaining what cool was and wasn't. I feel like depending on the person cool is different to others. Of course there are common things that are cool between different people but in general cool is whatever you think it is. The media affects us and shows us what "cool" is and I think that is where most of us get the ideas of what to wear and or buy. We look and listen to the media whether we think we do or not. Everyone is affected by the media and advertisements which shape our cool definitions. If these videos were recent you would be able to see the difference from back in the day and now. As for brittany spears and the media it can be bad for the younger girls who watch and listen to her. But these girls have a choice and so do there parents. They don't have to watch and follow every moment of what she is doing. I think they are like this because they don't support at home or are not monitored. In conclusion, there is still no solid definition of cool. Cool changes like the weather changes.

(HW 28) Informal research part 2...

Derbyshire, Bygone. "Smoking was seen as being cool and everybody did it." 12 February 2009: n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009. .
When this assignment was giving i thought about what I see everyday at School of the Future and what seems to be cool or the norm. I notice that smoking is a big thing and i think the main reason is because they think is cool or because their friends do it. i found this article to say exactly what I think goes on. Why would people go to the extreme of putting their health in danger just to be cool?

Hasbert, Lucas. "How to be cool at school." n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009. .
This article I found interesting because it gives you a guideline of what you need to do in order to be cool. When I read this I wondered if someone actually read this article and tried some of these steps. Probably not because cool is undefined. While sitting in another history class, Jacara mentioned that people say "be yourself" "stay true to yourself" but if everyone did that why isnt everyone cool? That made me think about how people can try and wear the latest gear or act like someone they think is "cool" and yet they are not cool themselves.

"What makes a person cool?." 2004: n. pag. Web. 8 Dec 2009. .

(HW 27)...Informal interviews & surveys

There are many definitions as to what cool can be. To get more information on what people think cool is Andy took the class outside where we were able to ask random people what they think. The first lady we interviewed was at seven11 making a cup of coffee:
What is your definition of cool?
President Obama because he is multiracial, he's really into politics and for a black president to be in the highest office that's cool.
Back to your high school days what was cool defined as?
The latest actor or actress was cool. If someone was popular like influenced by the media they were cool.
What is the coolest part of your outfit?
Well I'm dressed old fashion but for the younger ones its whatever the trend is. If plaid is in that what they wear. Personally, I don't like plaid so I wouldn't wear it.

Random man next to seven 11 smoking a cigarette.
Who is the coolest person to you and why?
I would say my boyfriend because he is successful at what he does and he dresses nice.
What is the coolest trend to you and why?
**Farm to table restaurants** because it is fresh food and locally sustainable.
What would you say the latest fashion trend is?
Vintage and fur looks really nice and is practical.

Now as for family, we love to shop so when we see something we like its an automatic buy it even though we don't necessarily need it which is a bad habit. One person I would say I like her style would be my older cousin. Shes young and vibrant and expresses herself through clothes and accessories. She puts a lot of outfits together that look stunning yet they are so cheap. She really knows how to dress. My family calls her a model for her looks. I have shopped in the past with her and i must say it was the longest day of my life. From rack to rack she looks until every shelve and rack is covered which i guess is why she gets the bargains.