Cool - Definition and Overview

Cool is a complex aesthetic of motion and interval, of tension and tranquility, of juxtaposition and coexistence, that has its roots in various West African cultures. The cool aesthetic permeates African-American culture, in black artistic and musical expression, in the hitch in the "pimp" strut of urban black men, in dress, demeanor and speech. Over time, cool has been appropriated by American and world popular culture, generally.

The word itself, even in its original West African context, has a range of related adjectival meanings which have parallels in English slang usage. "Cool" can describe a state of wellness, calm or general well-being; an absence of conflict; or something aesthetically appealing.

References

Lewis MacAdams, Birth of the Cool. Beat, Bebop and the American Avant-Garde, Free Press, 2001. The title of the book comes from Miles Davis's 1949-1950 jazz recording sessions. This is not intended as a scholarly work, and is reported to have many (relatively minor) inaccuracies.

Cool can also be:

• A temperature
• An alternative name for Cumhail
• Cool, a manga