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A few words on "cool"
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说"酷"
(Continued) Since the 1960's, this word has swept the world. It must be admitted that it is still a bit slangy （不能登大雅之堂）, not generally acceptable among older people, in high society or academic writing. Frankly speaking, since there are so many words for the "cool" meaning of the word "cool", we should let each word do its bit in our language. For the novelist, poet, playwright or professor, there is only "one " word best suited to the "one" situation.
There is irony in this usage of "cool". It is the hottest word in the hottest media （热门媒体中最俏最"酷"的字眼）. Nowadays, stars in the entertainment industries are very "hot" （走红/热门/风头强劲）, but we say they are very "cool". Walkman, cell phone, VCD, DVD, ICQ, BBS, and chat room are very "hot" media, but we don't always use the word "hot" for them because it is a little out of fashion. Instead, we call them "cool". Otherwise, we are not "in with it". We want to look "cool", play "cool".
(Continued) Here is a little bit history of the word. Its modern slangy usage emerged in the 1920's when jazz became popular. Indeed, jazz was such a hit then that the period between the two world wars in the United States is known as the Jazz Age. We can say "Jazz is cool", not only then, but also now.
Then came the 1960's when America was landed in trouble. The Vietnam War tore the country. The Civil Rights Movement shook the state. Many people were lost. The sex revolution corrupted morals. Some people were "high" on drugs. Bizarre behaviour became "cool". Counter culture became fashionable. (莫名其妙的行为很"酷"，反文化很时髦。)
Quickly, this word found its way into young people of the world. It carried away the young people in China's Taiwan and Hong Hong too. Then it worked its way into China's mainland in the early 1990's. (Part II)
(Contributed by Professor He Daokuan, an experienced teacher of English in the College of Arts, Shenzhen University.)
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