I really enjoyed your story. You made it clear that the main character was what you identify as a"cool" guy. However, you still recognize that this is just your own interpretation of what is cool, since you portrayed another character who was first seen as "the class clown" and described him as cool through other character's perspective. I think this twist was very clever to demonstrate that there is no such thing as actually being cool, but how people see one another based on how their behaviour or appearance. Also, I was surprised by all the different items you mentioned in your story and by the clothing link you provided. To me these showed a connection to the real world and made your story more believable.
Some distinctions based on story:
To Bao Lin someone cool is someone who:
*Has others who understand whatever he/she says or refers to, showing that he/she is able to relate to others and be on whats "in".
*Good appearance and attracts the opposite sex too much. "1000 comments from the old post. Mostly are from the girls."
*Someone who is up to date with whats 'in"
*Photographer
*Blogger (Pictures and Writing -deep, poetic, metaphor writing-)
*Popular
*Good taste in clothes and devices. "Nice Subcrew X Clot Cap!”
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To Richard。
-I liked your tone and use of words in your work.-
Rather than focusing on the general definition of someone who is cool you have showed someone who is more in touch with himself and his own life. Perhaps that is your own interpretation of someone who is cool and to me it is completely valid. But, because it is not a usual or common definition of being cool I think you need to interpret your story differently. Instead of showing you only told who your character was, which made your point rather confusing. So instead, for example, describe your character in a situation where he is forced to show his cool characteristics (whatever these may be to you), thereby show how other characters respond to these in order to show if he is cool or not to them. It is after all a story.
Some distinctions based on story:
To Richard someone cool (or uncool, I'm not sure) is someone who:
*Believes he/she is free
*Goes against the rules or what people say. "he doesn't have any rules just to do whatever make him happy...and i mean whatever"
*A thinker - interest in knowing the answer-
*Someone who wants to live life! "He doesn't care about the consequences he will face, he's willing to try anything new"
*Apathetic
*Distant from others (Perhaps misunderstood)
*Someone who finds no purpose
*Someone who cannot take his/her next step in life (Therefore give it up).
*Experiments in life.
After reading these stories I came up with the conclusion that our own definition of "cool" is based on the people we admire. Although we might not remember a specific person who embodies our definition of cool, we still have the image that was shown to us at some point in our lives. This image is also is originally and generally developed through the messages of corporate media on what is Cool. Being rich, good looking, athletic, and a rebel are some of the examples corporate media defines as cool. Thereby, we adopt these definitions and intend to live up to them to be recognized in some way. This is shown in Bao Lin's short story, where the main character is someone who stands out physically and socially in his community. In order to understand her definition of cool, I listed some of the distinctions she mentions in her story. For example, "Someone who is up to date with whats 'in" and "Good taste in clothes and devices".
Suggesting that her definition of what is cool is highly influenced by the different messages of corporate media. Notwithstanding, Richard's short story which does not clearly embody the general definition of what is cool. In his story he portrays a philosopher who desires to live life according to his own means. Additionally, this character is described to be distant from other people and misunderstood, causing it to be unusual for someone to identify this character as cool.
Originally I did not understand if Richard wanted to represent his definition of cool or uncool through this character, and now that I think of it I do not think that matters. Regardless if this character is cool or not, he is someone who stands out in Richard's point of view. Implying that Richard does think he is uncool, then he could be surprised and change his mind about someone with a similar personality when that person shows something else, just like Bao Lin's story.
We label people based on their behavior and looks not allowing them to truly show who they are. And once they have the opportunity to do so, the people no longer recognize them as flat characters but as round. In other words, even if a person is cool it is predictable what his words or actions will be. And this is because that person is living up to the general idea of what is cool provided by the media. So being cool might not actually be standing out or being "unique" after all.
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