Culture: Merchants of Cool

As part of youth group planning meeting we saw a clip from the documentary Merchants of Cool.

From the short clip we saw, the emphasis in the television show was about the business side of life for teenagers. As such I think the definition of cool might have one definition in the context of commerce and another in the context of personalities. In the context of business the "cool" would be the "early adopters," "opinion shapers" and "trend setters."

Following the 80-20 rule, these would be the 20% that leads the way for the other 80%. These trend setters would be considered cool. I suppose cool is about creating a certain persona in one's social tribe.

In another context (i.e. Jesus is cool) that definition would be different. In this setting, what we're looking for is somebody who seems to hear "a higher voice" than what is commonly heard. Instead of hearing the "zeitgeist," this type of individual would follow that higher voice even if it to their disadvantage to do so. They would follow it even if they are viewed as a minority position.

However, if we don't hate this person, we respect that person for following that higher voice.

Thus, cool within the context of business and in the context of dynamic personalities might not be (and probably is not?) the same person? Cool, in the context of consumer products, would be someone who has bought into the idea that our life is in our possessions and our things. Cool, in the context of somebody was has heard that higher voice, would be someone who has recognized that our being entails reputation and character and that life goes beyond and transcends the material and the obvious.

As I see it, the challenge, for us as Jesus followers personally and those trying to encourage young people, is to seek to see beyond the material, the visual and transient acceptance of peers through externals. But rather that we should seek for the pleasure of God (that higher voice) and that that invisible thing in fact would have more impact on our happiness and have a more lasting impact on our lives than any material things and attendant acceptance from peers because of externals.

This seeking after God will impact our relationships with others who are drawn to the cool of commerce. They may think we are nuts. But some might see in our lives, if we live that way for the higher voice, that there is something more valuable, that there is joy and peace which mere externals promise but do not deliver.

Jesus called his first followers to leave their nets and follow him. Thus, are we, today, to call people to leave their Abercrombie clothes and X-Box to follow Jesus?