The Cool S Symbol: The Story Behind The Obsessive Drawing
If you went to school at any time during the 90s or early 2000s, you probably drew, or saw other people draw, a stylized S made of fourteen connected line segments. Despite its ubiquitous nature, a lot of people still wonder: what's that cool S thing, and where did the cool S come from?
While no one knows the true story behind the S doodle, some things are known about the cool S doodle history. For example, it's popped up all over the world, from the USA to Egypt, and it may have been around since the 1960s. Some theories, like the idea that it might be based on the Superman S symbol, has people arguing its origin. Whatever its origin, students everywhere know and love this S.
Let's learn some more about it!
Its Origins Are Shrouded In Mystery
- Photo:
- Jack Kingsman
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 4.0
Here's the thing - no one actually knows where the S thing came from. Sure, there are plenty of guesses, but none of them have been conclusively proven. Despite that fact that countless students have been drawing it for decades, its true origins remain shrouded in mystery.
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There Are Some Off The Wall Theories About The Super S
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The Internet, being the Internet, has plenty of wild, unfounded theories as to what the mysterious Super S could be. Many redditors and 4chan members remember specifically being 14 when they were first introduced to it. Some believe that it is linked to something paranormal or a form of mind control.
Others believe it is a sigil that can activate magic. While none of these have any shred of proof, they are entertaining at least.
Every Subculture Thought It Belonged To Them
- Photo:
- BloodyKnuckles1
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC0 1.0
Just about every high school subculture has, at one point, claimed the S for their own.
According to an unnamed former Reddit user:
"In South FL we called it a "surfers S." In 1994, it was impossible to draw one if you were a poseur. I once linked together 16 S's in white-out on the back of my skateboard so everyone knew what was up."
Meanwhile, Reddit user Off-Target says:
"...I always thought is was a Metal thing."
So, which high school subculture did the S truly refer to? The world may never know.
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It's Older Than You Might Think
Most people who remember the S think that it originated during their childhood, but actually, it might have come about as early as the 1960s. One 4chan user who remembers the symbol from their youth claimed to have graduated high school in 1975. Another remembers seeing South Vietnamese schoolchildren drawing it during the Vietnam War.
Sorry '90s kids, but this might actually be your parent's thing after all.
It's Not The Stussy Logo, The Suzuki Logo, Or The Styx Logo
There are plenty of other theories regarding the S symbol's origins. Some think that it's the Suzuki logo. Others believe that it's supposed to represent the metal band Styx. Still others think it's a reference to a clothing brand called Stussy.
Vice writer Julian Morgans called up Stussy to ask them if the mysterious S had any connection to their brand - they replied in the negative. While no one has explicitly debunked the Suzuki claims, the only basis seems to be that they look kind of similar. The same can be said for the Styx S.
It Doesn't Have Anything To Do With Superman, Either
The S symbol might be reminiscent of the Superman S, but there's no real connection between the two. According to Benjamin LeClear, who manages the comics library at the DC Comics studio,
"It doesn't look like any of the emblems from the old Superman Shield logos. His 'S' has a lot of open space and almost never connects to itself."
LaClear went on to say that he wished the mysterious S was connected to Superman in some way, but unfortunately, that just isn't its true origin.
The Symbol Is Used Internationally
It Might Be A Variation On The Infinity Symbol
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The S symbol is similar to the infinity symbol, in that the tails of the S loop around the back and connect the way that an infinity symbol does. For this reason, it might have been a variation on the much older image. Maybe the symbol is infinity, as it seems to have no concrete origin story and may have existed since the beginning of time.
Some Schools Actually Banned It
Drawing the S symbol was, for the most part, an innocent practice. Despite this, some schools actually banned the symbol, or punished children for drawing it. Why? Because of rumors that it might actually be a gang sign.
While it is possible that some gangs used the symbol, it's unlikely that that's where it originated, as its usage predates the existence of many gangs.
It Might Be Appealing Because It's A Moebius Strip
- Photo:
- David Benbennick
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Many have speculated about what makes the S symbol so appealing to kids. While everyone who drew it has a slightly different motivation for doing so, there is a theory about why it was so popular. Here's what Paul Cobley, a professor in language and media at London's Middlesex University, has to say on the matter.
"The reason kids go through this is probably because it's a Moebius strip. It can't be drawn continuously, but it does have a perpetual flow."
A Moebius strip is a continuous, looping shape, made famous by mathematician M.C. Escher. They look complex, but they're actually easy and fun to draw.
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