Summary
'Cool' - Laurie Taylor traces the trajectory of the notion of ‘cool’ with Joel Dinerstein, Professor of English and American Studies at Tulane University, and author of a study which suggests it originated in American jazz clubs as a stylish defence against racism and cross fertilised with French existentialism and film noir.
Also, ‘cool shades’: Vanessa Brown, Senior Lecturer in the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University, explores the enduring appeal of sunglasses as the ultimate signifiers of ‘cool’ in mass culture.
Producer: Jayne Egerton
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:36.6 | I'm Laurie Taylor, and this is a Radio 4 podcast |
| 0:39.6 | for thinking aloud. |
| 0:41.2 | How cool are you? As cool as Lester Young or Miles Davis or Humphrey Bogart and how |
| 0:47.4 | might your aspirant coolness be enhanced by adopting some dark glasses. |
| 0:53.0 | Find out here. |
| 0:55.0 | Hello, now before we do anything else, let me clear up last week's big error |
| 0:59.0 | because you see there I was plugging this week's program on Cool by playing an extract from a classic track on the |
| 1:05.2 | Bonzo Dog album, together with the news that the vocalist was Neil Innes. |
| 1:10.2 | This track. I am the big shot. |
| 1:16.0 | You heard me write the big shot. |
| 1:18.0 | You heard me write the first time name of Bachelor Johnny Cool, Occupation Big Shot, occupation |
| 1:28.8 | at the moment just having fun. |
| 1:31.5 | Well Howard Dunton heard that on BBC sounds and emailed this correction. |
| 1:36.0 | Please, please tell Laurie Taylor that Bachelor Johnny Kool on the album Big Shop was by the excellent and late lamented Vivian Stanchal. Never thought I know |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.