Cool S

The Cool S (), also known as the Universal S, the Stüssy S, the Super S, the Pointy S, and the Graffiti S, is a graffiti sign in popular culture and childlore that is typically doodled on children's notebooks or graffitied on walls. The exact origin of the Cool S is unknown,^[1] but it became prevalent around the early 1970s as a part of graffiti culture.^[2][3]

Cool S
Type	Textual object
Writing	Latin script
Symbols	S
Created	20th century
Classification	Trademarked in the United States
Culture	Childlore

Shape

The Cool S consists of 14 line segments, forming a stylized, pointed S-shape. It has also been compared to the infinity symbol.^[4] The S appears to have depth, where the overlap in the center of the S and the appearance of a potential altitude change at the top and bottom of the S make it look like the S connects back to itself in the same way as the infinity symbol does.^[5] The Cool S has no reflection symmetry, but has 2-fold rotational symmetry.

Construction

1. The Cool S is started by drawing three short vertical lines, parallel and evenly-spaced, and then drawing another, identical group of three lines below them, separated by a gap the same length as each line segment. On a Cartesian coordinate system, these segments can be described as (0,4)–(0,3) / (1,4)–(1,3) / (2,4)–(2,3) and (0,2)–(0,1) / (1,2)–(1,1) / (2,2)–(2,1).
2. Two diagonal lines are drawn, each connecting two of the line segments drawn in the prior step: (0,3)–(1,2) and (1,3)–(2,2)
3. Two V shapes are drawn to create the top and bottom of the shape. One is inverted: (0,4)–(1,5)–(2,4) and the other is upright: (0,1)–(1,0)–(2,1)
4. Finally, the two open ends are connected to the diagonal segments' midpoints: (0,2)–(1⁄2,21⁄2) and (2,3)–(11⁄2,21⁄2)

History

The exact origin of the symbol is unclear;^[6] however, it is generally considered to be an artifact of childlore,^[7] meaning that it is taught by children to children over the course of generations. Some people have even reported seeing the S as early as the 1960s.^[8][9]

Jon Naar's photographs of graffiti in New York City, which were taken in 1973 and published in The Faith of Graffiti in 1974, frequently contain the symbol. Jean-Michel Basquiat's artworks also occasionally feature it, such as in Charles the First, and in Untitled (Olive Oyl) it is labelled "CLASSIC S OF GRAFF".^[10]

In July 2020, the S was trademarked in the United States as "The S Thing" by a man who had no involvement in its creation. However, he claimed that he does not intend to sue people for drawing it.^[11]

False origin theories

Several unverified claims have been made about the origin of the Cool S. The name "Superman S" comes from a belief that it was a symbol for Superman, whose costume features a stylized S in a diamond shape, but that shape is different. It has been suggested to originate with the band Sacred Reich, but a member of the band denied this.^[12] A marketing manager at Suzuki, whose logo was another purported origin of the symbol, denied that its logo ever contained the symbol.^[12] It has also been suggested to be associated with the Sureños.^[12] According to a prominent former detective, southern Californian gangs usually use "S-13" or "SUR" and "S" would likely not be associated with the Sureños.^[12]

The symbol is widely associated with the fashion brand Stussy. However, Emmy Coats (who has worked alongside Shawn Stussy since 1985) has stated that it was not originally a symbol of Stussy's Californian surf company.^[13]

See also

• Henohenomoheji
• Emoticon
• Twin mountain drawing
• Kilroy was here
• Sator Square
• Graffiti
• Folklore