Bop Lic Blog

So I was looking at the upcoming Supreme drop and saw this graphic tee that really got me thinking. I was intrigued* by the image when I first saw it. Not because of the artwork itself, but because of what it’s existence represented on a larger level. The shirt depicts this depressed, rebellious figure with an anarchy necklace, shaved head, and dark Gothic imagery. And it struck me: why does society think rebels are cool?

*intrigued does not mean I liked it

When you break down why systems exist, you realize they all share the same foundation. Systems are meant to make life easier, to create unity. Whether it’s religion, fashion, or the larger socioeconomic structures we live under, systems are supposed to support us. But what happens when they don’t? If our systems truly benefited us, it would actually be cool to embrace them. It would be cool to wear clothes that celebrated our society. But when I look around, that’s not what I see. Instead, I see people doing everything they can to distance themselves from the systems we live in: through the philosophies they follow, the clothes they wear, and the ways they carry themselves.

Think about it: so many of our stars, artists, and cultural icons are admired because they “break the mold.” But why are we so obsessed with breaking the mold? This is not just natural human behavior. People distance themselves from conformity because they recognize how broken our systems really are.

Now, imagine a society where the coolest thing was to belong. Imagine that! Hard, right? Today, people who “belong” are labeled sheep, conformists, robots. But if the systems we lived in were truly on our side, then being a rebel, a punk, or an antihero wouldn’t be glamorous at all. It would actually be a bad thing to break away from a system that made our lives better. Outcasts would genuinely be outcasts.

However, here’s the thing: the fact that rebels, misfits, and outcasts are now seen as heroes is a sign that we are failing as a people. It suggests that something is deeply wrong and that change is overdue. If our systems no longer serve us, then why do they still exist? And more importantly, what are we doing to reshape them so that they actually meet our needs?