Logo of the “Are We Cool Yet?” Group of Interest.
Are We Cool Yet? is the name of a Group of Interest in the SCP Wiki that mixes anomalous artifacts and processes with art. Members of the GoI primarily create anomalous art that acts as an expressive vehicle for some societal, political, or philosophical message (or the lack thereof), the artistic legitimacy of which may be questionable in other contexts, or using other means. The inclusion of anomalous means of production — as well as an anarchic, ironic intent in its products — aptly lends AWCY? creations the label “anart”; a portmanteau of “anomaly”, “art”, and “anarchy”. The art movement finds roots in surrealism.
The GoI was created in 2011 by author pooryoric (aka tunedtoadeadchannel), with the publication of a tale on 5 November entitled “Coming soon to a gallery near you!~” (the url reading “look at me I’m inventing a new group of interest”).[1] The group was written for throughout the next years. It was more visibly expanded upon in 2014 as part of the GoI contest.[2] The hub itself as well as the in-universe “official” history of the group[3] were posted on June 21 2014 by user Smapti. The AWCY? Hub includes over 75 SCPs including international ones, over 80 tales, and over 30 project proposals.[4] Two works on the site that predated the creation of the GoI were retro-tagged with the are-we-cool-yet tag; SCP-092 by far2 (2008), SCPoems by A Fat Ghost (2009).
From the AWCY? Hub on SCP Wiki:
Are We Cool Yet? is an artistic movement existing on the fringes of the international avant-garde, with roots in the early surrealist art movements of the late 19th and early 20th century and the growing scientific understanding and study of the anomalous that began to develop during that time… ) The movement has no centralized leadership, no headquarters, very few traditions or conventions, and no official membership rolls or requirements – the only thing one need do to call oneself a member is to make art that employs, exploits, or revolves around anomalous objects, beings, or phenomena.
The organization of an AWCY? cell varies wildly from place to place. Many groups are organized into small salons led by a creative mastermind or a professional critic, while others are collectives with no clear leader, and some members prefer to work entirely on their own. In the opinions of some, it is not even necessary to know that the movement exists in order to be a part of it. The tendency of some such groups to produce highly visible public artworks that cause death, injury, or lasting psychological harm has led some to decry the entire movement as a bunch of “art terrorists”, a label some of its members wear with pride, some repudiate entirely, and some wear ironically.[4]
The SCP Foundation considers AWCY? a threat to their initiative.
Project Proposal Format
The AWCY? format, called a “Project Proposal”, takes the posture of an anartist who is submitting an instance of AWCY? anart for consideration to be galleried at the “Sommes-Nous Devenus Magnifiques?” (“Are We Magnificent Yet?”), an exhibition held every ten years since 1874 (subsequent events occur on the fourth year of a given decade; 1994, 2004, 2014, etc). Being featured at this exhibition is considered to be an anartist’s most distinguished honor. The proposal is also a means to garner interest and possible funding from anart patrons. The format is roughly as follows:
Title:
Materials Required:
Abstract:
Intent:
Miscellaneous Information
The Villains Wiki lists AWCY? as an art/anomalous terrorist group with the alias of “Are We Magnificent Yet?” The apex of power in this group — if there is such a thing — is listed as “The Critic”, designated a “Commander”. A section called “Crimes” lists terrorism, mass murder, public endangerment, and illegal distribution of anomalies.
It is important to note that not all anartists in the SCP universe are members of AWCY?
The AWCY? Hub features a modified image of SCP-173, possibly suggesting that it may have been a product of AWCY? The caption in this version of the picture roughly translates to “This is not a SCP.”
Gamers Against Weed is an offshoot of AWCY?, and in-universe is founded by a former AWCY? member.
According to a statement issued on a real-world group of 3D firearms enthusiasts, the original creator of the GoI, pooryoric, made the group in order to mock a familiar trope of SCPper at the time, who were excessively subversive and edgy in their approach to writing containment fiction.
AWCY? Arms
AWCY? Arms is a real-world collective of designers and artists who, since at least 2019, design and use 3D printers to realize pistol frames, grips, upper receivers, and etcetera modifications to a wide array of firearms, including pistols, SMGs, launchers, and rifles. Notable members include V8Vtwin, Sc0rp, 351322, Vityaz, InsertMeow, ArthurClaudeen/DB Firearms, and Print Shoot Repeat.[5][6][7] They are active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Odyssee, and Youtube.[8] They also have a homepage.[9][10]
A self-description exists on their website:
Are We Cool Yet? is a decentralized group of individuals who’s core belief is Art is Not Meant to Be Contained. Art comes in many forms. Advancements in desktop manufacturing has opened new possibilities for everyone. Some want to restrict modern artistic expressions like guncad and home built firearms. To continue these advancements AWCY empowers individuals with guidance, inspiration, and a community to share ideas. We believe in the power of open source to spread information as far and freely as possible. Art is freedom of expression, and shall not be infringed.[11]
Their primary project is a re-imagined frame of the CZ Scorpion Evo 3 pistol, called the scz0rpion, which was released in October 2020.[5][12][13][14] The group, as well as the hobby itself, have received a large amount of media scrutiny in the United States, largely due to a lack of education regarding firearms rights and the 2nd Amendment.[15]
Controversy
In a public chastising of AWCY? Arms on presumed moral ground, and on a dedicated page on the SCP Wiki —- a message allowed and enacted by SCP Staff due to his account being lost — AWCY? original author pooryoric incorrectly stated that the group was trafficking illegal firearm modifications.[16] The thread, elsewhere referred to as an “on-site discussion” has its comments turned off.
This incorrect statement was perpetuated as misinformation[17] and has yet to be corrected by pooryoric, the SCP Wiki, and other outlets (such as the Villain Wiki[18]), despite a notable outcry of correction from r/SCP users and firearm enthusiasts. The legality of printing 3D guns is firmly established in federal law, along with their modification and use, granted one abides by regulations, such as FFL registration.[19][20] [21][22][23]
Controversy arose around the belief held by some members of the SCP Wiki that AWCY? Arms should be forced — whether through demand, outcry, or legal action — to change their name and, according to pooryoric, “take my words off your shit.”[24][25][26] This raised the point that an author’s personal wishes are not sanctioned per the CC license, a firm conclusion that had just taken center stage in February of that year as a definitive ruling, collective conclusion, and procedural compass in the 2021 Death of the Author.
AWCY? Arms issued an official reply to pooryoric and SCP at large on their website and mocked the SCP Wiki on their Twitter.[27][28]
While they reportedly do not sell guns or their modifications (printing instructions for these are provided freely), and no evidence of arms sales on their part exists, some pictures and evidence from social media suggests that AWCY? Arms may be selling merchandise such as t-shirts. If true, this is being done with no visible attribution to the SCP Wiki or pooryoric as the original creator of the GoI and name, and so would constitute a CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing infringement on AWCY? Arms’ part. This would theoretically leave them open to a risk of legal pursuit by SCP Wiki representatives, unless this is rectified.