🕴️
Person in Suit Levitating
PUR-suhn in SOOT LEV-i-tay-ting
Definitions
1
People · Business
uncommon
A mysterious figure in a business suit appearing to float or hover above the ground, often used to represent corporate culture, mysterious agents, or surreal situations.
Used in business contexts, pop culture references, or to create a sense of oddity in conversations.
When the boss calls you to his office but won't say why 🕴️
Twitter/work humor
Corporate culture has everyone like 🕴️ these days
Instagram caption
Originally inspired by 2 Tone ska album artwork and the 'rude boy' aesthetic, later associated with Men in Black films and surreal corporate imagery.
2
Entertainment · References
rare
A reference to specific pop culture elements including Men in Black agents, Talking Heads' David Byrne, or ska music's 'rude boy' imagery.
Primarily used by music fans, film buffs, or in meme contexts referencing these cultural touchpoints.
Just watched Men in Black again. Those agents really be like 🕴️
Film discussion
The floating suited figure has connections to multiple cultural references, making it a niche but versatile emoji for pop culture enthusiasts.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Introduced in Unicode 7.0 as 'Man in Business Suit Levitating', initially with limited recognition.
Expansion of professional and business-themed emoji set
2017
Gained popularity in surreal memes and corporate humor as 'weird Twitter' aesthetics spread.
Rise of absurdist humor and surreal memes online
Cultural Context
The design was inspired by the 'rude boy' figure from 2 Tone Records, a British ska music label from the late 1970s featuring a dancing man in a suit.
Often associated with Men in Black films, where agents in black suits possess supernatural abilities and advanced technology.
Connected to Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's iconic 'big suit' from the concert film 'Stop Making Sense,' emphasizing the surreal corporate aesthetic.
One of the more obscure emoji designs that gained popularity through meme culture rather than practical communication needs.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
More commonly associated with 2 Tone ska music and the 'rude boy' aesthetic that originated in the UK music scene of the late 1970s.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to recognize and use for specific cultural references to 2 Tone ska, Talking Heads, or early MIB films.
Gen_Z: Used ironically in surreal memes, vaporwave aesthetics, or as part of abstract humor sequences on TikTok and Twitter.
Older: Limited usage, occasionally employed in business contexts without the cultural references younger generations apply.
Millennials: Often used to reference Men in Black, corporate culture jokes, or music references to Talking Heads or ska.
Common Combinations
🕴️💼
Corporate life, business professional, or mysterious agent on a mission
Often used in workplace humor about corporate culture or mysterious business dealings
🕴️🕶️
Secret agent, Men in Black reference, or mysterious figure
Direct reference to Men in Black films or government conspiracy jokes
🕴️🏢
Corporate drone, office worker, or business person with unusual powers
Commentary on strange corporate culture or workplace absurdity