According to National Geographic, “[b]aby booties to orthopedic sandals, we spend most of our waking lives in shoes, and from them we may learn something about our culture, our history, and ourselves.” Shoes began as a way in which to protect our feet but quickly evolved in accordance to the trends in activity, work, and custom of different cultures. The manner in which the shoe was constructed, the materials that were used to make the shoe, and the visual style of the shoe have all changed over time. The “sole” purpose of the shoe remains the same but shoes have become more than protection. Shoes have become an icon of social and economic status in American society.
We need not look any further than our television screens (or computer monitors) to see a refection of how important shoes are in our society. In an episode of Sex and the City, we can watch the glamorous Carrie spend more money on her designer shoes than on her apartment rent. On any given episode of MTV Cribs, celebrities show off thousands of shoes in their closets- even tennis shoes are a symbol of wealth when they are custom made or a limited edition. A popular youtube.com video, “Shoes”, stars a shoe-obsessed teenager named Kelly who is quick to throw away shoes that “suck” and pick up shoes that “rule”. Kelly is willing to spend three hundred dollars on one single pair of shoes (and, one might grasp from the video, it is mostly because they are worth three hundred dollars).
Shoes are a part of who we are. By examining the shoe style of an individual, we can gain a sense of whom they are, what they doing, or where they are going. We can make assumptions based on whether someone is in dress shoes, athletic shoes, plain shoes, or shoes covered in rhinestones.
I fail to see my personal shoe collection as a sign of wealth or social status because I know how much I really paid for it. I do, however, view the collection as a reflection of my various personality traits. Each pair represents a piece of my self-identity; together the collection symbolizes my complex character. I have cleats for sports. I have plenty of classic black heels that are perfect for professional settings. I love my saddle shoes because they scream that I am nostalgic for a time that I was never around for. My Converses are reserved for times when I feel laid back. Flip flops are for lazy summer days. I have “those shoes” for when I feel like getting in trouble and “those shoes” for when I feel flirty and sweet. There are shoes that I have had forever and shoes that I have never worn but “needed” to have. What I choose to wear on any given day is dependent on what I feel like, what I am doing and where I am going.
We need not look any further than our television screens (or computer monitors) to see a refection of how important shoes are in our society. In an episode of Sex and the City, we can watch the glamorous Carrie spend more money on her designer shoes than on her apartment rent. On any given episode of MTV Cribs, celebrities show off thousands of shoes in their closets- even tennis shoes are a symbol of wealth when they are custom made or a limited edition. A popular youtube.com video, “Shoes”, stars a shoe-obsessed teenager named Kelly who is quick to throw away shoes that “suck” and pick up shoes that “rule”. Kelly is willing to spend three hundred dollars on one single pair of shoes (and, one might grasp from the video, it is mostly because they are worth three hundred dollars).
Shoes are a part of who we are. By examining the shoe style of an individual, we can gain a sense of whom they are, what they doing, or where they are going. We can make assumptions based on whether someone is in dress shoes, athletic shoes, plain shoes, or shoes covered in rhinestones.
I fail to see my personal shoe collection as a sign of wealth or social status because I know how much I really paid for it. I do, however, view the collection as a reflection of my various personality traits. Each pair represents a piece of my self-identity; together the collection symbolizes my complex character. I have cleats for sports. I have plenty of classic black heels that are perfect for professional settings. I love my saddle shoes because they scream that I am nostalgic for a time that I was never around for. My Converses are reserved for times when I feel laid back. Flip flops are for lazy summer days. I have “those shoes” for when I feel like getting in trouble and “those shoes” for when I feel flirty and sweet. There are shoes that I have had forever and shoes that I have never worn but “needed” to have. What I choose to wear on any given day is dependent on what I feel like, what I am doing and where I am going.
10 comments:
First off, I really like the broad spectrum of websites you included. I would have never guessed that National Geographic would have done a story on shoes, incorporating the Kelly video into your blog was creative and payless=priceless.
Secondly, very good analysis of the shoe in material culture.
And lastly, I liked your ending about how your feeling/attitude determines what shoes you wear.
Katie I love your blog about shoes! It was so great reading how many different pairs of shoes you have, I'm guilty as charged too! You got into about what each shoe represents you as a person, its great but try to show what feelings you would have when wearing those shoes. Like red heels would mean your feeling spicy and hot, something along those lines. Other than that I loved it!
Great blog, Katie. It was clear that you love shoes, and the research you took the time to do, matched well with your blog topic.
I love the shoe wheel photo, too. I recently went shoe shopping and felt the need to reign my self in several times. I spent more than I should, but luckily I was shopping at Payless.
I can't really think of any area where you could improve. You applied shoes to consumer culture, but also told us what they meant to you. So well done.
This is a good one. You have alot of insight on shoes and its great. I remember growing up at my schools kids would give you two looks. The first one is at your face and then they immediately look down to see what is on your feet. "Shoes have become an icon of social and economic status in American society". You said it.
Katie, while reading your blog I couldn't help myself but laugh. I must first say that your blog was well thought out and I liked how you touched on the different reasons you mentioned why people buy shoes.The research you did really showed just how much you love shoes . The reason I was laughing was because my mom has hundreds of shoes in all colors just because "she just had to have them"
Good Job!
I love how you showed edvidence of the purpose of shoes. Your picture shows that they are surely apart of you as a female. It is true shoes are what we need for comfort and they are a necessity in our culture. It was intereting to have read all of the shoes that you have. I have a lot as well. I see that you have a great passion for them. I love shoes and my favorite kind a high heals and designer flip-flops!
It's interesting to me how far shoes have come since they were invented. My guess is that shoes were originally invented to make things like walking and running more comfortable and easy. Today when I look at many shoes (womens) I see things like 3'' heels and toes that wouldn't fit one of my toes let alone all 5.
I think it's a good point that you make about shoes' evolution from a purely protective object to an object of personality and creative expression. I know that, personally, I've never really stopped to consider that before reading this.
I would have liked to see you disect the meaning of a specific style of shoes, like Stilettos, or perhaps a brand of shoe, like Nike. It could have led to an interesting discussion about how specific portray different status levels, which you mentioned in your blog. Great job all around though!
It really seems that shoes are as big of a part of American culture as they are any culture. Each culture is going to have its more traditional footware and they're also going to have a type of shoe for every other occasion. Shoes in and of themselves are not uniquely American, but there are certainly some styles of shoes that just scream 'AMERICAN.' I enjoyed this analysis throughly.
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