Old Ideas for a New World:
Shoe Repair as a Professional Culture
Presentation By:
Michael Giulietti
University of North Texas
Department of Anthropology
Presented at the 71st annual
Society for Applied
Anthropology Meeting
Introduction:
Definition:
• A professional culture is a group that is linked
by a common occupation.
Problems:
i. Loss of “culture shock.”
ii. Individuals may have multiple occupations.
Research goal:
• To provide a framework for the study of
professional cultures and to apply it towards
an introduction of the professional culture of
shoe repair.
Methods:
In-Shop Participant Observation
Semi-structured interview
Eight stores participated with 17
informants
SSIA Convention - Oklahoma
Semi-structured interview
Twenty interviews were
conducted with 28 informants
Framework for Study
Framework modified from Jordan 2002
Culture is found in common:
1. Learning processes
2. Shared and symbolic patterns
3. Adaptations to environment
Chief Characteristics
• Service based skilled
• 5000 shops remaining
labor.
• 2 person shop is average
(Dun & Bradstreet, 2001) • Traditional knowledge
• 10% of Americans repair
Learning Processes
Cultures are learned; what is the learning process?
1) Observe
2) Assisting the master
3) Polish
Altered from JTAC Inc ©
4) Removing and replacing soles & heels
5) Complicated stitching.
Shared\Symbolic Patterns
• Common goals
– “To return the product
to its original condition
or as close to it as
possible.”
• Common assumptions
Image from SSIA (http://www.ssia.info/images/random/consumer8.gif)
– Assumptions about
broader society
Image from (http://marathonrunningshoes.com/tag/garbage/)
Shared\Symbolic Patterns
Common values
Shared\Symbolic Patterns
Common behaviors and norms
• Boxes of materials
– Symbolic
• Betrayal
“In my industry, people help each other…
you don’t do that to people!” ~ Isaac,
3rd generation repairman
Shared\Symbolic Characteristics
• Artifacts as symbols
– Jack, cobbler’s hammer,
K-stitcher
• Events as symbols
– Cultural reification
Image from SSIA (http://www.ssia.info/images/silvercup5.jpg)
Adaptation
How do cultures adapt to their common environment?
Altered from JTAC Inc ©
Conclusion & Future Research
• A connection between Shoe
repair and Ecological Anthropology?
• Symbolism in material artifacts
References
• Dun & Bradstreet, (2001) SIC 7251 for Shoe and Boot Repair
(Excludes Shoe Shine Parlors)
• Douglas, M., & Isherwood, B. (1979). The World of Goods
(1st ed.). Routledge.
• Jordan, A. T. (2002). Business Anthropology. Waveland Press.
• Keller, C. M., & Keller, J. D. (2008). Cognition and Tool Use: The
Blacksmith at Work.
• Lave & Wenger, (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral
Participation (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press
• Hicks, C. (2004). An Historical Perspective 1904 - 2004. CK1
Productions.
Acknowledgements:
Dr. Jordan and Dr. Davenport of UNT for their guidance in this project,
The McNair Baccalaureate Achievement Program, and my research
participants.