Shoe Repair as a Professional CulturePresentation By:

Michael GiuliettiUniversity of North Texas

Department of AnthropologyPresented at the 71st annual

Society for Applied Anthropology Meeting

Old Ideas for a New World:

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 - OklahomaSemi-structured interview

Twenty interviews were conducted with 28 informants

Framework for Study

Culture is found in common:

1. Learning processes2. Shared and symbolic patterns3. Adaptations to environment

Framework modified from Jordan 2002

Chief Characteristics

• 5000 shops remaining• 2 person shop is average

(Dun & Bradstreet, 2001)• 10% of Americans repair

• Service based skilled labor.

• Traditional knowledge

Learning ProcessesCultures are learned; what is the learning process?

1) Observe

2) Assisting the master

3) Polish

4) Removing and replacing soles & heels

5) Complicated stitching.

Altered from JTAC Inc ©

Shared\Symbolic Patterns

• Common goals– “To return the product

to its original condition or as close to it as possible.”

• Common assumptions– Assumptions about

broader society

Image from SSIA (http://www.ssia.info/images/random/consumer8.gif)

Image from (http://marathonrunningshoes.com/tag/garbage/)

Shared\Symbolic PatternsCommon values

Shared\Symbolic PatternsCommon 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)

AdaptationHow 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.