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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
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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.