ABSTRACT

The sneaker is a near disposable foot cover and a precious cultural artefact. It is a platform for some of the most recognizable brands in the world to showcase new technology and a vessel for nostalgia. It is an afterthought we slip on as we shuffle to the bodega on a Sunday morning and an all-consuming subcultural obsession. One can even use it to play sports. Footwear has long served as a means to communicate social status, virility, sexuality, and many other qualities, but how did such an ostensibly practical, prosaic, and ubiquitous item of clothing come to be such a remarkable and versatile icon of contemporary consumer culture? This article attempts to shed light on the actors and practices that have influenced the development of the cultural meanings we have come to associate with the sports shoe.

摘要

运动鞋是近乎一次性的脚套，是珍贵的文化艺术品。它是世界上一些最知名品牌展示新技术的平台和怀旧的容器。这是我们在星期天早上拖着脚步去酒窖和全神贯注的亚文化迷恋时滑倒的事后想法。人们甚至可以用它来进行运动。鞋履长期以来一直是传达社会地位、阳刚之气、性欲和许多其他品质的一种手段，但这种表面上实用、平淡且无处不在的服装是如何成为当代消费文化中如此卓越而多才多艺的标志的？本文试图阐明影响我们与运动鞋相关的文化意义发展的演员和做法。