logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
28m 6s

Footwear

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Footwear - the ‘magic’ & the material reality. Laurie Taylor talks to Claudio Benzecry, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Sociology at Northwestern University, about the people and places involved in the global manufacture of women’s shoes. They’re joined by Elizabeth Ezra, Professor of Cinema and Culture at the University of Stirling, and author of a study about magic shoes, from Wizard of Oz to Cinderella, which finds that 'the perfect fit' relates to more than size and that our culture invests footwear with symbolic meanings beyond their status as mere commodities.

Producer: Jayne Egerton

Up next
Jul 7
Ageing and Society
What does it mean to grow older in Britain today? Laurie Taylor explores the changing realities of later life, from health and independence to inequality and support.Professor Judith Phillips OBE, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Stirling, is the former Research Dire ... Show More
27m 51s
Jun 30
Charity Shops and Pocket Money
What does it really mean to give something away - or to buy something second-hand? And what, in the process, are we choosing not to see? Laurie Taylor talks to Gaby Harris, Sociologist and Lecturer in Fashion Cultures at Manchester Metropolitan University, about her research on t ... Show More
27m 57s
Jun 23
Strikes, Solidarity and South Asian Britain
How have South Asian communities in Britain fought for rights, dignity and belonging - and what can that history teach us today?Laurie Taylor explores the overlooked histories of labour struggle, resistance and political activism among South Asian communities in Britain. From ear ... Show More
28m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2022
Shoes
I’m something that you wear, I always come in twos, I get put on your feet. I’m not socks, I am … SHOES.Humans have been protecting their feet for a very long time.But over the years the types of footwear we choose have developed and multiplied. Each new shoe has a new use, and o ... Show More
44m 35s
Oct 2021
Shoes of the World
What kinds of shoes do people wear around the world? Colin Lowther and Liz Waid look at unusual and special shoes from around the world. How does culture influence clothing? Join this channel to get access to exclusive videos and script PDFs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeq ... Show More
14m 1s
Oct 2021
Shoes of the World (Advanced Program)
What kinds of shoes do people wear around the world? Colin Lowther and Liz Waid look at unusual and special shoes from around the world. How does culture influence clothing? Join this channel to get access to exclusive videos and script PDFs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeq ... Show More
9m 57s
Oct 2021
Who Cares About Shoes? (Conversation Program)
When is a shoe more than just a shoe? Join Liz and Adam in a REAL conversation between two native English speakers. We find out that Adam might have a shoe obsession. And we find out that Liz has a special pair of shoes from a European country. Do you buy expensive shoes? Are the ... Show More
16m 3s
Aug 2024
Shoes, boots and other footwear - AIRC531
<p>Put on your walking shoes, lace up your boots, or slip on your sandals – this episode is all about footwear!<br /> We'll explore lots of vocabulary for different shoe styles, from sneakers to stilettos so that you can boost your English skills, one step at a time.  </p> <p>Sho ... Show More
35m 43s
Sep 2024
Explaining fashion IP law via women’s shoes
Rebecca Field and Lee Curtis discuss the IP rights applying to women’s shoes. Rebecca and Lee concentrate on probably the most famous women’s shoes of all, notably the red sole of Christian Louboutin. They discuss how the red sole was registered and some of the IP disputes surrou ... Show More
12m 15s
Jun 2018
What are the Best Shoes for Atheists, Marathon Runners, and Criminals?
<p>From the strangest commercial Reebok ever used to sell the Reebok Pump, to the Zen shoemaker who custom-builds sneakers for marathon runners, Will and Mango dive into the funniest stories they can find about shoes. Including why Kevin Durant better at basketball when he's only ... Show More
38m 20s
Jun 2014
Feet of Engineering
<p>As a fashion object and symbol, the high heel shoe is weighted with meaning. It’s also weighted with the wearer’s entire body weight. The stiletto might be one of the only designs that is physically painful but has somehow has … <a href="http://99percentinvisible.prx.org/2014/ ... Show More
14m 12s