Nike Air Foamposite 1997 (1990's)

Origin:  During the 1990's, basketball shoes were not sneakers anymore. These shoes became another shoe breed on there own with the unique basketball shoe design. However, many of the same materials that were used in older shoes began to be used in shoes of the 90's. Nike saw that there needed to be a shoe with completely new materials and in 1997, they carried through with the Air Foamposites. This shoe followed the principles of being light and durable like many basketball shoes of the past. This shoe is from Nike, a sports company that started n 1964. It started having a big impact on the basketball shoe world in the 1980's.

Purpose: The design of the shoe and the materials used to make the shoe had a huge change on the time period. These materials and the design were completely different from any other shoe in any time period. The hoes had a rubber covering at the bottom but the rubber was different. On the top, there was a plastic covering over the leather. The covering was there to give more protection and make the shoe look more futuristic. In fact, these were said to model the sunglasses. The shoe was created so that there could be new materials that were used for basketball shoes along with the new design that came with basketball shoes in the 90's.

Value: This shoe represents the 90's because it expresses the new things and new ideas that came out during this time. It expresses the values because it expresses the value of new things and ideas that came out and the acceptance of those things. However, it expresses the concerns because people were concerned about the drastic changes that here happening in basketball and the world during the time. This is the best expression of the time because its new design and futuristic look express the progressive values of the time period.

Limitations: This item cannot tell us about many of the specific events that happened during the time period. For example, it cannot tell us about the Clinton Administration and the things that happened with it. The Air Foamposites could not express or illustrate the voices that either supported or criticized the Clinton administration because they could not express anything about the Clinton administration other than the fact that it was a unique administration. The shoe was mainstream for the time because it followed the shoe shape of many of the other basketball shoes in the 90's and. However, it was unusual because of its use of new materials and unique design. The voices representing old ideas and the voices describing anything relaxed to politics were not illustrated by this item.

http://www.sneakerwatch.com/article/017411/sneakerwatchs-top-30-nike-basketball-shoes-of-the-90s/127374/

Nike Air Jordans 1984 (1980's)

Origin: Nike became a very prominent company in the athletic world in the early 1980's and they even started making shoes. However, Converse and Adidas were still the prominent companies of producing basketball shoes. In 1987, Nike picked up a sponsorship from the player that was considered the best basketball player at the time, Michael Jordan, and the Air Jordans were born. These shoes were still sneakers like shoes before. There were many basketball shoes in the past that could be worn as normal shoes, but this shoe was made by Nike solely to make a fashion statement. The shoe was made by Nike, an athletic company that was started in 1964 in Beaverton, Oregon.

Purpose: This shoe was innovative in its focus on being a fashion statement. There were other shoes that were made to look good, but there were not shoes that were as flashy as the Air Jordans. These shoes were not very new in material used. The bottoms were made of rubber and the tops were made of leather. The shoes had a difference in durability. There was more leather use so that they could be worn out of playing basketball without ruining the shoe. The Nike Air Jordan were created so that there could be a shoe that could serve the purpose of being a basketball shoe and a normal shoe while being a loud fashion statement.

Value: This shoe is an expression of this time period because the 80's were a a period of hints that were new and flashy in popular culture. Things such as punk rock and rap became prominent in the 80's and this shoe is a perfect expression of the time period. This she expresses the values because it expresses the flashiest and value of new and cool things in the 80's. It my express concerns by showing that things may have become too flashy in the 80's. This shoe is the best expression of the time because it represents the explosion of new and flashy things in basketball better than other items of the time period do.

Limitations: This shoe cannot say much about the certain events that happened during the time period. It cannot tell us anything about certain events such as the end of the Cold War and the impact of the Reagan registration and Ronald Reagan in the 80's. There were many voices that were talking about things that were happening outside the U.S and things such as the recession that were happening around the U.S and this shoe cannot really illustrate that because of its lack of connection to anything political. The Nike Air Jordan were quite unusual compared to other basketball shoes of the time because of how flashy the shoes just were. These shoes do not shoe the voices and perspectives that came from any events or issues with the government or anything political.


http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

Converse Dr. J's 1976 (1970's)

Origin: Many shoe types had sponsoring players that increased the popularity of the shoe. In the 1920's, Chuck Taylor became ether first player to sponsor a shoe with the Chuck Taylor All-star and many other popular players sponsored shoes. However, no basketball player was more popular in the 70's than Julius Erving. When he did the same thing as other players from he past and sponsor his own shoe, the result was the most popular basketball shoe in a long time. This shoe, like many from the past, is named after a player to increase demand. It has a similar sneaker design with the same kind of sole and laces as shoes from the 60's. There are, however, some new materials being used in the shoes. This hoe is from the converse shoe company, the maker of many popular basketball shoes from the past, including the All-stars.

Purpose: The style of the shoe was different from any basketball shoe. The was the first basketball shoe to sell as high tops, or shoes that were higher up. This design was tested to have better ankle protection because it did not allow ankles to move in awkward angles. There was also an option to get the shoe in suede leather, which was a leather that had a sort of fuzzy outside. This shoe was created to give basketball players an option to wear a shoe that the best basketball player of the time wore. It was also created to give players a shoe with actual ankle protection. The shoe consisted of a rubber bottom and an upper part with the option of normal leather or suede leather. There was also an option of normal height or high- top. The laces were then made of cotton.

Value: This shoe expresses this time period in because it expresses the new way that Americans thought about the United Sates going to war with its new and innovative style. It expresses the values of a new way of approaching world issues and life in general by its new style and it also represents the ever-rising consumerism because of its sponsorship by Dr. J. It expresses concerns in the same way that it represents values because these new ways of thinking or the consumerism could've been thought of as good or bad. The Dr. J's are a better expression of this time compared to other shoes because they express the new way of thinking and the consumerism, with he shoe being sponsored by the best basketball player, than other products of this time.

Limitations:  This shoe could not tell us anything about what was happening with the Vietnam War through its design or method of being sold. In fact, this tem cannot tell us anything specific about this time period. It only tells us about broader things that were happening during the 70's. During the Vietnam War, there were still many people that believed that the U.S should get involved in world events to spread its message of freedom. this shoe does not represent this old way of thinking. When the shoe came out, it was quite unusual in time period for basketball shoes. This was because of its original high-top and suede leather design and its original sponsor. Julius Erving played basketball unlike anyone from his time. The voices and perspective that stay with the ideas and perspectives of older times were not really heard in the shoe.

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0932723.html
http://play.converse.com/blog/2011/02/10/black-history-month/

Adidas All Around 1963 (1960's)

 

Origin: This shoe originated from the need for a shoe that was fashionable but was still light. Adidas stepped up in 1963 and made this shoe with the materials that were used in most running shoes at the time. The normal sneaker design from basketball shoes of the past was still the accepted design. However, people wanted a basketball shoe that was different from the basketball shoe before the 60's. They wanted something other than the canvas on the upper part of the shoe. Adidas AG was a German company that was founded in 1949. They began making products for a variety of sports in the 60's and basketball was one of them. By 1963, they began making their first basketball shoe, which was the All Around.

Purpose: This shoe had the same rubber bottom as all of the other shoes of this time period. It then had a leather part for the upper shoe. The top was made of leather simply because it looked a lot better, However, the leather used was also light. The patch was just for looks and the shoe laces were made of cotton like most shoe laces. The new component of this shoe was the leather upper part. This part of the shoe looked good and it also isn't add weight to the shoe. This shoe was created because the needed to be a shoe that looked good and functioned well. It fulfilled both needs quite well.

Value: This shoe is an expression of this time period because it clearly symbolizes the growth in business in Western Europe since it originates from Germany. It shows the economy boomed in Western Europe after a lot of money was given by the U.S to countries struggling after the second World War. Companies like Adidas were able to expand business and gain popularity. Adidas making basketball shoes shows that Adidas gained popularity globally. It expresses values of business in Germany and Western Europe and concerns of the same thing. This shoe is a better expression of this time compared to other items because it is a perfectly clear example of the economic boom resulting in Western Europe coming from the money in he Marshall Plan.

Limitations: This item cannot tell us anything about the time period except for the economic boom in Western Europe. it cannot tell us anything that was happening pertaining to the Cold War which included anything happening in Asia or anything happening with the nuclear weapons. This is because this inanimate object is incapable of symbolizing those things. There were many voices resisting communism and many voices of things happening I the U.S and this item cannot symbolize that because it only symbolized things that were happening outside the U.S. This shoe was not a mainstream item for this time because most shoes still used the canvas as the material for the upper part of the shoe. The voices and perspectives that were not symbolized by this item included all of the voices and perspectives in any art of the world other than Western Europe.

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0932723.html

Keds from 1951 (the 1950's)

Origin: The Keds basketball shoe originated from the from the upstart of new manufacturing after World War II. The Keds shoe company in Rockford, Michigan benefited from this and in 1951, they created the Keds basketball shoe.On the outside of the shoe, it is relatively the same as the shoes from the 1940's. However, the Keds basketball shoe is different on the inside. This shoe was made in the made by the Ked's shoe company in Rockford, Michigan in 1951 from the boom in manufacturing. Keds started making basketball shoes because of the manufacturing boom after the war and these shoes became the primary shoe of the 50's.

Purpose: The Ked's basketball shoe is relatively the same on the outside of the basketball shoes from the 40's. The shoe has an underside with rubber and the upper part with canvas. The patch is no longer advertised to protect the ankle because it has been proven not to. The one part that has been changed in this to compared to the others in the inside. There is an additional layer for where the foot goes to create comfort for the foot. His is relatively new for basketball shoes because they wanted to keep basketball shoes light. This layer, however, did not add much weight and it was quite comfortable.This shoe was made by the shoe company because there was in increase in demand for basketball shoes because of the increase in popularity of basketball. There was also a need for a more comfortable basketball shoe and that is when the Keds came in.

Value: The Keds basketball shoe is an expression of this time period because it is an expression of the manufacturing boom caused by the war in the 50's. Keds was a shoe company for normal footwear and the company stayed relatively small until the boom in the 1950's. It then created the Keds for the basketball shoe demand. It represents the values of this time in which it shows that this time was about working for the country and this shoe is a product of that work. This is the best expression of the time because it is a symbol of the manufacturing increase in the 50's.

Limitations: This item cannot tell us about anything about what was happening in terms of the Cold War with the U.S and Russia in the 1950's. It has nothing to do with the nuclear weapon crisis or anything that was happening n Berlin. There were voices about representing the country well to resist the policy of communism and this shoe did not symbolize anything about this subject. Overall, the Keds shoe was quite mainstream with other basketball shoe with the usual basketball shoe structure. Voices and perspectives that were not seen in this item include voices from anything related to the Cold War.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/348458-the-history-of-the-basketball-shoe/

Item 5: Converse Skoots (1941) 1940-1950

 

 

 

Origin: There was a market in the 1940's for basketball shoes for WWII soldiers because f the demand for indoor training shoes by soldiers. This created the Skoots by Converse. These shoes were almost the same as the more popular Chuck Taylor All-Stars except for the coloring in which it was a lot darker and the sole, which was made of rubber that was more durable and more thick for the soldiers. The production for this shoe started in 1941 in the original factory in Malden, Massachusetts for Converse. It was produced until 1945 because of decreased demand.

 

Purpose: The shoe was almost identical ro the Chuck Taylor All-Star with its rubber sole, its canvas upper part, and the path fo "ankle protection" but there were a few differences. The shoe was made darker than the All-Star. This was because the shoe was to be used by army men and they would need a shoe that would not have to be cleaned as often. There were also differences with the rubber soles. The rubber was made more thick fore more durability because it was to be used by the soldiers for athletic training. The logo on the path was also different because it was a different shoe from the All-Star. These shoes were mainly made for WWII soldiers because soldiers needed shoes for indoor training and these shoes were eventually military issued as an incentive to enlist. However, these shoes were also sold to the public during this time because of  the popularity of the shoe.

 

Value:  The shoe is a perfect expression of this time period because it symbolizes the industrialization that came with WWII. This product was an extra by Converse because of enlistment for WWII. In order to create this shoe, there needed to be more workers. This created more jobs for people and more of an output of product that lead to more business for Converse in WWII and after. This is a prime example of what was happening with other products during this time. There was change from the more popular shoe by Converse, the All-Star, in which it had more durable rubber and darker color. This was because of purposes for soldiers and this made the shoe more popular in that time period. This is the best expression of the time period because it perfectly symbolizes the industrialization of WWII in which products were allocated toward the war effort which created more jobs for people.

 

Limitations: The product fails to tell us a lot about the time period. It fails to tell us a lot about the hardships or the events of WWII themselves. It fails to tell us about the holocaust, the fierce battles in the Pacific Ocean with Japan, or even the societal changes that were ongoing in the United States due to WWII. this is because this product does not show much change or any hardships within itself to reveal anything about these events. Many voices were stating that the United States should not even enter the Word War. This shoe was promoting the war and it was being sold because of it. However, the United States did enter the war and this shoe was mainstream because it was a product that cashed in on the industrialization that was happening due to the war. Many things that were happening in other areas of the world including Europe and Asia were not represented by this shoe because even when these shoes were made from the American soldiers that fought in these areas, it did not represent what they went through.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/348458-the-history-of-the-basketball-shoe/

http://www.chucksconnection.com/history1.html

GoldSmith Basketball Shoe from 1934 (1930's)

Origin: The GoldSmith Basketball Shoe originated from the Chuck Taylor All-Star shoe form the 1930's. It has the same characteristics of the shoe like many of the other continuations of the All-Star by other shoe companies. This shoe also had many of the same purposes as the Chuck Taylor all- star. However, this shoe was cheaper than the well- advertised All-Star. This shoe was made in 1930 by the GoldSmith department store in Memphis' Tenessee because of the increased popularity of basketball in the south and the inaccessibility of the All-Star in the south.

Purpose: The affordability of this shoe was new for this shoe compared to other more popular shoes like the All-Star even when this shoe was relatively the same as the other basketball shoes of the time period. The soles were made of rubber and the upper shoe was made of canvas. The patch was also ther eto protect the ankle. The only difference is that most of these shoes were darker than the other basketball shoes because this was the original color of the canvas. The shoe was created to give the south a basketball shoe with the increased popularity of basketball in the south. Because of the inaccessibility and the cost of the Chuck Taylor All- Stars in the south, an alternative was needed and this basketball shoe was the alternative.

Value: This shoe is an expression of this time period because it shows the cost cutting measures that had to be take during the great depression. This shoe cost less than the more popular Chuck Taylor All-Star and because of the great depression, basketball players of any kind searched for a less costly alternative and shoes such as the GoldSmith basketball shoe became more popular. The shoe also shows the fall of big business because of the great depression. The Chuck Taylor All-Star 's lost a lot of their popularity during the 1920's mostly because of the great depression. The shoes that took the place were cheaper alternatives like this shoe. This shoe is the best expression because it clearly shows certain aspect s of the Great Depression with it being cheaper and gaining more popularity than the more costly Chuck Taylor All-Star.

Limitations: The GoldSmith basketball shoe cannot illustrate many of the other problems of the Great Depression. The shoe has no way of showing the poverty and the joblessness of the great depression because it does not show any sudden downfall in any aspect of the shoe. It also does not show the lack of action taken by the government to aid people in the great depression because the shoe, which is an inanimate object, cannot show such a thing. This shoe was a mainstream basketball shoe for the time, with its rubber soles and canvas above. It even had the patch for protection of the ankle. This shoe, however, fails to show the perspectives of the normal people suffering during the great depression of the 30's because it does not show any type of struggle or hardship. 

http://www.dailyfantasysportsnow.com/2013/01/06/basketball-shoe-history-in-pictures/

Chuck Taylor All-Star from 1921 (1920's)

Origin: This is the almost the shoe as the Converse All-Star from the 1910's. It was made in the same company, Converse, and in the same factory in Malden, Massachusetts. This shoe is the same exact shoe as the Converse All-Star from the 1910 except for the fact that it was sponsored by Chuck Taylor during this time period. Production for this shoe started in 1921 when Chuck Taylor started sponsoring the shoe.

Purpose: There was not much that was new about the Chuck Taylor All-Star compared to the 1917 All-Star. The soles were rubber and were meant for more grip on gyms. The upper shoe was made of canvas was meant to make the shoe lighter and the patch was made to "protect the ankle". However, there were differences with this shoe. Firstly, the rubber sole was made to play in both indoor and outdoor games. Secondly, this shoe was extremely popular. It was specifically the most popular shoe for basketball players. This was because of their new sponsor, Chuck Taylor. Chuck Taylor was an professional basketball player who sponsored the shoe in high schools and colleges. This sent the popularity of the shoe to new heights. This shoe was created to have a shoe that was specific to basketball. There were other basketball shoes. However, this was the first basketball ball shoe specific to basketball that was used as a regular shoe.

Value: Although the Chuck Taylor All-Star was not very different from the original Converse All-Star, it was different enough to be a definition of this decade. During the "Roaring 20's", consumerism became a big part of the United States because of the industrial boom. More products were being sold and bought. The sponsorship by Chuck Taylor had so many of these shoes sold over the decade. They were by far the most popular shoe in basketball. This shows how consumerism in the 20's affected the shoe. This is the best expression of the time period because it was such a good example of the consumerism.

Limitations: This item cannot tell us about all the other things that had happened during the "Roaring 20's". It cannot tell us about prohibition in any way during the 20's and it cannot tell us anything about the Great Migration or the Harlem Renaissance because it does not show us anything about change. This product showed that a lot of things stayed sort of the same in the shoes of basketball and the sport of basketball itself and this is not true for the rest of the country. This shoe also was good 

for the sort of basketball and this was not true for he country, especially with the Great Depression.

http://chucksconnection.com/history1.html

Item 2: First Converse All-Star Shoe from 1917 (The 1910's)

Origin: In 1917, the production of this shoe was started by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company and the shoe was the first shoe to be especially made for basketball. It was made because of the need for a shoe specific to basketball from increasing popularity of the sport of basketball. In the past, basketball players used athletic shoes that were made for all sporting activities. The idea of an athletic shoe was that it should be made to play sports in. The athletic shoe from the 1900’s was thought to be slightly lighter than a normal shoe. The Converse All-star basketball shoe was even lighter. As for the shoe’s background, The Converse Rubber Shoe Company was started in 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts which is near Springfield, the town where basketball was invented. It seems as if the location of the company set up for the production of the Converse All-Star.

Purpose: The Converse All-Star was made to be lighter than other athletic shoes that were used in basketball. Instead of the shoe being made of all leather, the sole was made of rubber and the upper part of the shoe was made of canvas. The rubber sole was more comfortable for sprinting during a basketball game compared to a hard leather sole and the canvas was a lot lighter than the leather. It also allowed for more air circulation for feet than the leather did. Basketball was being played more in indoor, hardwood gyms than in blacktops outside. This meant that durability was not really a critical factor in the shoe and grip was more of a factor. The rubber sole was not as durable as the hard leather. However, the rubber sole offered more grip on the hardwood than the hard leather did. The Converse All-Star symbolized what was new about the sport of basketball in the 1910’s. The shoe was created to make a shoe that was specific to the sport of basketball which had a drastic increase of popularity during the 1910’s.

Value: World War 1 was a big part of this decade and the world war lead to many changes during and after the war. Even though this was before the “Roaring Twenties” there had been some changes in society during this time period. The Converse All-Star is an expression of this in which it symbolizes the major changes of this society, in both basketball and other areas of society, because it itself is a huge change from the athletic shoes that were used in basketball in the 1900’s. They are different in both appearance and purpose. It also serves as the base for many of the later basketball shoes. This is true for many of the changes in society in the 1910’s. The Converse All-Star also expresses the values and concerns of this time period for the same reasons. There were many reasons from change during this time period and the shoe represents that.  This is one of the best expressions of what was happening during the 1910’s because the shoe is a change from the shoes used in basketball from the period before. This represents some of the changes in areas of society like women’s rights in the 1910’s. Other events, people, or things do not symbolize this change in society like the shoes do unless the producers, people, or events were direct parts of changes like women’s rights.

Limitations: The Converse All-Star does not really show what was happening during this time period in which it does not show what was directly happening in relation to the war. It symbolizes the changes that came from the war but not what was directly happening n the war. It also does not show the lack of change in ideas in many areas of society during the 1910’s. It shows complete change from the athletic shoe from the 1900’s, not a lack of. This item was an unusual shoe when it first came out in 1917 because a shoe like this was not made before and indoor basketball had only started. It was not as popular as the outdoor basketball games. This made this shoe quite odd and it was not very popular at first. This shoe represents the changes in particular areas of society in the 1910’s but t does not show how society was similar to the 1900’s in the 1910’s.

Sources:

http://www.chucksconnection.com/articles/chuck-taylors-an-all-star-since-1917.html

http://www.sneakerfiles.com/converse-chuck-taylor/converse-all-star/

 

Item 1: Athletic Shoe from 1903 (The 1900's)

Origin:  This shoe was made in or originated from normal shoe factories of the 1900's ( this was a common shoe in this decade). It originated from the need to make new shoes for all of the new sports that were gaining popularity, including basketball. In the past, or late 19th century, most shoes that were made were made almost completely from leather. This was because leather was a very comfortable material and durable material. That was how this is shoe had leather. Hard leather soles were also used in the late 19th century and those carried on to these shoes. The background of this type of shoe was a common shoe in the early 1900's because of the increase in need for shoes that were especially made or athletics. However, the shoe was not made to be completely different from normal shoes. Only the design was changed a little bit.

Purpose: What was new about the leather athletic shoe was that it was one of the first shoes that were especially made for athletics. It's design was also particularly new because it was shaped for more movement and less wear and tear. Other than that, there was not much that was new about the shoe. It was relatively the same as shoes before. It was all leather or almost all leather  like shoes from the near past because shoes that were all leather were thought to be more durable and comfortable. The laces were also not very important because they were just laces. These were just made from leftover solid material like leftover leather that needed to be used. This was the same for shoes in the late 19th century. This shoe was created for the sole purpose for having a shoe specific to athletics and to have a normal shoe that was more sleek and easier to maneuver in which was needed in basketball and other sports. This shoe influenced basketball and other sports in the early 1900's by offering a shoe that was specific for athletic use and this may have helped the popularity of basketball and other sports by making sports themselves mere specialized.

Value: This shoe is an expression of this time period because during the early 1900's, there was not much that was different from the late 19th century. There was still much that was the same. Basketball was invented in the late 19th century and by the 1900's not much about basketball had changed. These shoes were an expression of this because other than the fact that these shoes were specifically made for athletics, they were not very different from normal shoes of this time period or even normal shoes in the ate 19th century. They were still all leather like those shoes. It expresses the values of this time period because the shoe is relatively the same as the shoes from the time period before which was also the same for many other things and values of this time period. The were concerns that values and things were to change in this time period and this shoe expresses that by showing the ask of change from shoes before. This shoe is one of the best expressions of this time period compared to others because it symbolizes what was actually going on during this time period. There were, however, some changes from the time period before.

Limitations: There are many limitations to this piece. This can generally express what was happening during the time period and what was happening during the time period in athletics. However, this does not specifically express what was happening on a multitude of areas. For example, this shoe des not express what was happening in musical and visual art, politics, and business. There may have been major changes in society during this time period and this shoe may not highlight those changes. This item was mainstream during the 1900's because it symbolized the lack of change during the 1900's, in both society and shoes. As a shoe, it was Al leather like other shoes from the time period and the time period before and for society in general, many people still followed the same values in the 1900's as they did in the 1890's. It is a general description of what was happening in the time period through a shoe.

Sources:
http://basketball.epicsports.com/basketball-shoe-history.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_6468569_history-basketball-shoe.html