Tag: cinema

Sneaker Art: Cinema and Literature

Like any form of art, sneakers are often represented and complement other art forms rather well. Sneakers are not just shoes. They tell stories. They bring people together. Sneakers go far beyond the physical. Sneaker art is found everywhere around the world.

Cinema and literature highlight countless artistic aspects of the subject at hand. Watching a film tells stories much differently than reading a piece of writing.

Anybody can witness and consume art, but everyone cannot appreciate art on the same level. Sneakers confuse many people yet bring countless individuals together. The world of sneakers is complex especially when other art is intermingled within the subculture.

Sneaker Book Lovers

Reading and sneakers aren’t always thought of together. However, most sneakerheads and sneaker enthusiasts read more than they realize. From all of the information about new releases, to trending stories and hot topics surrounding sneakers, there is never a shortage of sneaker literature.

Sneaker art crosses into many realms. One of the most common is through literature. New sneaker books are popping up every year. Sneaker review books are released on a regular basis. Someone can walk into a sneaker store today and most likely find some type of sneaker book. History, sneaker releases, and brand recognition are all familiar topics.

One particular sneaker book that comes to mind is Sneaker Wars by Barbara Smit. The author highlights the story of how Adidas and Puma were formed. Two German brothers sought vengeance towards each other rather than displaying brotherly love. Without the family feud, the world would not have Adidas or Puma (or even both) to cherish and appreciate. Sneaker books highlighting historical events will never go out of style.

Another type of sneaker books are the ones that highlight the best releases from the past. They may exclusively include sneakers released within a year or could extend over a few years or even a decade. These books let real sneaker lovers to reminisce about the times when sneaker releases carried more weight and meaning. Someone actually had to put in the footwork to even have a chance of getting a hype or exclusive pair of kicks. Now, virtually every release is online and those with bots often get the short end of the stick.

Sneakers in Cinema

Countless sneakers become iconic after making appearances on the big screen. Movies vary across numerous subjects, but some pay meticulous attention to the actor and actresses’ wardrobes.

Some of the most recognizable sneakers have gotten their nicknames directly from the movies they appeared in. Everyone knows about Space Jam. The crossover in 1996 between Looney Tunes and one of the best basketball players of all time became an instant classic. Michael Jordan wore a special edition of the Jordan 11s in the film which later became known as the “Space Jams.”

They are without a doubt one of the most recognizable pair of Jordans in the history of the sneaker line. If Jordan never wore the white, dark concord, and black sneakers, many sneaker enthusiasts most likely would have never seen a pair of Jordan 11s in these colors in the 90s.

Another classic pair popularized through sneaker art in the cinema first came about in the late 90s. Denzel Washington and Ray Allen starred in Spike Lee’s He Got Game. Allen’s partnership with Jordan Brand made sure Air Jordans would be highlighted throughout the movie. Jake Shuttlesworth, played by Washington, dons a pair of white, black, and red Jordan 13s.

This particular pair of Jordans became a fan favorite even to this day. Without the classic basketball movie, the black, red, and white 13s wouldn’t hold as much significance. Jake Shuttlesworth made 13s cool again.

Even sneakers besides Jordans have received indescribable attention through movie appearances. White Men Can’t Jump (1992) arguably made one pair of Nikes iconic overnight. The Nike Air Command Force virtually became a classic because of its cinematic appearance. How many people would be rocking Command Forces if White Men Can’t Jump never released?

Sneaker Art: A Unique Appreciation

Sneakers are a form of art no matter how you look at it. They often represent intangibles much larger than the material aspect.

At the end of the day, art will always be subjective. Sneakers are no stranger to subjectivity; some people may think a particular pair of kicks looks ugly and others may view the same pair as one of their favorites of all time. Even Jordans were considered “ugly” when they first came out. Appreciating sneaker art through cinema and literature allows countless people to fully appreciate the importance and significance of sneakers.

Sneaker art

Artists all over the world are constantly looking to break boundaries and create art that has never been thought of before. The world of sneakers is no different than art such as paintings and drawings. Sneakers will continue to develop and push limits as time goes on.