Why do so many men wear a tie?
Why do men (mostly) wear strips of silk around their necks? What does this mundane item say about those who wear it? Mike Williams on the history and enduring appeal of the tie.
It's mundane. About 150 centimetres long, often made of satin or silk and worn by millions, mostly by men, every day. Mike Williams explores the enduring appeal of the tie.
It's a paradoxical item of clothing: One the one hand, it expresses a desire to fit in and conform - to belong - yet it also says something about our need to demonstrate our individuality. Historically, wearing a tie has meant many different things: from being seen as being anti-Islamic in the wake of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, to representing subversion and being a symbol of sub-cultural cool.
Producer: Jim Frank
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Broadcasts
- Fri 4 Sep 2015 12:04大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sat 27 Mar 2021 21:45大象传媒 Radio 4
- Mon 28 Jun 2021 14:45大象传媒 Radio 4