On Shallowness

A couple of days ago I had a brief chat with a friend who was amazed by how some girls could be so passionate about shoes that to them shoes define their individuality. It was so baffling to her that she couldn’t help but let slipped that it was a ”shallow” interest. I could not understand too, how something like footwear could be so important. But something stopped me from agreeing with her.

If being passionate about shoes was shallow, then what type of interest would not be considered shallow?

A person with a voracious appetite for the world, the way it works and the cultures of people? Or a person with an ardent love of the fine arts, indulging in music, exploring art and studying literature? Or a person who places the most importance on interpersonal relationships, caring for family, friendship and romance?

Someone who shows an appreciation for the fine arts would normally not be described as shallow. Yet the only difference between a passion for the arts and a passion for shoes is the object of interest. Both people could be equally passionate and knowledgeable about their interest. Does this mean that, with everything else equal, the “shallowness” of a person’s interest is dependent on the object of interest? Does that also mean that if the object of interest is commercialized, or that it reflects consumerism, then it is of a shallower, more superficial form?

What about a person who considers interpersonal relationships and emotions as the finer things in life? Is he any less shallow? But a person who puts the pursuit of his own happiness as the most important aspect in life can’t exactly be considered much more sophisticated than someone who puts in much effort and emotions into the creation of an object.

I used to write off some people as shallow because of the things they speak about and the things that interest them. Yet, the fervor with which they share their interests and the amount of knowledge they have on it often change my mind. How can a passionate person with ideas and interests be shallow?