2008年文登学校春季词汇班精彩文篇推荐(一)

时间:2007-07-17 02:52:28

(单词翻译:单击)

影剧篇

When Artists Distort History

第一篇:

(1) King Richard III was a monster. He poisoned his wife, stole the throne from his two young nephews and ordered them to be smothered1 in the Tower of London. Richard was a sort of Antichrist the King — “that bottled spider, that pois’nous bunch-back’d toad2.?

 

(2) Anyway, that was Shakespeare’s version. Shakespeare did what the ______ does: he turned history into a vivid, articulate, organized dream — repeatable nightly. He put the crouch-back? onstage, and sold tickets.

 

(3) And who would say that the real Richard known to family and friends was not identical to Shakespeare’s memorably3 loathsome4 creation? The actual Richard went dimming into the past and vanished. When all the eye-witnesses are gone, the artist’s imagination begins to conjure5?.

 

(4) Variations on the King Richard Effect are at work in Oliver Stone’s JFK. Richard Ⅲ was art, but it was propaganda too. Shakespeare took the details of his plot from Tudor historians who wanted to blacken Richard’s name. Several centuries passed before other historians began to write about Richard’s virtues6 and suggest that he may have been a victim of Tudor malice7 and what is the cleverest ______ of all: art.

 

(5) JFK is a long and powerful discourse8 about the death of the man Stone keeps calling “the slayed young king.” What are the rules of Stone’s game? Is Stone functioning as commercial entertainer? Propagandist? Documentary filmmaker? Historian? Journalist? Fantasist? Sensationalist? Paranoid conspiracy9-monger?? Lone10 hero crusading? for the truth against a corrupt11 Establishment? Answer: some of the above.

 

(6) The first superficial effect of JFK is to raise angry little scruples12? like wounds in the conscience. Wouldn’t it be absurd if a generation of younger Americans, with no memory of 1963, were to form their ideas about John Kennedy’s assassination13 from Oliver Stone’s report of it? But worse things have happened — including, perhaps, the Warren Commission report?

 

(7) Stone’s movie and the Warren report are interestingly symmetrical: the Warren Commission was insensi-tively, one might say pathologically?, unsuspicious, while in every scene of the Stone film conspiracy theories move painfully underfoot like snakes. In a strange way, the two reports balance one another out. It may be ______ to accord Stone’s movie a status coequal with the Warren report. On the other hand, the Warren report has endured through the years as a monolith? of obscure suppression, a smooth tomb of denial. Stone’s movie, for all its wild gesticulations?, at least refreshes the memory and gets a long-cold curiosity and contempt glowing again.

 

(8) The irresponsibility of the Warren report somehow makes one less indignant about Stone’s methods and the 500 kitchen sinks that he has heaved into his story. His technique is admirable as storytelling and now and then preposterous15 as historical inquiry16. But why should the American people expect a moviemaker to assume ______ for producing the last word on the Kennedy assassination when the government, historians and news media have all pursued the subject so imperfectly?

 

(9) Stone uses a suspect, mixed art form, and JFK raises the familiar ethical17 and historical problems of docu-drama?. But so what? Artists have always used public events as raw material, have taken history into their imagi-nations and transformed it. The fall of Troy vanished into the Iliad. The Battle of Borodino found its most memorable18 permanence in Tolstoy’s imagining of it in War and Peace.

 

(10) Especially in a world of insatiable electronic storytelling, real history procreates, endlessly conjuring19 new versions of itself. Public life has become a metaphysical breeder of fictions. Watergate became an almost con-tinuous television miniseries — although it is interesting that the movie of Woodward and Bernstein’s All The President’s Men stayed close to the known facts and, unlike JFK, did not validate20 dark guess.

 

(11) Some public figures have a story magic, and some do not. Richard Nixon possesses an indefinable, em-barrassed dark gleam that somehow fascinates. And John Kennedy, despite everything, still has the bright glam-our that works best of all. Works, that is, except when the subject is his assassination. That may be a matter still too sacred, too raw and unassimilated. The long American passivity about the death in Dallas may be a sort of hypnosis? — or a grief that hardened into a will not to know. Do not let daylight in upon magic.

 

(12) Why is Stone’s movie different from any other imaginative treatment of history? Is it because the assassi-nation of John Kennedy was so traumatic?, the bady boomers’ End of Childhood? Or that Americans have santi-fied it as official tragedy, a title that confers immunity21 from irreligious revisionists who would reopen the grave? Are artists and moviemakers by such logic14 prohibited from stories about the Holocaust22? The Holocaust, of course, is known from the outset to be a satanic plot. For some reason — a native individualism, maybe — many Americans resist dark theories about J.F.K.’s death, and think those retailing23 them are vending24 foreign, anarchist25 goods. Real Americans hate conspiracies26 as something unclean.

 

(13) Perhaps the memory of the assassination is simply too fresh. An outraged27 movie like Stone’s intrudes28 upon a semipermanent mourning. Maybe the subject should be embargoed29? for some period of time, withheld30 from artists and entertainers, in the same way the Catholic Church once declined to consider sainthood until the person in question had been dead for 50 years.

【参考译文】论艺术家扭曲史实

 

(1)英王理查三世是个魔鬼。他毒死了自己的妻子,篡夺原属于两个年轻侄儿的王位,还下令在伦敦塔中让他们窒息而死。理查可说是一位撒旦似的国王——“那瓶中的蜘蛛,那阴毒的驼背蟾蜍。”

 

(2)至少这是莎士比亚的说法。莎士比亚所做的只是剧作家的本分:把历史转变为鲜明、清晰、条理分明的梦——可以每晚上演。他把这个驼背怪物搬上台,卖票给人看。

 

(3) 又有谁敢说在亲朋好友眼中的真正的理查不是这样,和莎翁创造出来的那个令人厌恶得难以忘怀的剧中人物不同?真正的理查,随着历史远去而了无踪迹。所有的目击证人都已不在了,艺术家的想像力就开始施展魔力了。

 

(4) 在奥利佛?斯通的《谁杀了肯尼迪》中可以看到这种“理查国王效应”的变奏。《理查三世》是艺术,但也是宣传:莎翁剧情的细节取材自同时期的都铎王朝的历史家,而这些人蓄意丑化理查的形象。要过好几百年才有别的历史家出来记述理查的好处,并且暗示理查可能是都铎王朝恶意宣传的牺牲品,也是最巧妙的阴谋——艺术——的牺牲品。

 

(5) 《谁》片是有力的长篇大论,主题是一位人物的死亡——斯通一直称为“遇害的青年国王”的那个人。期通的把戏到底用的是哪种规则?他是扮演提供商业化娱乐的角色?还是宣传家?纪录片电影制作者?历史家?记者?幻想家?危言耸听者?有偏执狂的阴谋论者?独行侠式的英雄,为真理出征,挑战腐败的体制?答案:以上有些是。

 

(6) 《谁》片所造成的第一种比较表面化的效果,就是激起观众愤怒的原则问题的小抗议,好像良心上的一道道鞭痕:如果年轻一代的美国人,不复记得1963(肯尼迪遇刺年代),对于肯尼迪遇刺案的观念全凭斯通的报道,这不是太荒谬了吗?可是比这更糟的事也不是没发生过——也许包括华伦委员会报告在内。

 

(7)斯通的电影和华伦委员会的报告形成有趣的对称:华伦委员会是反应迟钝,毫无疑心,几乎可以说到了病态的地步:而在斯通电影的每一场戏中,阴谋论像蛇一样在脚下到处窜动。这两种报告很微妙地可以互相平衡。当然,把斯通的片子赋予和华伦报告相同的地位,有点不伦不类。反过来说,华伦报告历经多年至今,像一块巨石般,隐隐压抑着所有不同的说法,好像一座平滑的坟墓,泰然否定一切。斯通的片子虽然从头到尾比手划脚,十分夸张,至少让人重温旧事,让观众心中早已冷却的好奇与轻蔑重新烧了起来。

 

(8) 因为华伦报告如此不痛不痒,所以让观众似乎比较能忍受斯通的手法与他搬到电影中的堆积如山的垃圾。从说故事的角度来看,他的手法高明,从调查史实的角度来看则不时显得荒谬。可是政府、历史学家与新闻媒体追查这个主题都无法令人满意,美国人又怎能指望一位电影人来负责对肯尼迪遇刺案下断语?

 

(9) 斯通采用的艺术形态是纪录剧情片,这种形态血统不纯正,可靠性也令人怀疑。《谁》片也再度引起关于纪录剧情片的道德性、历史性问题。可是这又怎样?艺术家一向都采用公共事件做原始素材,把历史纳入想象中加以改造。特洛伊城的陷落淹没在《伊利亚特》中。波罗金诺之役能够不朽,永为后人追忆的,不是史实,而是托尔斯泰在《战争与和平》中的想象。

 

(10)尤其在电子媒体无止境渴求故事的今日,真实历史不断创造、繁衍出千奇百怪的新版本。公共人物的生活好像成了虚构故事的哺育者。水门事件爆发后,变成几乎不间断的电视迷你剧集——不过有一点颇堪玩味:描写伍华德与伯恩斯坦揭发水门事件的《大阴谋》一片紧守已知的事实,不像《谁》片把阴暗的揣测当真。

 

⑾ 有些公共人物有成为故事的魅力,有些则不然。尼克松有一种不可名状的、好像要掩饰什么的阴暗的光芒,产生一种莫明的吸引力。肯尼迪不论如何还是有他灿烂的光彩,最适合编故事。或许应该说,他遇刺这个故事除外。这个主题可能还是太神圣、太生硬,还没有消化完毕。美国人长久以来对达拉斯市那宗死亡事件一直处于被动、消极状态,这可能是一种催眠——也可能是悲痛化为不愿去了解的意志。神奇的事物不要摊在阳光下。

 

⑿ 斯通的电影和别人利用历史做想象的素材为什么感觉不同?是否因为肯尼迪遇刺造成太深的心理创痛,象征了婴儿潮一代童年的结束?还是因为美国人把它当做国家悲剧供奉起来,使它得以免于被亵渎神明的翻案者从坟墓中挖出来?依此逻辑,艺术家与电影人是否就禁止用纳粹大屠杀来做故事材料?当然,纳粹大屠杀不同,打从一开始很清楚就是撒旦式的情节。许多美国人不知何故——也许天生的个人主义的关系吧——会排斥关于肯尼迪之死的阴谋论,而且认为兜售阴谋论的人是在贩卖外国无政府主义的货物。真正的美国人好像把阴谋看成不洁的事物而讨厌它。

 

⒀ 也许只是因为对刺杀肯尼迪案的记忆还太鲜明了。像斯通这种忿忿不平的电影侵犯到美国人近乎永恒的哀悼。也许这个题材应该禁用一段时间,不准艺术家和娱乐界人士使用,就像天主教从前不愿考虑把死亡未满50年的人封为圣徒一样。


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制
参考例句:
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
2 toad oJezr     
n.蟾蜍,癞蛤蟆
参考例句:
  • Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
  • Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。
3 memorably 1a63194b3d4f2fd75d22c5d173679af3     
难忘的
参考例句:
  • The book includes some memorably seedy characters and scabrous description. 这本书包含了一些难忘下流的角色及有伤风化的描述。 来自互联网
  • Horowitz could play Chopin memorably. 霍洛维茨可以把肖邦的作品演奏得出神入化。 来自互联网
4 loathsome Vx5yX     
adj.讨厌的,令人厌恶的
参考例句:
  • The witch hid her loathsome face with her hands.巫婆用手掩住她那张令人恶心的脸。
  • Some people think that snakes are loathsome creatures.有些人觉得蛇是令人憎恶的动物。
5 conjure tnRyN     
v.恳求,祈求;变魔术,变戏法
参考例句:
  • I conjure you not to betray me.我恳求你不要背弃我。
  • I can't simply conjure up the money out of thin air.我是不能像变魔术似的把钱变来。
6 virtues cd5228c842b227ac02d36dd986c5cd53     
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处
参考例句:
  • Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
  • She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。
7 malice P8LzW     
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋
参考例句:
  • I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
  • There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
8 discourse 2lGz0     
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述
参考例句:
  • We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
  • He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
9 conspiracy NpczE     
n.阴谋,密谋,共谋
参考例句:
  • The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
  • He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。
10 lone Q0cxL     
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的
参考例句:
  • A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
  • She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。
11 corrupt 4zTxn     
v.贿赂,收买;adj.腐败的,贪污的
参考例句:
  • The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
  • This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。
12 scruples 14d2b6347f5953bad0a0c5eebf78068a     
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 );顾虑,顾忌v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
  • I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调
13 assassination BObyy     
n.暗杀;暗杀事件
参考例句:
  • The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
  • Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年,林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。
14 logic j0HxI     
n.逻辑(学);逻辑性
参考例句:
  • What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑?
  • I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。
15 preposterous e1Tz2     
adj.荒谬的,可笑的
参考例句:
  • The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
  • It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。
16 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
17 ethical diIz4     
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
  • It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
18 memorable K2XyQ     
adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的
参考例句:
  • This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
  • The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。
19 conjuring IYdyC     
n.魔术
参考例句:
  • Paul's very good at conjuring. 保罗很会变戏法。
  • The entertainer didn't fool us with his conjuring. 那个艺人变的戏法没有骗到我们。
20 validate Jiewm     
vt.(法律)使有效,使生效
参考例句:
  • You need an official signature to validate the order.你要有正式的签字,这张汇票才能生效。
  • In order to validate the agreement,both parties sign it.为使协议有效,双方在上面签了字。
21 immunity dygyQ     
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权
参考例句:
  • The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
  • He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。
22 holocaust dd5zE     
n.大破坏;大屠杀
参考例句:
  • The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
  • Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀,因为他像希特勒一样残忍。
23 retailing f7157e2e76f903d2893786de5cb093af     
n.零售业v.零售(retail的现在分词)
参考例句:
  • career opportunities in retailing 零售业的职业机会
  • He is fond of retailing the news. 他喜欢传播消息。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 vending 9e89cb67a07fe419b19a6bd5ee5210cc     
v.出售(尤指土地等财产)( vend的现在分词 );(尤指在公共场所)贩卖;发表(意见,言论);声明
参考例句:
  • Why Are You Banging on the Vending Machine? 你为什么敲打这台自动售货机? 来自朗文快捷英语教程 2
  • Coca-Cola had to adapt almost 300,000 vending machines to accept the new coins. 可口可乐公司必须使将近三十万台自动贩卖机接受新货币。 来自超越目标英语 第5册
25 anarchist Ww4zk     
n.无政府主义者
参考例句:
  • You must be an anarchist at heart.你在心底肯定是个无政府主义者。
  • I did my best to comfort them and assure them I was not an anarchist.我尽量安抚他们并让它们明白我并不是一个无政府主义者。
26 conspiracies bb10ad9d56708cad7a00bd97a80be7d9     
n.阴谋,密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He was still alive and hatching his conspiracies. 他还活着,策划着阴谋诡计。 来自辞典例句
  • It appeared that they had engaged in fresh conspiracies from the very moment of their release. 看上去他们刚给释放,立刻开始新一轮的阴谋活动。 来自英汉文学
27 outraged VmHz8n     
a.震惊的,义愤填膺的
参考例句:
  • Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
  • He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。
28 intrudes 3fd55f59bc5bc27ecdb23a5321933d8f     
v.侵入,侵扰,打扰( intrude的第三人称单数 );把…强加于
参考例句:
  • An outraged movie like Stone's intrudes upon a semipermanent mourning. 像斯通这种忿忿不平的电影侵犯到美国人近乎永恒的哀悼。 来自互联网
  • He intrudes upon our hospitality. 他硬要我们款待他。 来自互联网
29 embargoed a518622cabb0abea36f004f71987763f     
禁止贸易,禁运( embargo的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • They embargoed oil shipments to the US. 他们对美国实施石油禁运。
  • They embargoed those ships. 他们禁止那些船只出入港口。
30 withheld f9d7381abd94e53d1fbd8a4e53915ec8     
withhold过去式及过去分词
参考例句:
  • I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后,我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意,学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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