雅思大作文專項突破：媒體和文化

本文是目前常見的、高頻的雅思寫作話題之一，媒體和文化。同學(xué)們在備考時可以邊寫邊學(xué)，積累寫作素材，以便在考試中更胸有成竹。

Topic2: When international media (including movies, fashion shows, advertisements and other TV programs) convey the same messages to the global audience, people argue that the expansion of international media has negative impacts on cultural diversity. What is your opinion?

媒體信息一致的缺點：

? 國際媒體(global media)—般掌握在少數(shù)幾個有實力的機(jī)構(gòu)手中(in the hands of a few, large, powerful organizations);有了媒體的宣傳(propaganda)后,西方文化成了主流(domineering force),大規(guī)模的、有吸引力的廣告(mass seductive advertising )喚起了落后地區(qū)人們對物質(zhì) 新的向往(create fresh desires),經(jīng)濟(jì)聯(lián)系增強(qiáng)(strong economic ties),西方產(chǎn)品取代了本地產(chǎn) 品，使人們更加向往西方的文化;

? 文化開始融合在一起(mingle),人們被新的價值觀所圍繞(bombarded with new values)，對自 己的文化失去信心和自豪感(confidence and pride),拒絕接受自己的文化傳統(tǒng)(rejection of their cultural heritage)轉(zhuǎn)而接受西方的文化習(xí)慣(adoption of Western cultural practices);西方 媒體削弱了民族的特征(ethnic identity)和社會的凝聚力(social cohesion);因為擔(dān)心失去觀眾 (a loss of viewers),當(dāng)?shù)氐碾娨暸_也開始播放西方的電視節(jié)目(television shows),

? 國際媒體的普遍會降低世界文化的品質(zhì)和多樣性(degrade the quality and diversity of world culture);文化被商業(yè)化(commercialized), —些文化產(chǎn)品(cultural goods),如音樂、服裝，都 變成了商品(commodities in the marketplace)。因此，即便一些文化在世界其他地方傳播，它原 來的性質(zhì)(authenticity)已經(jīng)喪失。

媒體信息一致的優(yōu)點：

? 國家之間的頻繁交往會促進(jìn)文化之間的交流。因此，相互了解和相互認(rèn)同的可能性 (likelihood of mutual understanding and mutual acceptance )就會增加，這是順應(yīng)全球化的趨勢;

? 未必一定放棄傳統(tǒng)觀念(not necessarily lead to the abolition of traditional values),事實上媒體 可以起到宣傳和穩(wěn)固傳統(tǒng)文化的作用;

? 主流媒體一般都會反應(yīng)文化多元性(The dominant media rlect cultural diversity.); —些外國 節(jié)目其實促進(jìn)了文化多元性(Most foreign programming is promoting cultural diversity.),適應(yīng) 了當(dāng)?shù)氐臈l件(adapt to local conditions)，注意到了當(dāng)?shù)匚幕拿舾行?aware of cultural sensitivity).自我調(diào)節(jié)來適應(yīng)市場(exercise self-censorship to suit the market :)。

范文

As international media companies expand across the world, the growing popularity and uniformity of some media programs (such as TV shows, movies, fashion shows) is causing worldwide concern. Many people have strong views toward this trend. In my opinion, international media is closely linked to cultural globalization and cultural homogeneity.

The dominance of international media is a sign of Western cultural imperialism and has the potential to thwart cultural diversity. It is not a secret that international media is owned and operated by a handful of giant corporations, such as Time Warner. They control large sectors of the media market and place national media companies at risk. The contraction in the number of media owners will cause a proportional reduction, in the variety of programs broadcasted. For example, painting, music and movies accessible in the media have a small number of genres, imposing restraints on one's knowledge of artworks of different cultural backgrounds.

In addition to seizing control over those creative industries, global entertainment companies affect cultural diversity by reshaping the perceptions, belis and norms of ordinary citizens in different countries. Most of the cultural values and ideals promoted by the leading mainstream media are of American origin. American culture values individuality, maximization of one's benits and material wealth, rather than communal life and family solidarity, the values and norms previously treasured in" many Asian countries. Unfortunately, many Asian people now imitate American people, causing the alteration of their perceptions of family. This radical change can be attributed to those movies and TV programs that portray the success of American individuals or corporations.

The loss of media diversity is also responsible for people's narrow sense of ways of life. The ruling class of many countries speaks English, favors Western food, wears Western-style jackets and even prers Western weddings. Young people are captivated by American basketball and some even daubing the names of NBA stars on their school sweatsuits. All these transformations in life are the result of the audience's exposure to Hollywood movies, TV shows and sports reports. The loss of media diversity will lead to degradation of culture and to a minimization of cultural diversity. It is a worrying trend, as people need cultural diversity to preserve and pass on their valuable heritage to future generations, including lifestyle.

As shown above, international media, controlled by a handful of transnational media corporations, is exporting Western culture worldwide and putting many indigenous cultures at the risk of extinction. The uniformity of media programs has led to that of artworks, norms and ways of life wherever international media goes.

近義詞表

1. dominance=domination=power:統(tǒng)治，力量

2. sign=symbol=mark=signal=indication：標(biāo)志，象征

3. thwart=prevent=spoil=ruin:阻止，破壞

4. a handful of=a small number of:少數(shù)的

5. contraction-reduction ：減少

6. proportional=relative：相對的，成比例的

7. perception=view=opinion:看法

8. ideal=value=beli=principle:觀點，觀念;標(biāo)準(zhǔn)

9. solidarity=unity=harmony=cohesion:團(tuán)結(jié)

10. be captivated by=be obsessed with=be passionate about=be addicted to=be keen on=be enthusiastic about:被…所吸引

11. pass on=give=impart=convey:傳遞，灌輸