2024.01.09 外刊双语精读 好莱坞政治：剖析一个“取消文化”的受害者.docx

【1.9】

1.9每日一篇双语精读

ThepoliticsofHollywood：Anatomyofa?cancellation

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CharlieChaplinvsAmerica.

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【1】Intoday’sculturewars,Hollywoodhasastarringrole.Filmstendto?trigger?debates?aboutAmerica’shistoryandvalues.Thathaslongbeenthecase,asanewbook,“CharlieChaplinvsAmerica”,shows.Chaplin,aBritishcitizen,was?harassed?bytheAmericangovernment,?culminating?inthe?revocation?ofare-entry?permit?in?1952.Itisa?sobering?accountofcancelcultureinaction.Indeed,itmakessomeofthecurrent?spats?seem?toothless?bycomparison.

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【2】Idon’twanttocreaterevolution,”Chaplinsaid.“Ijustwanttocreateafewmorepictures.”ButtheFBI,suspectingChaplinof?communist?sympathies,startedsurveillingthefilm-makerin?1922.Ina?paranoid?climate,manylookedforevidenceofMarxism.Those?convinced?Chaplinwas“red”pointedtohisscreen?persona,theTramp,an?embodiment?ofthe?beleaguered?everyman.Theyperceivedit,too,in“ModernTimes”(1936),adramatisationofworkers’?plight?dueto?unemployment?and?automation,andin“TheGreatDictator”(1940),whichcalledoutAmerica’s?isolationism.

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【3】Officialsdidnottake?kindly?toChaplinspeakingoutaboutpolitics,especiallywhenhecalledforasecondfrontinthewarto?alleviate?pressure?onRussia.Sometook?umbrage?thatChaplinmadehisfortuneinAmericaanddeignedto?comment?onitspoliciesbutrefusedtobecomeacitizen.

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【4】Noneofthiswasillegal.ButtheFBIbedevilledhim,usingpoliticalgroupsandthepresstowhipupanti-Chaplin?sentiment.The?bureau?fed?journalists?salacious?titbits(whichwerenotinshortsupply:themanwasno?stranger?toasex?scandal).Intheeyesofthepublic,hebecame“a?louche?degenerate?witha?propensity?foryounggirlsand?communism”,writestheauthor,ScottEyman.

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【5】WhenChaplinsetofftopromoteamovieinEurope,theattorney-generaltookhischance.Thefilm-makerwasblockedfromreturningundera?provision?thatallowedpeo