Cynthia Schneider: The surprising spread of "Idol" TV

譯者: Adrienne Lin 審譯者: Jeannie Cheng

I'd like to ask you,

我想問各位

what do these three people have in common?

這三個人有什麼共通點？

Well, you probably recognize the first person.

你們可能認得第一位

I'm sure you're all avid "American Idol" watchers.

我想各位都是「美國偶像」的狂熱粉絲

But you might not recognize Aydah Al Jahani,

你們可能不知道這位Aydah Al Jahani

who is a contestant, indeed a finalist,

她在「百萬詩人」比賽中

in the Poet of the Millions competition,

進入決賽的選手

which is broadcast out of Abu Dhabi,

這節目在阿布達比播出

and seen throughout the Arab world.

整個阿拉伯世界都看得到

In this contest

在這比賽中

people have to write and recite

參賽者需要寫詩並朗誦

original poetry, in the Nabati form of poetry,

一些古詩，Nabati詩

which is the traditional Bedouin form.

這是一種傳統游牧民族的詩

And Lima Sahar was a finalist

這位Lima Sahar是「阿富汗之星」

in the Afghan Star singing competition.

歌唱比賽的決賽選手

Now, before I go any further,

在我繼續講下去之前

yes, I know it all began with "Britain's Got Talent."

是的我知道，這都是從「英國星光大道」開始的

But my point in discussing this

但我想討論這個的原因

is to show you -- I hope I'll be able to show you

是希望讓你們看到

how these merit-based competitions,

這些選才能的比賽

with equal access to everyone,

讓每個人都有平等機會參予

with the winner selected via voting by SMS,

透過簡訊投票選出冠軍

are changing tribal societies.

這正改變著部落社會

And I'm going to focus on Afghanistan

我要先說阿富汗

and the Arab world with the UAE,

包括阿拉伯聯合大公國在內的阿拉伯世界

how they're changing tribal societies,

它們改變部落社會的方式

not by introducing Western ideas,

不是使用西方的點子

but by being integrated into the language in those places.

而是融合這些地方的語言

It all begins with enjoyment.

一切都從娛樂開始

Video: We are late to watch "Afghan Star."

(影片): 「阿富汗之星」已經在播了

We are going to watch "Afghan Star." We are late.

趕快回家看「阿富汗之星」，已經在播了

We are running late.

我們來不及了

We must go to watch "Afghan Star."

一定要趕快看「阿富汗之星」

Cynthia Schneider: These programs are reaching incredibly deeply into society.

這些節目正以驚人的速度深入到社會中

In Afghanistan, people go to extraordinary lengths

在阿富汗，人們利用各種方法

to be able to watch this program.

就是要看到這節目

And you don't necessarily have to have your own TV set.

不一定要有自己的電視機

People watch it all over the country

全國很多人都擠到公共場所

also in public places.

收看這節目

But it goes beyond watching,

但這不只是觀看而已

because also, part of this

還要參予

is campaigning.

競賽的過程

People become so engaged

大家都很投入

that they have volunteers, just like political volunteers anyway,

還有人志願，就像志願替政治人物拉票一樣的

who fan out over the countryside,

志願到各地

campaigning for their candidate.

替他們支持的選手拉票

Contestants also put themselves forward.

選手們也是親自出馬

Now, of course there is a certain degree of ethnic allegiance, but not entirely.

當然，也有一定種族忠誠度，但並非全部

Because each year the winner has come from a different tribal group.

因為每年的冠軍都來自不同部落

This has opened up the door,

每個人都有機會

particularly for women.

特別是女性

And in the last season there were two women in the finalists.

在最後一季，有兩名女性進入決賽

One of them, Lima Sahar, is a Pashtun from Kandahar,

其中一位是Lima Sahar，她是來自坎大哈的普什圖人

a very conservative part of the country.

是全國非常保守的地區

And here she relates, in the documentary film "Afghan Star,"

她在「阿富汗之星」的紀錄片裡談到

how her friends urged her not to do this

她的朋友都勸她不要參賽

and told her that she was leaving them for democracy.

說她為追求民主而離開他們

But she also confides that

她也吐露

she knows that members of the Taliban

她知道塔利班成員

are actually SMS-ing votes in for her.

也通過手機簡訊投票給她

Aydah Al Jahnani also took risks

Aydah Al Jahnani 也冒同樣的險

and put herself out, to compete

站出來參加

in the Poet of the Millions competition.

「百萬詩人」的比賽

I have to say, her husband backed her from the start.

我必須說，她丈夫從一開始就支持她

But her tribe and family urged her not to compete

但她的部落和家人都勸她不要參加

and were very much against it.

並且非常反對

But, once she started to win,

但她開始獲勝之後

then they got behind her again.

他們就轉而支持她了

It turns out that competition and winning is a universal human value.

這說明了，比賽和獲勝是世界共通的人類價值

And she's out there.

她站出來

Her poetry is about women,

她的詩描寫女性

and the life of women in society.

社會中的女性生活

So just by presenting herself

她代表自己

and being in competition with men --

和男人一起比賽

this shows the voting on the program --

從投票情況看來

it sets a very important example for young women --

給年輕女性一個榜樣

these are young women in the audience of the program --

那些身為觀眾的年輕女性

in Abu Dhabi, but also people in the viewing audience.

在阿布達比、和其他觀眾

Now you'd think that "American Idol"

你可能會想，「美國偶像」

would introduce a measure of Americanization.

會帶來一定的美國化現象

But actually, just the opposite is happening.

但事實正好相反

By using this engaging popular format

利用這種受歡迎的模式

for traditional, local culture,

融合傳統、當地文化

it actually, in the Gulf, is precipitating a revival

反而在波斯灣地區再次興起了

of interest in Nabati poetry,

人們對於Nabati詩

also in traditional dress and dance and music.

和傳統服飾、舞蹈、音樂的興趣

And for Afghanistan,

對阿富汗人來說

where the Taliban banned music for many years,

因為塔利班多年禁止音樂

it is reintroducing their traditional music.

這節目再次引入了傳統音樂

They don't sing pop songs,

他們不唱流行樂

they sing Afghan music.

而是唱阿富汗音樂

And they also have learned how to lose gracefully,

他們也學會如何優雅的輸

without avenging the winner.

而不是向獲勝者報復

(Laughter)

(笑)

No small thing.

不是件小事

And the final, sort of, formulation

最後，「美國偶像」的節目模式

of this "American Idol" format,

帶來了一個構想

which has just appeared in Afghanistan,

就是最近阿富汗的

is a new program called "The Candidate."

一個新節目叫「候選人」

And in this program, people present

節目中有人提議政策

policy platforms that are then voted on.

讓大家投票

Many of them are too young to run for president,

很多人因年紀太輕無法競選總統

but by putting the issues out there,

但藉由提出的這些話題

they are influencing the presidential race.

他們影響著總統選舉

So for me, the substance of things unseen

對我來說，這個無形現象的本質

is how reality TV is driving reality.

選秀節目操縱真實生活的過程

Thank you.

謝謝

(Applause)

(掌聲)