Mapping the Economy of Creativity 创意经济新版图
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2004年4月17日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年6月25日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：407
课文朗读
课文讲解
Looking for hot places in the U.S. to develop a business or find a rewarding job? Consider Austin or Boston. Contemplating Memphis or Buffalo? According to Richard Florida, think again. Florida, a sociology professor at Carnegie Mellon University, believes he knows what will make some American cities thrive while others flounder as the information economy develops.
你想物色一处美国热门地点经商或寻觅一份好工作吗？不妨考虑一下奥斯汀或波士顿。也想考虑孟斐斯或水牛城吗？根据李察佛罗里达的看法，请三思而行。佛罗里达是卡内基米龙大学的社会学教授，他相信他了解为什么在当前信息经济发展之际，有些美国城市能飞黄腾达，而另外一些却跌跌撞撞！
In his 2002 book, The Rise of the Creative Class, Florida argues that the economy is moving from a corporate-centered system to one driven by members of a swiftly swelling creative class. Although this class – which includes entrepreneurs, IT specialists, artists, and other professionals – has always had influence in America, representing roughly 30 percent of the American workforce, it’s emerging as the information economy’s key resource. As the twentieth century prospered from central organization and oil, Florida believes the new economy will prosper from creativity.
佛罗里达在他2002年的书「创意新贵」中立论陈述，目前经济的发展正由企业导向系统转而成为快速成长中的创意族导向系统。虽然这一族类──包括企业主、信息科技专家、艺术家、和其他专业人士──在美国一向都有影响力，因为他们代表了大约百分之三十的美国劳动力，现正在茁壮成长变成知识经济里最重要的活水源头。一如二十世纪时的经济因着中央组织系统和石油而发达，佛罗里达相信新经济将因着创意而兴盛。
Unlike oil, however, creativity requires a liberal environment in which to flourish. According to Florida, creative people gravitate toward cities that are tolerant and diverse; such cities then attract corporations looking for the best human resources. With their vibrant nightlife, ethnic diversity, and alternative lifestyles, cities like San Francisco are awash in creativity and capital. Lacking these attractions, cities like Memphis are losing their creative people – and their economic viability.
不过，创意不像石油，它需要自由的环境才能繁荣成长。所以根据佛罗里达的见解，创意人士自然而然地会流向宽容而多元的城市去；而这些城市会进一步吸引想寻觅绝佳人才的企业主前往。因为像旧金山这样的城市具备有活力的夜生活、多元价值观、和百变的生活型态，就会充满创意和资金。而没有这种吸引力的城市，譬如孟斐斯，创意人才就会逐渐凋零──而经济活力也会每况愈下。
Vocabulary
单词发音
contemplate [ˋkɑntɛm͵plet] v. 思量，仔细考虑
flounder [ˋflaʊndɚ] v. 挣扎; 蹒跚
entrepreneur [͵ɑntrəprəˋnɝ] n. 企业家；事业创办者
liberal [ˋlɪbərəl] adj. 心胸宽阔的，开明的
gravitate [ˋgrævə͵tet] v. 被吸引
tolerant [ˋtɑlərənt] adj. 宽容的; 容忍的
alternative [ɔlˋtɝnətɪv] adj. 供选择的
awash [əˋwɑʃ] adj. 充斥的，泛滥的；充沛的
viability [͵vaɪəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 可行性; 生存能力
Sentence of the Day
Members of the creative class don’t want to be just a cog in the machine.
有创意的人不甘愿只做大机器里的一个小齿轮。
a cog in the machine（大企业中）无关紧要的部分，无足轻重的人
cog [kɑg] n.【机】钝齿
课文讲解
Brad is moving out of his San Francisco apartment. Sophie is a prospective tenant: 布拉德正打算从他的旧金山公寓搬出去，而苏菲有意承租：
S: Sorry to barge in. The landlord said you wouldn’t mind if I stopped by.
很抱歉进来打扰，不过房东说如果我来看看房子，你不会介意。
B: No problem. Take a look around.
没关系，妳尽管四下瞧瞧。
S: Hmm, it’s nice. But for $1,600, I was expecting something bigger.
嗯，是还不错。不过租金要一千六百元，我以为空间可以比这实际更大些。
B: You must be new in town – the price is quite good for a hip neighborhood like this.
妳一定刚到这个城市不久──以这样新潮的环境而言，这样租金算是优惠了。
S: Yeah, I’m a newbie – I just moved here from Memphis. Back home I couldn’t find any work as a video game programmer, but here I’ve already got three interviews! This city rocks!
是啊，我是刚到──我才从孟斐斯搬过来，在老家我一直找不到电动游戏程序设计师的工作，但在这里，我已经有三次面谈机会了！这城市可真有活力！
B: It sure does. I had a job in San Jose before, but I moved up here two years ago for the city.
的确是。以前我在圣荷西工作，但是两年前搬来这里，就因为它动力十足。
S: You lived in Silicon Valley?
你以前住硅谷？
B: Yep. I was doing some interesting software engineering there, but the atmosphere was so white-bread. Here I’m doing the same work, but I can also pursue my music.
是，我以前在那边做软件工程师，是满有趣的，不过整体气氛太迎合白人中产阶级了。但在这儿我能一边工作，还能同时搞音乐。
S: Cool. Likewise, I had to leave home not just for work, but because I was looking for a more easygoing, urbane place. So, why are you giving up a sweet apartment like this?
真酷，我也是，但我离开家不只是为了工作，还因为我想找个地方过更为轻松自在的都市生活。那么，你为什么放弃像这样一处舒适的公寓住所呢？
B: I’m moving into a warehouse space where my band can jam. We’re called Sonic Aphid. Hey, come see our gig this Saturday!
我要搬进一处仓库，空间大些，好让我的乐团能聚集在一起即兴演奏。我们的乐团叫做声波蚜虫。嘿，这星期六来看我们的表演吧！
Vocabulary
单词发音
prospective [prəˋspɛktɪv] adj. 预期的﹐未来的﹐可能的
tenant [ˋtɛnənt] n. 房客；佃户；承租人
barge [bɑrdʒ] v.（鲁莽而笨拙地）猛撞；冲，闯
landlord [ˋlænd͵lɔrd] n. 房东
stop by 串门子; 串门儿 to visit a place briefly
hip [hɪp] adj.【非正式】新潮的﹐赶时髦的
newbie [ˈnubi] n.【计算机】指刚上网络的新手; 菜鸟；新人
rock [rɑk] v. 使震惊; 使震动
white-bread 【美】【口】（迎合）白人中产阶级口味的; 典型白人中产阶级口味的
easygoing [ˋizɪ͵goɪŋ] adj. 逍遥自在的,悠闲的
urbane [ɝˋben] adj. 都市化的
jam [dʒæm] v.（爵士乐手或摇滚乐手）即兴演奏
aphid [ˋefɪd] n.【昆】蚜虫
gig [gɪg] n.【口】（爵士乐、摇滚乐等）演奏，公演
Sentence of the Day
Birds of a feather flock together.
物以类聚。
课文讲解
Recent post-secondary graduates Bernie and Sophia are preparing for job interviews: 最近大专毕业的伯尼和苏菲亚正准备找工作面谈：
B: I’m going to swing by a department store to get a new suit for my interview. Want to come?
我要去逛百货公司买一套新衣服面谈的时候穿。妳要不要一起去？
S: Sorry, I’ve got an appointment to get my nose pierced.
抱歉，我已经另外有约了，要去穿鼻洞。
B: You’re getting your what what? What company is going to hire you with a nose ring?
妳要穿什么洞？妳戴着鼻环，哪一家公司敢雇用妳？
S: Bernie, you’re looking to article in a law office, not me.
伯尼，要去律师事务所工作见习的人是你，不是我。
B: Ah, do you figure the whole “I’m a cutting-edge artist” thing is what your interviewers will want?
啊，妳信那套「显示自己前卫的艺术家形象」是妳面谈时老板想要的吗？
S: Yeah, because I’m applying to do webpage design and graphics for a fashion netzine, not to become an articling lawyer like you. And besides, I am a cutting-edge artist.
对的，因为我应征的是流行服饰网络杂志【注】的网页设计工作，不像你，是学做一位律师。何况，我确实是一位前卫的艺术家。
B: It’s just kind of funny that you’re dressing down for a job interview. You know, they have a “Jeans Day” every Friday at the law office where I’m interviewing.
好玩的是妳竟然在面谈时特别穿得不正式。妳知道，我去面谈的那一家律师事务所，在每星期五是特别的「休闲服日」。
S: That’s something, I suppose. Remember, your career is intrinsically conservative, but mine is part of a newer job market – one requiring creative individualists. I’m actually meeting expectations.
我想，是满特别的吧。可千万要记得，你那种工作的内在本质非常保守，但我的工作这种在市场上是比较新型的──要富有创意，我完全符合需求。
B: Well, they’re vastly different jobs.
哦，它们是完全不同类的工作。
S: Yep. And there’s more and more jobs like the one I’m applying for appearing on the job market.
是的。在市场上现在有愈来愈多像我这种工作了。
B: Maybe I’ll get a wacky tie to wear with my suit.
或许我应该打一条怪一点的领带来配我的西装。
S: Hey, it’s a start!
嘿，是个好的开始！
【注】：新字 Netzine 由 Internet 和 magazine 两个字所组成。
－by David Katz
Vocabulary
单词发音
post-secondary 专上程度
swing by 【美﹐非正式】〔常指为某目的〕短时探访; 顺便过访 to visit a place briefly
pierce [pɪrs] v. 穿（孔，洞）
article [ˋɑrtɪk!] v. 订约将……收为学徒或见习生
figure [ˋfɪgjɚ] v. 认为; 猜想; 估计
cutting-edge 尖端的；最先进的
apply [əˋplaɪ] v. 请求准许/求职
graphics [ˋgræfɪks] n. 绘图
kind of 有一点
dress down〔比平时〕穿着随便 to wear informal clothes
that’s something 这才是最重要的
intrinsically [ɪnˋtrɪnsɪk!ɪ] adv. 从本质上（讲）
individualist [ɪndəˋvɪdʒʊəlɪst] n. 按自身意愿做事的人﹐有自己独特性的人
wacky [ˋwækɪ] adj.【俚】发疯的；古怪的
Sentence of the Day
She is hoping her new look will knock the socks off her interviewers.
她希望自己的新面孔能让面谈者觉得惊艳。
knock the socks off 描述令人兴奋不已的好事 to surprise someone thoroughly