英语PK台 第439期:你为何沉迷于肥皂剧?

 　　Now, if you've ever seen a soap opera, you know the stories and the characters can be exaggerated, larger than life, and if you're a fan, you find that exaggeration fun, and if you're not, maybe you find them melodramatic or unsophisticated. Maybe you think watching soap operas is a waste of time, that their bigness means their lessons are small or nonexistent. But I believe the opposite to be true. Soap operas reflect life, just bigger. So there are real life lessons we can learn from soap operas, and those lessons are as big and adventurous¹ as any soap opera storyline.

　　如果你看过肥皂剧，你就会知道那些故事和角色可能很夸张，超出实际。如果你是一个粉丝，你会发现这种夸张很有意思，如果你不是粉丝，你会发现它们很情绪化和肤浅。可能你觉得看肥皂剧是浪费时间，夸张的剧情意味着没什么教育目的或甚至根本不存在。但是我相信，反过来说才是对的。肥皂剧反映了人生，只是夸张些。因为我们能从肥皂剧中学到真实的人生道理，而这些道理与肥皂剧剧情一样夸张且新奇。

　　My job was watching soap operas, reading soap opera scripts and auditioning² actors to be on soap operas. So I know my stuff.

　　我的工作是看肥皂剧，阅读肥皂剧本并面试肥皂剧演员。所以我很了解自己这摊事儿。

　　And yes, soap operas are larger than life, drama on a grand scale, but our lives can be filled with as much intensity³, and the stakes can feel just as dramatic. We cycle through tragedy and joy just like these characters. We cross thresholds, fight demons⁴ and find salvation⁵ unexpectedly, and we do it again and again and again, but just like soaps, we can flip⁶ the script, which means we can learn from these characters that move like bumblebees, looping and swerving⁷ through life.

　　是的，肥皂剧远比现实生活要夸张，是大于生活的戏，但生活也一样可以紧张浓烈、充满各种戏剧化的利害关系，人生中悲欢离合反复起落。就如同那些剧中角色，我们跨越困境，与恶魔斗争，可能在无意中找到救赎，一次又一次重复经历相同的剧情……但就像肥皂剧，我们可以改变局面，也就是说，我们可以从這些像大黄蜂一样，被生活忙的团团转的角色身上学到东西。

　　And we can use those lessons to craft our own life stories. Soap operas teach us to push away doubt and believe in our capacity for bravery, vulnerability, adaptability⁸ and resilience. And most importantly, they show us it's never too late to change your story.

　　我们可以用这些教训，精心制作出我们自己的人生故事。肥皂剧教我们不要怀疑并相信自己勇敢、脆弱、适应及恢复的能力。最重要的，它们告诉我们要改变自己的故事永远不会太晚。

　　Let's start with soap opera lesson one: surrender is not an option. When you believe that there is a way around or through whatever is in front of you, that surrender is not an option, you can overcome enormous obstacles.

　　我们从肥皂剧的第一课开始：投降不是选择。当你相信有办法可以解决你眼前所面对的任何问题时，投降不是一个选择，你可以克服巨大的障碍。

　　Which brings us to soap opera lesson two: sacrifice your ego⁹ and drop the superiority complex.

　　来到肥皂剧的第二课：放下你的自大和高人一等的情结。

　　Life is not about you. It's about us, and our ability to experience joy and love and to improve our reality comes only when we make ourselves vulnerable and we accept responsibility for our actions and our inactions. So sacrifice your desire to be right or safe all the time. It's not helping¹⁰ anyone, least of all you.

　　人生谈的不是你，人生谈的我们，谈的是我们享受快乐、爱情和改善现状的能力，只有在我们最脆弱的时候，承担起我们所作所为的责任以及不作为的责任。所以放下自己对正确和安全的渴望，它们并不会帮助到任何人，更帮不了自己。

　　Soap opera lesson three: evolution is real. While we may not swap¹¹ faces in our own lives, we can evolve too. We can choose to draw a circle around our feet and stay in that spot, or we can open ourselves to opportunities. We all have the power to initiate¹² change in our lives, to evolve and adapt. We make the choice, but sometimes life chooses for us, and we don't get a heads up. Surprise slams us in the face. You're flat on the ground, the air is gone, and you need resuscitation¹³.

　　肥皂剧课程三：进化（成长）是現实的。对我们来说，虽然我们不能在生活中变换面容，但我们可以进化。我们可以选择画地自限，或者我们可以向机会敞开心扉，我们在生活中，都有启动改变的能力，为了进化和适应环境，我们做出选择，但有时候我们不得不向生活低头， 意外扇了你一个耳光，你躺在地板上，不知所措，你需要恢復知觉。

　　So thank goodness for soap opera lesson four: resurrection is possible. As long as the show is still on the air or you are still breathing，nothing is permanent. Resurrection is possible.

　　所以，感谢肥皂剧的第四课：重生是有可能的。这对我们的意义是，只要剧还在播出，或者你还在呼吸。没什么是不变的。重生也是有可能的。

1 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

2 auditioning   

vi.试听（audition的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
• Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

4 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

6 flip   

vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的

参考例句：

• I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。
• Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

7 swerving   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• It may stand as an example of the fitful swerving of his passion. 这是一个例子，说明他的情绪往往变化不定，忽冷忽热。 来自辞典例句
• Mrs Merkel would be foolish to placate her base by swerving right. 默克尔夫人如果为了安抚她的根基所在而转到右翼就太愚蠢了。 来自互联网

8 adaptability   

n.适应性

参考例句：

• It has a wide range of adaptability.它的应用性广。

9 ego   

n.自我，自己，自尊

参考例句：

• He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
• She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

12 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

13 resuscitation   

n.复活

参考例句：

• Despite attempts at resuscitation,Mr Lynch died a week later in hospital.虽经全力抢救，但林奇先生一周以后还是在医院去世了。
• We gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage.我们对他进行了口对口复苏救治和心脏按摩。