2005年《Economist》对超级女声的报道及中文翻译
Democracy Idol
Sep 8th 2005
From The Economist print edition
A television show challenges the authorities
CHINA is trying to digest the implications of a popular vote involving millions of people across the country. Never mind that the ballots were cast for contestants in a televised singing competition, and that only those with the means to send text messages by mobile phone could take part. A front-page headline last week in the state-run Beijing Today put the question with astonishing frankness: “Is Super Girl a Force for Democracy?”
In a country conspicuously lacking in democratic choice, this rare opportunity to vote and make a difference—even if only to the outcome of the “Mengniu Sour Yoghurt Super Voice Girl” competition—has inspired a remarkable debate. The discussion has been fuelled by huge public enthusiasm for the show, a programme similar to “American Idol” and its predecessor “Pop Idol” in Britain. It was broadcast by a satellite television station in Hunan province and relayed nationwide on cable networks. The organisers say some 400m people watched the final on August 27th—nearly a third of the population. Around 8m text message votes were cast.
“Super Girl”, as the show is commonly known, appealed mainly because of its racy format (at least until the authorities began insisting on more downbeat folksy songs) and the pleasure that many enjoy from watching amateur singers embarrass themselves. Rebellious young women apparently identified with the self-confident and boyish-looking winner, Li Yuchun. Groups of fans campaigned in the streets.
Some of China's more daring newspapers have seized on the chance to put “Super Girl” in a political context. An article widely carried on state media websites said the contest had caused Chinese intellectuals to “fantasise about arrangements for democratic elections and notice the awakening of democratic consciousness among the younger generation.” But the China Daily loyally expressed scepticism, asking, “How come an imitation of a democratic system ends up selecting the singer who has the least ability to carry a tune?” That, of course, is democracy.
民主偶像
挑战传统权威的电视节目
2005年9月8日
《经济学人》印刷版
译者：喻平
是的，中国刚刚经历了一场全国几百万民众参与其中的直投选举——它究竟影响如何，人们尚在努力思索中。尽管选票只是投给电视歌唱比赛的选手，并且能发送手机短信者方能加入，这些并不影响大家的兴奋之情。上周，政府主办的杂志《今日北京》甚至以惊人的坦率，在头版头条这样发问：“超级女声成为民主的推动力了吗？”
在这个对民主概念显然还非常陌生的国家，通过投票而改变某些结果的机会显得那么物以稀为贵——哪怕它改变的结果仅仅是“蒙牛酸酸乳超级女声”大赛的优胜者名次。这档节目神形都酷似“美国偶像”及其英国版本“流行偶像”，由湖南省的一家卫星电视台播出，全国观众都可以通过光缆电视网络收看。它出人意料地迅速赢得巨大的公众热情并成为一场激烈大讨论的导火索。节目主办方称，8月27日的决赛现场直播，收看人数大约有
