American TV

11th August 2016，Reading

Why Chinese Young People Like Watching American TV Series?

What’s your favorite TV program? If you ask a Chinese young man this question, the most likely answer you will get is the name ofAmerican TV series, such as Heroes，Prison Break，Grey's Anatomy，24 Hours，Lost and so on. They are so popular in China now, especially in colleges. There are many American TV series fans waiting for their favorite series every week and downloading them as soon as they come out on Ameri ca’s TV screen. There have many amateurish but diligent caption teams online, translating the series lines into Chinese for people whose English is not good enough. People also discuss their favorite series enthusiastically on the Internet, from the develo pment of the story to the actor’s dress. Compared to this situation is that the Chinese own TV series aren’t welcomed by young people in China. Why has this happened?

This phenomenon is not without reason and the problem is complex. As a student who has majored in television and film studies, I want to give my explanation.

Firstly, I think the American TV stories are more interesting and absorbing than Chinese TV stories. Usually an American TV story is full of suspense and totally beyond your expectation. For example, Prison Break is telling a story that a young man saved his older brother from an unjust death penalty and fought with evil powers in and out of prison. Finally they succeed. The process was devious, adventurous and authentic. But the Chinese TV series are usually awful. Some plays have drifted away from any original true color. Some plays are always stereotyped, not fresh and absorbing. Furthermore, most of the plays are designed for middle aged or elderly people, not fit for young people. Many Chinese TV series tell audience stories about family relationship and trifles between husband and wife. They are not so interesting. Secondly, the production of American TV series is better done than that of the Chinese TV series. American TV series are showed in seasons. This set is showing, the next set hasn’t been produce d. The story setting can change with the audience’s request and advice. While Chinese TV series are only on show after they have already finished. It’s unchangeable. In a word, it is reasonable that Chinese young people like watching American TV series.

American TV series is much higher than that of the Chinese TV series, about one million dollar per set. The cost is enough for a whole season show of Chinese TV series. So watching American TV series, especially those good ones, is just like experiencing contemporary life, which is usually different from life in China of ordinary Chinese people, American TV more colorful and diversifieddue to the excellent production.

Thirdly, many Chinese students like to use American TV play series to study English. The lines of American TV series are real English. So many Chinese students watch many series in order to practice their English listening and speaking skills. And this method is more interesting than reading books or listening to the radio.

Vocabulary 11th August

likely[?la?kli]adj.可能的；适合的；有希望的adv.可能；或许；大概；多半be likely to有可能/更倾向于干某事

translate[tr?ns?le?t]vt.& vi.翻译；解释；转化；被翻译

situation[?s?t?u?e??n] n.情况；局面，形势，处境；位置；[心理学]情境phenomenon[f??n?m?n?n]n.现象，事件；奇迹；非凡的人

complex [k?m?pleks] adj.复杂的；难懂的；复合的

explanation][??kspl??ne??n] n.解释；说明；辩解

suspense[s??sp?ns] n.悬而未决，含糊不定；焦虑，挂念；悬念；中止death penalty[p?n?lti]n.死刑

devious[?divi?s]adj.曲折的；不光明正大的，不正直的；不坦诚的，不正当adventurous[?d?v?nt??r?s]adj.爱冒险的；大胆的；危险的

authentic[??θ?nt?k] adj.真的，真正的；可信的，可靠的；有根据的

drift[dr?ft] vi.流动；随意移动；漂泊；浮现vt.漂流；堆积成堆design[d??za?n] vt.& vi.设计；绘制vt.设计；计划；企图；决意（做）produce[pr??dus] vt.& vi.生产；产生；制作；创作n.产品；产量；产额；结果request[r??kw?st] n.要求；需要；所请求的事物；申请书vt.请求；请求得到furthermore[?f?re?r?m?r] adv.此外；而且；与此同时；再者

audience[??di?ns] n.观众；读者；接见；听众

contemporary[k?n?temp?reri] adj.当代的，现代的；n.同代人；同辈人；ordinary adj.普通的；平常的；一般的；平庸的

especially[??sp???li, ??sp??-]adv.尤其地；主要地，格外地；显著地；异常地diversified[da??v?s??fa?d] adj.多样化的，多种经营的

due to[dju: tu:] 由于；因为；应归于

method[?m?θ?d] n.方法；条理