焦饰的欢颜:全球流动空间中的中国城市美化

Anxious Face-painting Smile:Chinese City Beautification in Global Flowing Space

本文旨在讨论全球化格局中,权力、资本与中国城市美化之间的关系。首先简要回顾城市美化运动的实践与理论背景;结合重庆城市"刷城运动"的过程与批判展开论述;进而探讨为何形象成为权力与资本热切追求的对象。文中特别研讨地方政府权力在中国社会转型中的社会功能;详细分析权力谋求合法性以及资本追求剩余价值各自的两个回路,以及形象在这一过程中的重要作用;指出近30年来中国城市美化的最根本缘由在于"资本城市化过程"中激烈的地方竞争。文章结论认为在一个交换价值掩埋了使用价值的世界里,在一个全球化的表演世界里,城市美化是当代城市的生存之道。

This paper discusses the relationship between power, capital and city beautification in China. Three different stages of City Beautiful Movement in the world historical context are examined and analyzed, following with research on the process and critique of Chongqing＇ s City-painting Movement. The third part explains why city image becomes a hot target chasing by power and capital during the process of globalization. Particular attention is paid to the different social functions of local power in the transformation of Chinese society. Respectively, two circuits of power seeking legality and capital producing surplus are analyzed, with explanation of the crucial role of image creating in the process. The author argues that the fundamental force of City Beautification in contemporary China is due to the dynamic local competitions during the process of urbanization of capital in recent three decades. A conclusion considered that City Beautification is the way to survival for cities in a world of performance, a world of exchange value overwhelming use value.