大国崛起的盛典——当下视野中的美国1904年圣路易斯世博会

When a Superpower Holds a Coming-Out Party ——America' s 1904 St.Louis World' s Fair in the Contemporary View

作为世界上后来崛起的大国,美国在沟通国内外公众,赢得理解、信任和支持的过程中,曾经做出过巨大的努力。其中,仅世博会即主办过12次,占世界总量近30%,成为主办次数最多的国家。这中间酸甜苦辣的丰富经验,值得正在和平崛起的发展中国家参考借鉴。在当代视野中,美国1904年圣路易斯世博会作为大国崛起的盛典,在维护国家利益、启动现代生活的基础上,对内增强凝聚力、包容力,对外提高亲和力、感召力,全方位满足崛起需求;其观众定位针对以中产梦想为特征的国内外公众,体现诚恳、谦卑、友善、包容的人性化特征;其展示内容侧重生活创新,提高现代素养,促进人与社会的协调呼应;就整体而言,虽有瑕玼,却愈挫愈奋,成为特定历史阶段的标志性里程碑。圣路易斯经验提示我们,对殖民主义需要重新思考,韬光养晦有必要长期坚持,美美与共应当成为世博会的文化追求。人类正在克服文化沙文主义和文化相对主义的局限,走向文化多元主义,在创新竞争、交往互惠和自我超越的过程中,抓住机遇,迎接挑战,争取全方位的新的进步。

The United States,as a latecomer among the world powers,exerted a great deal of effort in its communications with the domestic and international public in order to secure their understanding,trust,and support.In the realm of world＇ s fairs alone,it hosted twelve,nearly 30% of the world＇ s total,and more than any other country in the world.The lessons drawn from the successes and failures amongst these multiple experiences are worthy of consideration by developing countries that are currently emerging peacefully as world powers.This essay chooses a crucial turning point in the rise of a superpower,specifically analyzing America＇ s 1904 St.Louis World＇ s Fair in the contemporary view.It proposes that this world exposition met the multifaceted needs of an emerging power by strengthening internal solidarity and tolerance and improving international familiarity and sympathy,building on a foundation of the protection of national interests and the promotion of a modern lifestyle.Its target audience was the domestic and international public who shared the middle class dream,expressed in humane characteristics such as sincerity,humility,friendliness,and tolerance.The substance of the exhibitions emphasized innovations in lifestyle,raising the level of modern refinement,and promoting orderly interaction between humans and society.Despite its flaws,on the whole,the St.Louis exposition survives as a milestone marking a particular stage of history.The experiences of the St.Louis exposition alert us to the fact that we should take a second look at colonialism,that it is best in the long term to maintain a modest profile,and that the cultural goal of the World Expo should be mutual appreciation of different moral and aesthetic values.Humankind is overcoming the limits of cultural chauvinism and cultural relativism and moving toward multiculturalism.In the course of the competition for innovation,reciprocal exchange,and the pursuit of excellence,we should seize the chance to meet the challenge and attain a new kind of multi-dimensional progress.