E·P·汤普森的文化史观探讨——以《英国工人阶级的形成》为例

E.P.Thompson's View of Cultural History in The Making of the English Working Class

汤普森试图在历史唯物主义的框架下,从总体性、多元素和互动论的角度,深入"一整条生活之道"和大众文化政治中重构1780-1832年间的英格兰工人阶级形成史。他认为,工人阶级并不仅仅是一个经济概念,而且是涉及工人日常生活总体的文化概念。只有一个工人主动选择成为阶级中的一员,他的身份才算建构完成,而完成的标志则是他抛弃了封建家长制的保护和约束,走向自主和独立,培养民主和社会化性格。在汤普森看来,在工业发达的今天,我们还没有完全摆脱封建家长制文化的制约,因此,早期英格兰工人阶级仍然是激励我们的同路人。

E.P.Thompson tried to reconstruct the history of the making of the English working class in the period of 1780-1832from the perspectives of totality,multi-elements,interactionism,＂a whole way of life＂and mass cultural politics in the framework of historical materialism.He argued that the working class was not only an economic concept but also a cultural concept related to workers ＇total ordinary life.Only when a worker selected to become a member in the working class,his identity was constructed,and the completed flag was that he abandoned the feudal patriarchal protection and restraint,came to autonomy and independence,and developed democracy and social character.In Thompson＇s view,we have not yet completely free from the constraints of the feudal patriarchal culture although the industry is well-developed today.Therefore,the early English working class still inspires our fellow travelers.