西方涉藏报道中“他者化”框架的文化成因探析

An Exploration on the Cultural Causes for the Framework of “ The Other” in Western Reports on Tibet

从西方文化集体无意识的角度切入,分析西方对于中国西藏的媒体建构中几成常态的诸多"刻板印象"可以发现,造成这种"集体误读"的文化主因包括"香格里拉情节"之下的东方主义心态、媒体建构下的西方社会"西藏观"和西方对西藏宗教的单方面臆想。西方媒体中的西藏形象既是西藏部分现实的写照,更是西方文化欲望的投影,折射出强烈的东方主义心态。面对此种情形,只有因势利导、顺势而为,积极投身全球化的进程,用国际化的手段和方式传递自己的声音,才能实现西藏对外形象的重塑。

For a long time,Tibet has been one of the main items on the agenda in western reports on China. In many media reports,there is a highly homogenized ＂stereotype＂. While defining and retelling the history and present status of Tibet,the western media has mixed a collective unconscious imagination and assumptions derived from western culture. The special operational mechanism mentioned above is defined as a newsframework of ＂the other＂. ＂Stereotypes＂ objectively correspond to a people＇ s psychological expectations on the culture of ＂the other ＂, and make the outsider＇s understanding to the ＂heterogeneous＂ culture which was originally isolated from each other become relatively easy. The western＇ s media construction on Tibet is just such a typical example. Due to the application of the news-framework of ＂the other＂,what the media＇s presentation of the ＂authenticity＂ to the audience is not equal to the objective truth,but a kind of artificial construction based on political benefit,economic competition and cultural tradition. Because they live within a different cultural scene,westerners hold a traditional European imperialistic view of Tibet,and this mentality has a direct influence on the modern westerners＇ understanding of the Tibet issue. On the one hand,within the public opinion of the West,Tibet is a holy land full of aesthetic imagination. This vision and fantasy is triggered by the literature which is promoted a kind of value orientation of absolutism in the western religious context. On the other hand,the image of Tibet in the western media is not only part of realistic portrayal of Tibet,but also a projection of the desire of western culture,and it reflects a strong mentality of orientalism.1. The Mentality of Orientalism in the＂Shangri-La Scenario＂The 20 th century is a turning point in the process of when the westerners＇ contempt and rejection of Tibet changed to one which idealized Tibet. The landmark event was when Joseph Rock,an American explorer, discovered the so-called＂Shangri-La＂ area during the 1920 s and 30 s.Later,James Hilton,a British writer wrote a novel titled Lost Horizon in which he fabricated a＂Shangri-La＂which transcended the boundaries of geography and civilizations,and which integrated the finest elements of several great civilizations,including Christianity, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Since then,＂Shangri-La＂has become an important part of the contemporary collective unconsciousness of western society. Ironically, in the constructed Shangri-La myth,all the leading actors had western backgrounds,and the Tibetans were basically described as foolish farmers and labors,i. e. coolies in the eyes of the white elites.It is obvious that the novel which apparently seems to praise the eastern civilization is essentially an anthem for western Christian civilization. It can be said that the western media ＇ s exploration and construction of Tibet has always followed the path of imagination of ＂the other＂. What the westerners love is not a real Tibet,but a Tibet in their imagination. Hence,what ＂Shangri-La＂ reflects is a kind of feeling of superiority and the mentality of orientalism in the European cultural subconscious.2. The ＂Concept of Tibet＂ Constructed by the Western Media Socio-cultural thinkers argue that if stereotype does not come from the direct observation of different groups,then it is the result of obtaining information from channels such as media. If the observers know little about the groups being observed,then they will focus on those behaviors concerned with by the media,and form a kind of schema to represent the group during the process of repeated revision. Western movies, books,newspapers and so forth,constructed a＂myth＂of Shangri-La. These kinds of mainstream media are not only influenced by the myth,but also continue to strengthen and solidify its effects,and,then they develop a new myth of Shangri-La. They eventually become a ＂prisoner ＂ of Shangri-La.Hence,it is obvious that the western concept of＂Tibet＂largely originates from the construction and consolidation of the media. Under the guidance of the ＂media ecology ＂,western people＇ s views on Tibet have been built—which is not only a collective unconsciousness filled with misunderstanding,fallacies and misreading,but also constitutes a starting point and foundation for the western society to observe and understand Tibet. Especially due to the nature of commercial profit,the media industries in the post-industrial era continuously provide products which meet with the＂stereotype＂, and continue to strengthen the western concept of Tibet.3. The Discovery and Cognition of Tibetan religion in the West Of all the objective factors which define civilization,the most important one is usually religion.The attraction of Tibet to the west is mostly derived from its mysterious religious tradition. Because,for a long time,the discourse right of Tibetan religious circles has fallen into the hands of others,the Dalai Lama,who is exiled abroad,has become the so-called spokesman for Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism in the world. This has confused the reality to a great extent. From the frequent appearances of the Dalai Lama in the western media,it is not difficult for us to see a collective ＂misreading＂of western media-that the Tibet issue is a religious issue,or even is the issue of the Dalai Lama. The media consciously politicize the religious issue,or use the name of religion to spread rumors that Tibetan monks and religious believers are suffering persecution,and in so doing attack human rights and democracy in Tibet. By doing so a dissimilated and distorted international image of Tibet has been presented to the western readers. This collective misreading of the image of Tibet also reveals the media ＇ s setting of the agenda and framework related to reporting of Tibet in accordance with the political and ideological needs. The establishment of subjects, selection of material,selection of perspective,and the reporting methods,etc., are all constantly adapting to and strengthening the existing structure. Regarding the truth,it is controlled by a small group of people on behalf of the interests of the state through the media. The ordinary people can only live in the＂simulation ecology＂of the media. A considerable portion of the facts related to the western reports on Tibet is constructed from the imagination and misreading,including the 14 th Dalai Lama＇s real history and present situation of Tibetan society,etc. However, the answer to the question does not lie in the reality itself,but in the judgments made by the propaganda machine according to the needs of national interests.The ＂collective misreading ＂ and ＂stereotypes＂ of Tibet constructed in western media becomes a normal state and the evil impacts are great. It cannot be regarded simply as the result of economic competition and ideological differences,but can trace its reasons from a collective cultural unconsciousness. In the important transition period of modernization and globalization,in the face of prejudice,misunderstanding and pressure from the international community,how can Tibet break out of this encirclement？ Instead of avoiding and retreating,it is much better for Tibet to involveactively in the process of globalization,transfer its own voice by the means of internationalization,and realize the reshaping of the external image of Tibet.