“第四世界”中的“低端”媒介实践——非洲马拉维录像厅的田野考察

The “Low-End” Media Practice of the “Fourth World”——An ethnography of the videorooms in rural Malawi

全球没有任何一家影视公司到人均GDP位列全球倒数第三的马拉维发行电影,然而考察发现,全球影视作品却广泛存在于马拉维,包括广大农村地区。针对这一现象,文章采用田野调查的研究方法,结合"第四世界"、"低端全球化"等理论,对马拉维农村录像厅这一"低端"媒介实践的相关议题展开讨论。文章认为,"第四世界"并未脱离全球体系,而是通过"低端全球化"与全球体系保持密切联系;"低端全球化"是全球媒介流动的有益补充,"第四世界"正是通过"低端全球化"得以接触"廉价"的全球影视"时尚";而身处"第四世界"的底层观众似乎无能力和意愿读取全球影视背后的主流价值观,从而导致他(她)们可能再度脱离"全球"。

None of the multinational companies has ever released any film in Malawi-a country whose GDP per capita is the third last in the world(2018),and hence no profit is expected for multinational companies.However,global films are widely found in Malawi,including in the vast rural areas.In response to this"fascinating case",this article combines ethnographic materials collected in Malawi from January to September 2019 together with the theories such as"Fourth World"and"Lowend Globalization",to examine issues related to the videorooms in rural Malawi-a"Low-end"media practice.This study finds that:The"Fourth World"is not excluded from the global system,as suggested by Manuel Castells,but closely linked to it through"Low-end Globalization"."Low-end Globalization"is complementary and crucial toglobal media mobility,which makes it possible for the"Fourth World"to consume cheap"film fashion"with speed,at a low price,and with acceptable quality.However,the"Fourth World"audience seems unable and unwilling to read the values behind the global films,and hence to get in touch with the"world"outside,which may lead to their exclusion again by globalization.