星期二, 8月 30, 2005

阿賢跟迪士尼 (時事)

七歲男童賢,星期四晚在家附近被兩名刀手重砍手臂。隨後的四天頭條,以孩子受襲為中心,試圖營造新一輪的公眾義憤,也即一種全城效應。

我以為,那倒是有幾分成功的,我們向來亦不會退讓,相信隨著社會進步,兒童理所當然的應不受武力、強迫勞動、強迫性行為等等等等的侵擾。大眾傳媒很難脫離大眾,同時大眾傳媒的工作者,本身已有其大眾的一面,其報導很難恒常離開普羅的規範和關注,是故也難以想像,集少有和「公眾規範底線」一身的賢仔遇襲案,會逃離被頭版處理的「命運」。我想,就算真的沒有機會被報章頭版處理,此事激起的公眾義憤,不會減去太多。

這事的新聞處理,看來跟賢仔的年歲關係較大。如果賢早六七年出生,或主角換成一個年歲為賢三倍的小夥子,三七——「廿一歲青年被惡煞狂斬手臂」這條新聞,除非青年大大有名,或/和那幾天政府沒出錯,明星沒喜事,港內無慘劇,四海皆昇平,否則往往被安排內版頭條收場,壽命不過這麼一天,圖片只得一幀,哪能見到慰問的花籃和巧克力?慣見這類新聞的你和我,或許暗裡認為那少年遭砍是自作孽。


中途插進的延伸閱讀
阿啟:人神齊共憤
鄧小樺:少言為福


這些傷人新聞,也可以叫突發新聞,蓋它們真的突如其來,不設採訪通知,也不定時間地點。意外消息從警察無線電傳出(不知香港警方在去年使用新一代的無線電後,傳媒還能否憑監聽而知事呢),報館的電單車和小汽車,還有電視台的採訪車,會按採訪主任以為的嚴重程度,或多或少的趕赴採訪。然後一小時後上電視,下一個早上見報。閱讀新聞久了,我早已認同突發新聞是此地新聞報導的其中一個主要部分。

我以為,突發新聞是屬於大眾的,有時亦是不屬於大眾的。它滿足了閱覽人知各處事的預期和慾望,而痛苦的傳播,除了令我們當中一些人(暗裡)亢奮外,也會激發我們的憤怒、同情心等。但並非每條突發消息都能跟大眾緊密相關,蓋很多消息裡的主角的遭遇,我們已自覺慣見,除非事件觸及禁忌或規範,或影響甚大,否則它很難留住大眾的目光。除非短時間裡類近的事情不絕發生,被輿論或閱覽人視為風潮或危機,大眾未必會重新注意;可他們此時的聚焦處,名叫「本地新聞版」。不宜長期跟進似乎是突發新聞版的行規。


經電視新聞看到區議員提供的錄像。畫面裡的賢,在米老鼠的「保護」下,興奮的說想見劉德華和陳慧琳。陳到了,劉承諾會來。

倒想多談「保護」賢的米奇。等待七八年,這個夏天,很多香港人期望樂園正式開放的一刻。白雪公主有童話,Winnie the Pooh有英格蘭原版的,米奇米妮跟Donald Duck這些從迪士尼動畫片出身的角色,最教我們聯想到那主題樂園,也不難解釋此夏米奇在香港流行。

香港人對樂園的期望沈寂了數年;反對樂園和其意識形態的社運界,其反對行動在落實建園後,看來也零星。今年七一前,獵奇行動正式成立,參與七一遊行時看到他們在唱〈老鼠愛大米〉。他們在剛過的星期天,在西洋菜南街行人專用區的旺角百老匯影院外,辦「獵奇行動節」。梁寶山報導所顯示的,(慣見的)社運表達手法,如街頭劇或唱歌(舊曲新詞?),在那時那地顯得無力。阿啟在同地見到的執生博殺「西洋菜街價值」,又能否,又如何應用在同樣於西洋菜南街活動了兩三年的諸色社運人身上?

樂園將開,獵奇行動方起,聽說他們今天(八月三十日)首次正式遠征樂園去。我還有點左的血液,主觀意願當然不想行動中人如十多二十年前反大亞灣核電廠的運動般,漸漸淡化——雖說人尚在,但沒人提起的話,誰會想到我們東北方數十公里處,有一座核裂變發電廠——,而是為我們的社會注入多一點的生氣,活潑也好,不忿也好。

但如港燦跟九州在下引的Miss Lee新文章中回應言,反抗主題公園的論述,既未必安撫它主要客戶之一兒童的心,也不易為青年(甚至群眾?)消化,看得到的是號召力弱了。誠然反對者未必每回都要提出「建設性反建議」,做好一百一十巴仙的配套計劃,然則看到「支持度」這三個誘人大字,很難不教他們絞盡腦汁吧。

梁寶的報導得陳景輝回應。陳說,行動成員,在大學教書的司徒薇,游說時事實易明,道理簡單。旁觀社運多年,雖覺它對參與者還是有點知性和理論的要求,但是否每回都得先講課,後行動呢,由淺入深對爭取公義何損?至於對樂園趨之若鶩的廣大群眾來說,我以為行動者多顧及他們行樂的代價,卻少有開拓另類歡愉的途徑。究竟那因為從事運動者有心無力,還是因為他們看來多處於逆境,在求存和爭取的過程裡,先有意無意展露自己臉上的風霜?

聽說國外的社運者和支援圈子,已慢慢開發趨近他們理想的歡愉文本,那是因為他們人手較多,可以處理較多的事嗎?

延伸閱讀
這篇靈感之源——Miss Lee:受傷小童的星期天
李育成:妙用「炸彈」效應
司南:這幾天,非常迪士膩

星期六, 8月 27, 2005

無邊閒談會(二):夏讀(又名書、輸、勝、贏)下篇(活動)

上集概要

上一回,來者六人。我們談到作者、舊書、看書,也湊熱鬧,把剛過去的香港書展用言語剖得體無完膚。然而,藏書、棄書、送書、寫書等等話題無暇開展,談舊的題目亦嫌意猶未盡。

既說了有下集,就要來下集,不能使我多添一張不準時兌現的期票。

「夏讀下集」
集合時間:八月二十七日星期六下午三時,油麻地百老匯電影中心大堂外
閒談時間:下午三時十五分至七時,實際情況視乎氣氛及場地而定
地點:百老匯電影中心附近,新填地街15x號一樓的某家咖啡店
報名辦法:comment本文(本文容許非blogger用戶留言)或電郵肥力(eric.spanner@gmail.com),如欲中途加入,請先告知

星期二, 8月 23, 2005

怪癖 (自我+網絡)

正所謂:那狂潮捲起,燦爛又繽紛。李姓女生想大家輕鬆一下,竟使港台無數網誌寫手公開一己怪癖,今天不過是第九天,其速也速,看怕教無數動輒用「全城效應」的文案寫手脫筆拜伏,也令一眾苦戰N年而未得聞問的你我他她暗地三嘆。

閒白講完,自揭怪癖。

一者在家玩抱枕。用了腸型抱枕十多年,當中約大半年家中不備,最終還是買一條回家。「腸」,可滾可抱可墊頭墊手臂,甚至可如家犬家貓,放在盤腿上。幸虧此腸不如我幻想的腸角色般,有人類的思想行為及行動力,否則多養一口,難長顧也。

二者扮卡通角色叫聲。定是玩腸有年,加愛羅飛機一隻,又曾寫過bear bear連載小說,當中貴為主角的玩具熊會發「bear!」的叫聲,結果下來,替它們配上叫聲成了每日指定動作,甚至不見它們時亦然。

三者慣一個人看電影。根據老朋友梁國基先生之教,電影,是應該兩個或以上的人一同看的,一個人看電影去,還要屢次如此,實大乖其教——他此學說跟他的戀愛狀況有何關聯,待查——,故也當成怪癖。

四者跟梁國基先生互相用口水抬舉又復踐踏。「阿黃生,你中學畢業o係某大名校,又入讀香港一流大學,前途應該似錦喎;點解而家變成咁o既?」用「先生」常稱我,梁氏實屬第一人;投挑報李,不能不回以「先生」敬稱。不過,我想來想去,除了互尋開心外,看怕沒有太多需要互叫對方「先生」吧,否則一年下來,多講數千字也未可知。

至於我,每次都是在他面前列舉他收入比我高,從事前途更光明的行業,以及他事業前景如我般未見突破的事實,也算有揚有抑。以上兩點務請一起閱讀。

五者慣截轉發訊息呼籲,電郵icq或blog都如是。所以鄧明暉所立一脈,到我手上即止。

星期三, 8月 17, 2005

小姐、小姐,妳好生面善呀——《L'annee derniere a Marienbad》(Alain Resnais, 1961) (電影)

實不相瞞,我難以抗拒穿上晚禮服、連衣裙和高跟鞋等衣飾的女子;看了幾幀《去年在馬倫巴》的劇照後,就立下決心,怎也要進影院看一回,過過看華麗女子的癮。此月逢電影節目辦事處辦了Alain Resnais回顧展,片目有此大片,不妨盡早觀看。

電影看過了,晚禮服、連衣裙、高跟鞋和羽毛睡袍穿在女主角身上自是好看,穿脫鞋子的美麗轉移式的確誘人,亦再次旁觀了歐風雕欄玉砌下中上階層男女的浮華閒適生活。當下香港的豪宅廣告,或一句歌詞分成三個鏡頭的MV,彷彿遙遙呼應電影裡的後園風光,或某些男主角追求女主角的場次。男主角追求女主角,用的是言語,但不盡甜蜜。

舊戲小生追淑女,不慌不忙的說句:「小姐、小姐,妳好生面善呀,不知曾否見過—呢?」今時電視電影的老套準情聖,也不時用這句開場白:「唔知o係邊度見過妳呢?」——四個月前看《世界》,賈樟柯就藉趙濤和另一名男子,給我們更新記憶。通常遇到這些男人的女子,都是冷冷一句否認了事,留待男的繼續出招;而在旅館跟美女朝遇晚見的男主角,沒錯是窮追不捨,但用的是分期付款,每天都給美人重溫一年前的美好時光:那個後花園、那個雕像那地碎石、那隻脆弱的高跟鞋、那個門半開的房間,還有妳那襲羽毛睡袍,從餐牌到甜品裡的異國水果都一一道來,並做到少食多餐,不像沒有想像力的追求者般,妄想一句定江山。遇到女主角問及細節,男主角卻不清清楚楚,答道那不重要,或是拋出包括馬倫巴在內的幾個有高級古典風旅館的度假勝地,任妳細選。具體得像記憶,模糊得也像記憶;具體得像謊話,模糊得也像謊話。言詞組成的愛情故事,就算加上留影一幀,也未能成功核實,徒教女主角繼續迷茫。

片初戲中戲的男主角,穿過綿長又重覆的古雅過道,終於會了女主角,並表白定情。在戲臺外的男主角,就用言語搭成迷陣,引得女主角不用親訪迷宮,離開男伴跟男主角他去——或者,她那男伴在言語方面的本領,不及他設三角陣或開槍,而女主角最後中意的,可能是男主角編故事講回憶的本領,和在迷茫中追尋的趣味,是否真有其事無關重要。情場中幾多高手,但未必人人只懂用愛將心偷,用腦用手或者靠把口,其實都得。

延伸閱讀
《廣島之戀》觀影筆記

阿琪:〈《去年在馬倫巴》〉

星期日, 8月 14, 2005

胡泳講中國大陸的博客 (網絡)/ An introduction of bloggers @ mainland China by WU Yong (Internet)

(English version please see below)

相信在香港的上網者,都有一些接觸中國大陸(內地)網上資訊的經驗。如此推論,香港的網誌寫手,想很難不讀來自中國大陸的網誌(blog)。除了親身閱覽以外,聽聽當地觀察者的意見,也可望加深我們對大陸網誌的認識。自己看的大陸網誌不多,聽到有大陸觀察者介紹,演講會的會場又方便自己,於是去了聽,兼做了筆記。

觀察者,也就是講者,姓胡名泳,現時為中央電視台經濟頻道(頻道2)製片人,也是資深的互聯網業者。講座由香港大學新聞及傳媒研究中心主辦,聽眾約五十人,不少為記者。

他的開場白引述了不少數字,主要為了說明大陸互聯網的飛速發展。他也提到,大陸互聯網上的內容,可能跟外界想像的不同,比較多元;而國外認為的「互聯網業跟技術會使大陸迅速變化」,以及「大陸政府是個網上老大哥」的想法,可能跟事實有距離。然而,國外的看法不一定等同當局者所想,依然具有參考價值,雙方的交流因而見得有其需要。

他接著簡介這幾年的,生成大陸博客的社會背景。他引Kristof N.所言,大陸已漸漸重見強國的規模。在階級方面,固有的工農階級演化成更多的階層。雖然經濟改革使經濟生活的限制愈見寬鬆,但官方意志依然壟斷媒體,互聯網成了民眾發聲的出口,對外呈現網絡民族主義,對內則見對現實的批判。消費主義主導了不少人的想法,不滿現實、厭倦政治的年輕人,也會運用互聯網,如網上遊戲或交友服務以解悶,或寫貼心情文章以抒發情感。

網民人數方面,現時大陸網民約一億人。按他引述的一個受訪者1164人,在五個大城市(包括北京、上海、長沙等)的調查指,從未使用網誌的受訪者佔七成一,只有百分之一的受訪者說經常使用,常用、偶而和有時使用的,則分別佔百分之三、百分之九和百分之十六。按他估計,內地博客當有二至三百萬人左右,人數自2002年網誌平台初推出起,漸漸增加,而提供網誌服務的公司(Blog Services Provider, BSP)也多了。

他特別介紹了三類型的博客。不過他反覆說明,那並不是大陸博客的僅有面貌,如一群討論技術的博客,他並未介紹。而我以為他介紹的第三種博客,是否博客也成疑問。

第一種是憤青,即憤怒青年。在我的認識裡,很多在網上活動的憤青,大多是言辭激烈,甚恨外國欺凌壓迫中國,更有一些憤青不時發一些奇想,或為敵人的陰謀,或為振興國家民族的偏鋒大計;至於大陸發生的事,他們似乎沒這般強烈反應。胡泳則認為,憤青的定義比較複雜,但簡單說來,他們是居於城市的知識青年,並懷有社會義憤。他引述了博客對黑龍江沙蘭鎮水禍的悼念詩,他們對《南方週末》被禁的相關報導,和採訪手記的轉載,說明憤青的社會關懷。然而有機會親歷事件後報導的博客只佔少數,往往博客都是評論時事,也就是憤青的主要表現處。除了內地時事,人民政府的外交事務,或台灣事務都是憤青們常談的題目,反美反日等態度構成憤青的形象。他以為,憤青帶出了民眾的社會參與,但他們的言論,偏激的觀點很多。

第二種是小資,即小資產階級。文化大革命時,小資沒機會生存,但經歷二十多年的經濟改革,小資成了城市的一個群體。他們是都市人、白領、年輕、有點錢、追求更好的物質和精神生活和時尚,也感性。他們表現了對大理想的失落——胡引述一個小資博客所寫的,大意如此:「某人講理想時,我能否有權在他的殿堂裡上廁所?」——,很多也厭倦政治,而他們寫的網誌,文章多偏向感性。胡表示小資變成憤青,或憤青變成小資,都較容易,但除了他述及的共同生活背景,即兩者都是都市的高教育程度年輕人外,他並沒具體言明還有甚麼原因,使兩種身份容易互換。

他亦提到幾個屬小資類的博客:寫性文字見稱的作家木子美,文字具探索意味的竹影青曈,以及近日受人留意,難賦與意義的芙蓉姐姐。他認為,三人的圖文都是對大陸社會容忍力的測試。及後有聽眾按他的發言,問他小資型博客為何女性居多,他答謂女性在大陸社會已漸抬頭,而國家社會等項壟斷社會討論的情況亦已不復見,也能談談個人的小天地——然而女性跟小天地為何有關,甚至為何必然有關,就語焉不詳。

答問時也有聽眾問及,感性類的網誌為何比政治社會的多,胡表示理想被解構,政治限制令大陸憤青的想法無法實現,加上消費、感性等元素主導人心和青年文化,感性內容佔多的情況很難扭轉。他亦引了美國得州一個少女網誌的調查結果,指生活型網誌比社政網誌多該是各地普遍的現象。

看網誌、寫網誌一旦成為時尚,BSP就會惹來風險基金的垂青,那也是胡口中的第三類型博客:商人。商人為了加強BSP的吸引力和潛藏的營利能力,會請一些具吸引力的博客加盟,藉此增加瀏覽量。反對者當然會有,但很難成功扭轉局面。那麼,胡泳有否談及會在網誌寫從商、管理或投資之道的博客呢?沒有。因此他提的「第三種博客」,在博客或網誌寫手的定義言,難以說服我他們也是一種博客。

這些網誌既來自大陸,也很難避開大陸政府對互聯網和網站內容的限制。網誌於大陸風行前,大陸政府已對新聞網站和網上出版發出規定,網上內容供應商(Internet Content Provider, ICP)要先領牌才能發布新聞,行之有年,網上的過濾機制亦為大陸內外網民所知。去年北大YTHT電子告示板系統(BBS)被「整頓」而不復存在,是政府對互聯網的另一些管制;今年則輪到網誌:一些網誌平台不能連接(是的,包括我用的blogspot),有些網誌寫手得四處搬blog。而今年三月份信息產業部啟動的網站備案登記,使網站跟傳統媒體般趨向自律。對於大陸政府倡導的網上實名制,他個人反對這種做法,指它會窒礙網上發表意見,亦影響網上討論型網站的發展。

限制多了,可胡泳指,博客的出現也代表公民社會的出現,尤在這刻固有傳媒監督社會的環境漸趨惡化,其他發聲渠道又難以運用之時,博客(看怕也要加上web forum及BBS吧)還有其意義在。


I believe our Hong Kong net surfers have read some, if not much, internet materials come from Mainland China. It may derive a saying that Hong Kong bloggers should read some blogs written by Mainland bloggers. Besides reading, we may understanding more about Mainland blogs by listening to Mainland observers. I read few Mainland blogs, and it was one of the reason that I attended a seminar held by a Mainland observer. Also, I could reach the venue easily.

The speaker, and the observer, is WU Yong, a producer of CCTV's channel 2, an economic and finance channel. He is also a veteran in Internet business. The seminar was held by HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre, some 50 people attended and plenty of them are reporters.

Firstly he quoted figures to tell the high growing speed of Mainland's Internet. He also said that, perhaps different from thoughts of outsiders, Internet contents from Mainland China may be more varied, and it may not always true for the sayings of "Internet trade and technology change Mainland rapidly" and "PRC Government is a 'Big Brother' in Internet". Nevertheless, these comments still have their merits and it is a good thing for the both sides exchange ideas.

His presentation followed by a brief introduction of the mainland society, at the moment of the raising of Mainland China bloggers. He quoted the saying of Kristof N., said that Mainland having been returning as a great and strong country. Classes has been diversified from workers and peasants, to more. Economic reform brought a freer economic life; however, the will of the state still dominates mass media, and internet become the exit of citizens' voices. These voices come to a critique in internal affairs, and internet nationalism when talking about foreign affairs. The thought of spending also dominated the thought of much people. Those young people who got feed up of politics and real life, also utilize the net, for example, online game, friend matching, or publishing articles about feeling.

Now there are around 100 million net users in Mainland. He quoted the result of a survey, with N = 1164, which was held in 5 cities, including Beijing, Chengsha and Shanghai, and found out that 71% of interviewee never use blog. Only 1% said 'always', the respondents of 'often', 'sometimes' and 'less than sometimes' are 3%, 9% and 16% respectively. He estimated since the launch of blog in Mainland in 2002, the number of Mainland bloggers has been raised to 2 to 3 million, also there is an increase of Blog Services Provider, or BSP.

Regarding to bloggers, he mentioned three types of them, and repeated the saying that his introduction is not exhaustive, for example, he did not say too much about technological bloggers. For the last type of 'bloggers', I wonder if they are really bloggers.

Fenqing, or FQ, which literally means Angry Youth, is the first type. As I know, many FQ saying exterme in network, they hate foreign aggressors very much. There are also some FQ saying something funny, maybe enemies' conspiracy, or a extraoridinary way to bring the country stronger. They seems less enthuastic towards Mainland affairs. Wu pointed out the definition of FQ is somehow complicated; however, they can be told as young, educated urban residents, and be attached with what happened in the society. He showed the audience how FQ concern the society, by quoting the poems bloggers had written for the deaths in recent flood tragedy in the towm of Shalan, Heilongjiang, and the banned report which was going to be published in Nanfang Zhoumo (Southern Weekend), and an article written by the reporter who wrote the story. There is few lucky FQ has written own report, and most of them shows their concern by commenting news. For foreign affairs, the foreign policy of PRC government, or Mainland-Taiwan affairs comes to FQs' major topic, and people notice their anti-US or anti-Japan attitude. He conclude that FQ shows the social participation of ordinary people, but their words consist of a large part of extreme thoughts.

The second type is Xiaozi, which means petty bourgeoisie. It was impossible to be a XZ in Cultural Revolution's Mainland China. After an economic reform for more than 20 years, XZ forms a group in many cities. They are urban citizens, mainly white collars, young, have some money, want a better, fashionable material and spiritual life, and emotional. They have few or no interest in grand goal, and politics as well. Wu quoted a XZ blogger saying, not exactly: May I have the right to be excused before someone preaching his/her great goal? Needless to say, they write many words about feeling. He said that the interchange between FQ and XZ is easy. I wonder the reason behind this, although I understand their common background.

Then he introduced three XZ bloggers to us. Muzi Mei, a writer specializes in sex content; Zhuying Qingtong, writing as exploration; and today's hittest, a young woman hard to be defined, Fuyong Jiejie. He thought their words are testing the tolerance of Mainland society. An audience asked him why female comes most in XZ bloggers, he said that it shows the raising social status of female in society, and the state or social issue no longer monopolizes, people can say something about themselves. But he has not made clear the relation between 'self issues' and 'female'.

After his presentation, somebody asked the reason of there are more blogs telling feelings than soci-political affairs. Wu replied that the deconstruction of great ideas, the political barriers which hinder the realization of FQs' 'plans', and the domination of consumption and emotion, all contribute the greater portion of emotional contents. He also quoted a survey about the blogs from Texas, USA, and pointed out 'feelings rules' should be universal.

Venture capital has interest in BSP when blog come fashion. Venture capital, or business people, is the third type of bloggers. Business people invite famous bloggers to their BSP, to make their BSP more attractive, and raise the potential profitability. This direction of course is being against by some bloggers, but Wu believed the latter hardly get success. And Wu has not tell anything about blogs which are about business operation, management or investment. I think his 'type 3' cannot be regarded as bloggers.

Mainland blogs are inevitably under the restriction of internet and net content from PRC government. Before the raise of blogging, PRC government had have rules about news websites and web publishing. ICP, or Internet Content Provider, have to get a license for their news content, and such policy has been ran for years. Mainland is also well-known of web-filtering. Last year, the closure of YTHT BBS, Peking University, showed another side of internet control from the government. This year blog became the target. Some BSP, including blogspot/blogger I am using, has been barred from connection. Some Mainlanf bloggers have to switch among BSPs. The Ministry of Information Industry has requested registration of web sites since March, which resulted a self-discipline of web sites. Wu was against the using of real names in internet, which PRC government is launching. He said that it hinders the discussion in internet.

Though limits are increasing, Wu believed blogs (perhaps in addition of BBS and web forum?) mean a raise of civil society, and also some additional meaning at the time of traditional media become harder as watchdogs, and difficult to utilise other means of expression.

講座基本資料 Basic information of the seminar, in BIG5 Chinese only
講座報導轉載 A quoted report of the seminar