美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Avengers,' But Make It Without Women, Or Men Hugging, Or Levity In General

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The superhero movie "Avengers: Endgame" is super close to becoming the highest grossing film in history. It could break the record held by "Avatar," nearly $3 billion. So it's really popular. But a certain kind of fan objects to a certain aspect of this movie. This film, like others, courts diverse audiences by featuring women and characters of color. And we know certain fans don't like that because they made their own cut of the movie. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

NEDA ULABY, BYLINE¹: There's a pirated version of "Avengers: Endgame" circulating online where you won't see this scene with Captain Marvel² played by actress Brie Larson.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "AVENGERS: ENDGAME")

BRIE LARSON: (As Captain Marvel) So let's get 'em and use them to bring everyone back.

ULABY: In fact, in this version edited by a fan, you will not see Brie Larson at all. This version removes anything he - presumably he - found feminist³ or gay. It's the latest example of an emerging media trend, says Suzanne Scott, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

SUZANNE SCOTT: This now seems to be something that's happening for every mainstream⁴ geek culture franchise⁵ that deigns⁶ to have more than one white female character in it.

ULABY: This defeminized version of "Avengers: Endgame" also removes scenes where women rescue male superheroes or when men hug, and it minimizes the character Black Panther.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "BLACK PANTHER")

CHADWICK BOSEMAN: (As Black Panther) Wakanda forever.

ULABY: For as long as fans have had access to movies and editing tools, they've recut their favorite films to suit themselves.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM⁷ MENACE")

AHMED BEST: (As Jar Jar Binks) No. No. Me say stay.

ULABY: About 20 years ago, a fan edited out a widely despised, floppy-eared alien seen as racist⁸ from the "Star Wars" movie "The Phantom Menace."

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE")

BEST: (As Jar Jar Binks) Me say call Jar Jar Binks. Me say your humble⁹ servant.

ULABY: The edit eliminating Jar Jar Binks got a fair amount of attention and respect in Hollywood, even, allegedly, from within George Lucas' own studio. But it's different in tone from the new edits on illegal streaming platforms that get rid of minorities and ladies. One defeminized version of "The Last Jedi," from 2017, removed scenes with female pilots giving orders...

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI")

HERMIONE CORFIELD: (As Tallie) Bombers¹⁰, keep that tight formation. Fighters, protect the bombers.

ULABY: ...And even worse, men following women's orders.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI")

KEVIN LAYNE: (As Finch) Copy that, leader.

ULABY: This defeminized cut got rid of General Leia making decisions, having ideas and reprimanding male subordinates. It cut so much, Suzanne Scott says, little was left of the original 2 1/2 film.

SCOTT: It is borderline incomprehensible. Clocking in at 46 minutes, it has cut out a lot of story that you need to make the whole narrative¹¹ cohesive¹². So what's on the screenplay is, like, an avant-garde film.

(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: I thought this cut was funny. Essentially¹³, it's just one big joke.

ULABY: An anonymous¹⁴ defender¹⁵ of the defeminized "Last Jedi" cut posted this review on YouTube.

(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Frankly¹⁶, the defeminized cut is better. Like, it has better ideas than the actual movie.

SCOTT: I feel conflicted about shining a light on this.

ULABY: Suzanne Scott agrees with the YouTube critic about one thing - whoever is making these defeminized versions are likely Internet trolls. Rewarding them with attention for being mean and misogynistic¹⁷ feels counterproductive, even if they reflect, to an extent, the larger culture. Vastly, more fans produce positive work, she says, like this video essay...

(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO, "STRAIGHTENING UP THE HOUSE")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character, singing) We're straightening up the house.

ULABY: ...Encouraging Marvel to add more LGBT characters to its movies. Neda Ulaby, NPR News.

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

3 feminist   

adj.主张男女平等的，女权主义的

参考例句：

• She followed the feminist movement.她支持女权运动。
• From then on,feminist studies on literature boomed.从那时起，男女平等受教育的现象开始迅速兴起。

4 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

5 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

6 deigns   

v.屈尊，俯就( deign的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She scarcely deigns a glance at me. 她简直不屑看我一眼。 来自辞典例句

7 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

8 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

9 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

10 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

12 cohesive   

adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的

参考例句：

• She sealed the parcel with cohesive tape.她用粘胶带把包裹封起来。
• The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.作者将这些片断巧妙地结合成一个连贯的整体。

13 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

14 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

15 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

16 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

17 misogynistic   

参考例句：

• And it brings out everything that is most noxious and misogynistic about the right. 而且，这种情绪也流露出右派思想中最为保守有害，歧视女性的那一面。 来自互联网