这把椅子是如何征服世界的：英语精读讲义

No matter where in the world you're from, 語法

无论你来自世界上的哪个地方，

it's very likely that you've already sat in this chair at some point in your life.

在你生命中的某个时刻，你很可能已经坐过这把椅子。

This is the so-called Monobloc, 用詞

这就是所谓的Monobloc，

probably the best-selling chair in history.

可能是历史上最畅销的椅子。

And still, it's getting a lot of hate. 短語搭配

然而，它仍然招致了很多反感。

So much that in Basel, Switzerland, 表達脈絡

以至于在瑞士巴塞尔，

the chair even became a political issue.

这把椅子甚至成了一个政治问题。

For years, it was forbidden by law 短語搭配

多年来，法律禁止

to place the chair in outdoor areas of restaurants

在餐厅的户外区域放置这种椅子，

as people complained that they destroy the cityscape.

因为人们抱怨它们破坏了市容。

But how did we even get the Monobloc?

但是，我们究竟是怎么得到Monobloc的？

And is it an example of good or bad design?

它是好设计还是坏设计的例子？

You can find these chairs pretty much everywhere,

你几乎到处都能找到这些椅子，

outside of cafes in Denmark,

在丹麦的咖啡馆外面，

inside an office in Tanzania,

在坦桑尼亚的办公室里面，

or at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

或者在耶路撒冷的西墙前。

These chairs made their way into our lives. 習語

这些椅子已经融入了我们的生活。

Now, for anyone interested in design,

对于任何对设计感兴趣的人来说，

chair design is somewhat fascinating

椅子设计在某种程度上令人着迷，

because one might think that a chair would be an object

因为人们可能会认为，椅子是一种

that doesn't need to change fundamentally over time,

随时间推移不需要发生根本性改变的物品，

but chairs do change. 語法

但椅子确实在改变。

Chair design can adapt shape and material to a specific function. 短語搭配

椅子设计可以根据特定功能调整形状和材料。

It can break conventions by challenging our idea 短語搭配

它可以打破常规，挑战我们的观念：

of what a chair should look like. 語法

椅子究竟应该长什么样。

Just like in designing other objects,

就像设计其他物品一样，

designing a chair requires finding ways

设计椅子需要找到方法

to combine functionality and visual appeal. 短語搭配

将功能性和视觉吸引力结合起来。

But chair design can also reflect a certain zeitgeist. 用詞

但椅子设计也可以反映某种时代精神。

Like Marcel Breuer's Wassily Chair,

就像马塞尔·布劳耶的瓦西里椅，

made out of tubular steel

由管状钢制成，

and inspired by bicycle production,

灵感来自自行车生产，

which was laying the groundwork 習語

它为大部分现代设计

for much of modern design.

奠定了基础。

Or with pop art introducing strong color palettes 語法

或者随着波普艺术引入强烈的调色板，

in the '60s and '70s,

在60和70年代，

and the advancements in space exploration

太空探索的进步

inspiring futuristic furniture in private homes,

激发了私人住宅中极具未来感的家具，

like a bunch of circle and egg-shaped designer chairs.

比如一堆圆形和蛋形的极具设计感的椅子。

But the Monobloc is very different.

但Monobloc却截然不同。

It is used so widely that it's sort of meaningless. 講解

它被使用得如此广泛，以至于变得毫无意义。

Take a look at this photo.

看看这张照片。

Where was it taken, and when?

它是在哪里拍摄的，什么时候拍的？

It's almost impossible to tell.

几乎无法辨别。

This is an observation made by American media scholar

这是美国媒体学者

and blogger Ethan Zuckerman,

兼博主伊森·祖克曼提出的观点，

who has described the Monobloc as a context-free object. 用詞

他将Monobloc描述为一种“没有上下文的物品”。

We tend to associate most objects with a certain time or place. 短語搭配

我们倾向于将大多数物品与特定的时间或地点联系起来。

If someone shows us a random photo,

如果有人给我们看一张随机的照片，

chances are that the objects in it will give us a hint 講解

照片中的物品很可能会给我们一个提示，

as to when or where the photo was taken.

告诉我们照片是在何时何地拍摄的。

But the Monobloc chair hardly allows such conclusions to be made. 用詞

但Monobloc椅子几乎无法让人得出这样的结论。

The chairs can be found in all parts of the world,

这种椅子在世界各地都可以找到，

and it is an object so ubiquitous

而且它是一个如此无处不在的物品，

that if you saw one laying around on a beach, 語法

以至于如果你看到沙滩上放着一把，

you couldn't be sure whether someone brought it there 語法

你无法确定是有人把它带到那里的，

or if it's a flotsam from a different part of the planet. 用詞

还是从地球的另一个地方漂来的漂浮物。

The Monobloc might be a prime example of globalization,

Monobloc可能是全球化的一个典型例子，

but it can also be a reminder of

但它也可以提醒我们，

how locally different other objects around us still are.

我们周围的其他物品在地方上仍有多么不同。

There are critical views on this chair,

对这把椅子存在一些批评性观点，

and some rightly note that the Monobloc

有些人也正确地指出，Monobloc

does not represent sustainable design.

并不代表可持续设计。

Some see the chair as a prime example of mass consumption

有些人将这把椅子视为大众消费的典型例子，

of uniform goods that disregard any sense of individuality.

认为它是无视任何个性的千篇一律的产品。

Monoblocs can be used as an argument against globalization,

Monobloc可以被用作反对全球化的论据，

as they represent a decline in local culture.

因为它们代表了地方文化的衰落。

But we can also turn this argument around. 習語

但我们也可以反过来看待这个观点。

Their success does not come from nowhere. 習語

它们的成功并非凭空而来。

It's due to the fact that they are affordable,

这是因为它们价格实惠，

and affordability matters

而可负担性很重要，

since it allows social equality and economical advancement. 用詞

因为它促进了社会平等和经济发展。

The Monobloc is an object that is deeply democratic. 習語

Monobloc是一件深度民主的物品。

You might be thinking we're creating a lot of fuss about a chair,

你可能会觉得我们对一把椅子大惊小怪，

but that's kind of the point.

但这正是重点所在。

Focusing on this object can allow us to think about more abstract questions.

聚焦这件物品可以让我们思考更抽象的问题。

And these conflicting views on the chair

而对这把椅子相互冲突的观点，

are part of the reason why many artists and designers 語法

也是许多艺术家和设计师

have created artwork using Monoblocs.

使用Monobloc创作艺术品的部分原因。

But where do these chairs originate from?

那么这些椅子起源于哪里？

Arguably, the first Monobloc was made in 1946 表達脈絡

可以说，第一把Monobloc是在1946年制造的，

by Canadian designer D.C. Simpson.

由加拿大设计师D.C.辛普森设计。

However, at the time,

然而，在当时，

the molding process was not suitable for cheap mass production,

这种成型工艺不适合廉价的大规模生产，

and the whole concept might have been a bit ahead of its time. 講解

整个概念可能有些超前于时代。

But in the '60s, designers got interested

但在60年代，设计师们开始

in the idea of plastic molded chairs,

对塑料模制椅的概念产生兴趣，

notably the Bofinger Chair by Helmut Bätzner,

特别是赫尔穆特·贝茨纳的博芬格椅，

and the Chair Universale by Joe Colombo,

以及乔·科伦坡的Universale椅，

which was made of several individual molded parts.

后者是由几个独立的成型部件制成的。

But maybe the most important step towards the Monobloc

但迈向Monobloc最重要的一步，也许是

was the introduction of a chair

推出了一把

that is now considered a classic in design.

如今被认为是设计经典的椅子。

This is Verner Panton's single-piece cantilever chair.

这就是维尔纳·潘顿的单体悬臂椅。

Even if a comparison between the expensive designer chair 語法

即使将昂贵的设计师椅子

and the less appreciated garden chair may seem strange,

和不太受重视的花园椅进行比较似乎很奇怪，

the Panton chair is a technical predecessor

但潘顿椅算是在技术上的前辈，

since it is the world's first plastic chair

因为它是世界上第一把

that went into production using the same molding method 短語搭配

采用与今天的Monobloc相同的成型方法

used in today's Monoblocs.

投入生产的塑料椅。

Plus, Verner Panton designed the chair in a way that makes it stackable. 語法

此外，维尔纳·潘顿的设计让这把椅子可以堆叠。

After the success of the Panton chair,

潘顿椅取得成功后，

there were a number of chairs worldwide

世界各地出现了许多

that were inspired by this production method.

受这种生产方法启发的椅子。

And with the introduction of cheaper thermoplastics,

随着更便宜的热塑性塑料的引入，

the path became clear for the mass production of the Monobloc. 習語

Monobloc的大规模生产之路变得清晰起来。

In 1972, the French designer Henry Massonnet launched the Fauteuil 300.

1972年，法国设计师亨利·马索内推出了Fauteuil 300。

But it probably took until 1983,

但直到1983年，

when the Grosfillex Group launched their resin garden chair,

当Grosfillex集团推出他们的树脂花园椅时，

that the Monobloc was sold in large quantities at a cheap price.

Monobloc才得以廉价且大量地销售。

The chair is produced by injection molding. 用詞

这把椅子是通过注塑成型生产的。

Here, polypropylene granules are heated to 220°C

在这个过程中，聚丙烯颗粒被加热到220°C，

and injected into a mold that forms the chair.

然后被注入模具中，塑造成椅子的形状。

The name Monobloc derives from this method

Monobloc这个名字就来源于这种方法，

as the end product is made from a single unbroken material. 短語搭配

因为最终产品是由单一不间断的材料制成的。

The molds for such production are expensive

这种生产的模具非常昂贵，

and cost hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of dollars.

成本高达数十万，甚至数百万美元。

But the production is greatly scalable 短語搭配

但这种生产的规模扩展性极强，

since it requires little workforce, time, and low material costs.

因为它需要的劳动力、时间都很少，且材料成本低。

As a result, a single chair in production

结果就是，生产中单把椅子的

only costs about $3 and is usually sold for around $10. 短語搭配

成本仅为3美元左右，通常售价在10美元左右。

Today, there are dozens of different Monobloc designs available.

今天，有几十种不同的Monobloc设计可供选择。

Ones with vertical or horizontal slots or without them,

有垂直或水平缝隙的，或者没有缝隙的，

with handles in different shapes,

带有各种不同形状手柄的，

and all sorts of different colors.

以及各种各样不同颜色的。

But still, you know a Monobloc when you see one. 短語搭配

尽管如此，当你看到一把Monobloc时，你还是一眼就能认出它。

You could also see the chair as a result

你也可以把这把椅子视为

of some kind of market evolution.

某种市场演变的结果。

The chair has evolved with material thicknesses

随着材料厚度的演变，这把椅子

perfectly adjusted so that they are as thin and inexpensive as possible, 語法

经过了完美调整，变得尽可能地薄且便宜，

but still stable and durable.

但依然稳固耐用。

A chair that is weatherproof, stackable, and light.

这是一把防风雨、可堆叠、且轻便的椅子。

Fundamentally, there's not much you can change about it.

从根本上说，你没有太多可以改变的地方。

It works universally around the globe.

它在全世界范围内都通用。

Maybe it is a perfect design

也许这就是一个完美的设计，

that fulfills everything a designer aspires to. 語法

满足了设计师所渴望的一切。

But you might still hate it.

但你可能仍然讨厌它。

And this is where context comes back to play.

而这就又回到了上下文语境的问题。

How we read a design depends on our knowledge of it 語法

我们如何解读一个设计，取决于我们对它的了解，

and what it reminds us of.

以及它让我们想起了什么。

Maybe we just don't value it enough.

也许我们只是不够重视它。

These white plastic chairs are everywhere.

这些白色塑料椅子无处不在。

So we might as well start liking them. 語氣意圖

所以我们不妨开始喜欢它们。

Thank you so much for watching.

非常感谢您的观看。

I hope you enjoyed it.

希望你喜欢这个视频。

If you did, please leave a like and subscribe.

如果喜欢，请点赞并订阅。

That way you support more videos like this.

这样您就能支持更多类似的视频。

Also, if you want to read more about this topic,

另外，如果您想了解更多关于这个话题的信息，

check out the video description for some links

请查看视频描述中的一些链接，

to articles that were really helpful in making this video.

这些文章在制作这段视频时非常有帮助。