這把椅子是如何征服世界的：英語精讀講義

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

無論你來自世界上的哪個地方，

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

在你生命中的某個時刻，你很可能已經坐過這把椅子。

This is the so-called Monobloc, 用詞

這就是所謂的Monobloc，

probably the best-selling chair in history.

可能是歷史上最暢銷的椅子。

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

然而，它仍然招致了很多反感。

So much that in Basel, Switzerland, 表達脈絡

以至於在瑞士巴塞爾，

the chair even became a political issue.

這把椅子甚至成了一個政治問題。

For years, it was forbidden by law 片語搭配

多年來，法律禁止

to place the chair in outdoor areas of restaurants

在餐廳的戶外區域放置這種椅子，

as people complained that they destroy the cityscape.

因為人們抱怨它們破壞了市容。

But how did we even get the Monobloc?

但是，我們究竟是怎麼得到Monobloc的？

And is it an example of good or bad design?

它是好設計還是壞設計的例子？

You can find these chairs pretty much everywhere,

你幾乎到處都能找到這些椅子，

outside of cafes in Denmark,

在丹麥的咖啡館外面，

inside an office in Tanzania,

在坦尚尼亞的辦公室裡面，

or at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

或者在耶路撒冷的西牆前。

These chairs made their way into our lives. 慣用語

這些椅子已經融入了我們的生活。

Now, for anyone interested in design,

對於任何對設計感興趣的人來說，

chair design is somewhat fascinating

椅子設計在某種程度上令人著迷，

because one might think that a chair would be an object

因為人們可能會認為，椅子是一種

that doesn't need to change fundamentally over time,

隨時間推移不需要發生根本性改變的物品，

but chairs do change. 文法

但椅子確實在改變。

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

椅子設計可以根據特定功能調整形狀和材料。

It can break conventions by challenging our idea 片語搭配

它可以打破常規，挑戰我們的觀念：

of what a chair should look like. 文法

椅子究竟應該長什麼樣。

Just like in designing other objects,

就像設計其他物品一樣，

designing a chair requires finding ways

設計椅子需要找到方法

to combine functionality and visual appeal. 片語搭配

將功能性和視覺吸引力結合起來。

But chair design can also reflect a certain zeitgeist. 用詞

但椅子設計也可以反映某種時代精神。

Like Marcel Breuer's Wassily Chair,

就像馬塞爾·布勞耶的瓦西里椅，

made out of tubular steel

由管狀鋼製成，

and inspired by bicycle production,

靈感來自自行車生產，

which was laying the groundwork 慣用語

它為大部分現代設計

for much of modern design.

奠定了基礎。

Or with pop art introducing strong color palettes 文法

或者隨著普普藝術引入強烈的調色板，

in the '60s and '70s,

在60和70年代，

and the advancements in space exploration

太空探索的進步

inspiring futuristic furniture in private homes,

激發了私人住宅中極具未來感的家具，

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

比如一堆圓形和蛋形的極具設計感的椅子。

But the Monobloc is very different.

但Monobloc卻截然不同。

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

它被使用得如此廣泛，以至於變得毫無意義。

Take a look at this photo.

看看這張照片。

Where was it taken, and when?

它是在哪裡拍攝的，什麼時候拍的？

It's almost impossible to tell.

幾乎無法辨別。

This is an observation made by American media scholar

這是美國媒體學者

and blogger Ethan Zuckerman,

兼部落客伊森·祖克曼提出的觀點，

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

他將Monobloc描述為一種「沒有上下文的物品」。

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

我們傾向於將大多數物品與特定的時間或地點聯繫起來。

If someone shows us a random photo,

如果有人給我們看一張隨機的照片，

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

照片中的物品很可能會給我們一個提示，

as to when or where the photo was taken.

告訴我們照片是在何時何地拍攝的。

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

但Monobloc椅子幾乎無法讓人得出這樣的結論。

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

這種椅子在世界各地都可以找到，

and it is an object so ubiquitous

而且它是一個如此無處不在的物品，

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

以至於如果你看到沙灘上放著一把，

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

你無法確定是有人把它帶到那裡的，

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

還是從地球的另一個地方漂來的漂浮物。

The Monobloc might be a prime example of globalization,

Monobloc可能是全球化的一個典型例子，

but it can also be a reminder of

但它也可以提醒我們，

how locally different other objects around us still are.

我們周圍的其他物品在地方上仍有多麼不同。

There are critical views on this chair,

對這把椅子存在一些批評性觀點，

and some rightly note that the Monobloc

有些人也正確地指出，Monobloc

does not represent sustainable design.

並不代表永續設計。

Some see the chair as a prime example of mass consumption

有些人將這把椅子視為大眾消費的典型例子，

of uniform goods that disregard any sense of individuality.

認為它是無視任何個性的千篇一律的產品。

Monoblocs can be used as an argument against globalization,

Monobloc可以被用作反對全球化的論據，

as they represent a decline in local culture.

因為它們代表了地方文化的衰落。

But we can also turn this argument around. 慣用語

但我們也可以反過來看待這個觀點。

Their success does not come from nowhere. 慣用語

它們的成功並非憑空而來。

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

這是因為它們價格實惠，

and affordability matters

而可負擔性很重要，

since it allows social equality and economical advancement. 用詞

因為它促進了社會平等和經濟發展。

The Monobloc is an object that is deeply democratic. 慣用語

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,

你可能會覺得我們對一把椅子大驚小怪，

but that's kind of the point.

但這正是重點所在。

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

聚焦這件物品可以讓我們思考更抽象的問題。

And these conflicting views on the chair

而對這把椅子相互衝突的觀點，

are part of the reason why many artists and designers 文法

也是許多藝術家和設計師

have created artwork using Monoblocs.

使用Monobloc創作藝術品的部分原因。

But where do these chairs originate from?

那麼這些椅子起源於哪裡？

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

可以說，第一把Monobloc是在1946年製造的，

by Canadian designer D.C. Simpson.

由加拿大設計師D.C.辛普森設計。

However, at the time,

然而，在當時，

the molding process was not suitable for cheap mass production,

這種成型工藝不適合廉價的大規模生產，

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

整個概念可能有些超前於時代。

But in the '60s, designers got interested

但在60年代，設計師們開始

in the idea of plastic molded chairs,

對塑膠模製椅的概念產生興趣，

notably the Bofinger Chair by Helmut Bätzner,

特別是赫爾穆特·貝茨納的博芬格椅，

and the Chair Universale by Joe Colombo,

以及喬·科倫坡的Universale椅，

which was made of several individual molded parts.

後者是由幾個獨立的成型部件製成的。

But maybe the most important step towards the Monobloc

但邁向Monobloc最重要的一步，也許是

was the introduction of a chair

推出了一把

that is now considered a classic in design.

如今被認為是設計經典的椅子。

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

這就是維爾納·潘頓的單體懸臂椅。

Even if a comparison between the expensive designer chair 文法

即使將昂貴的設計師椅子

and the less appreciated garden chair may seem strange,

和不太受重視的花園椅進行比較似乎很奇怪，

the Panton chair is a technical predecessor

但潘頓椅算是在技術上的前輩，

since it is the world's first plastic chair

因為它是世界上第一把

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

以今天Monobloc椅子所用的相同成型方法

used in today's Monoblocs.

投入生產的塑膠椅。

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

此外，維爾納·潘頓的設計讓這把椅子可以堆疊。

After the success of the Panton chair,

潘頓椅取得成功後，

there were a number of chairs worldwide

世界各地出現了許多

that were inspired by this production method.

受這種生產方法啟發的椅子。

And with the introduction of cheaper thermoplastics,

隨著更便宜的熱塑性塑膠的引入，

the path became clear for the mass production of the Monobloc. 慣用語

Monobloc的大規模生產之路變得清晰起來。

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

1972年，法國設計師亨利·馬索內推出了Fauteuil 300。

But it probably took until 1983,

但直到1983年，

when the Grosfillex Group launched their resin garden chair,

當Grosfillex集團推出他們的樹脂花園椅時，

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

Monobloc才得以廉價且大量地銷售。

The chair is produced by injection molding. 用詞

這把椅子是透過注塑成型生產的。

Here, polypropylene granules are heated to 220°C

在這個過程中，聚丙烯顆粒被加熱到220°C，

and injected into a mold that forms the chair.

然後被注入模具中，塑造成椅子的形狀。

The name Monobloc derives from this method

Monobloc這個名字就來源於這種方法，

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

因為最終產品是由單一不間斷的材料製成的。

The molds for such production are expensive

這種生產的模具非常昂貴，

and cost hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of dollars.

成本高達數十萬，甚至數百萬美元。

But the production is greatly scalable 片語搭配

但這種生產的規模擴展性極強，

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

因為它需要的勞動力、時間都很少，且材料成本低。

As a result, a single chair in production

結果就是，生產中單把椅子的

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

成本僅為3美元左右，通常售價在10美元左右。

Today, there are dozens of different Monobloc designs available.

今天，有幾十種不同的Monobloc設計可供選擇。

Ones with vertical or horizontal slots or without them,

有垂直或水平縫隙的，或者沒有縫隙的，

with handles in different shapes,

帶有各種不同形狀手柄的，

and all sorts of different colors.

以及各種各樣不同顏色的。

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

儘管如此，當你看到一把Monobloc時，你還是一眼就能認出它。

You could also see the chair as a result

你也可以把這把椅子視為

of some kind of market evolution.

某種市場演變的結果。

The chair has evolved with material thicknesses

隨著材料厚度的演變，這把椅子

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

經過了完美調整，變得盡可能地薄且便宜，

but still stable and durable.

但依然穩固耐用。

A chair that is weatherproof, stackable, and light.

這是一把防風雨、可堆疊、且輕便的椅子。

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

從根本上說，你沒有太多可以改變的地方。

It works universally around the globe.

它在全世界範圍內都通用。

Maybe it is a perfect design

也許這就是一個完美的設計，

that fulfills everything a designer aspires to. 文法

滿足了設計師所渴望的一切。

But you might still hate it.

但你可能仍然討厭它。

And this is where context comes back to play.

而這就又回到了上下文語境的問題。

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

我們如何解讀一個設計，取決於我們對它的了解，

and what it reminds us of.

以及它讓我們想起了什麼。

Maybe we just don't value it enough.

也許我們只是不夠重視它。

These white plastic chairs are everywhere.

這些白色塑膠椅子無處不在。

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

所以我們不妨開始喜歡它們。

Thank you so much for watching.

非常感謝您的觀看。

I hope you enjoyed it.

希望你喜歡這個影片。

If you did, please leave a like and subscribe.

如果喜歡，請點讚並訂閱。

That way you support more videos like this.

這樣您就能支持更多類似的影片。

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

另外，如果您想了解更多關於這個話題的資訊，

check out the video description for some links

請查看影片描述中的一些連結，

to articles that were really helpful in making this video.

這些文章在製作這段影片時非常有幫助。