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职业技能被淘汰的X世代
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职业技能被淘汰的X世代
如果你在90年代进入传媒或图像制作领域，那么你现在很可能已经在从事其他工作了。 
双语精读
If you entered media or image-making in the '90s - magazine publishing, newspaper journalism, photography, graphic design, advertising, music, film, TV - there's a good chance that you are now doing something else for work.
如果你在90年代进入传媒或图像制作领域——杂志出版、报纸新闻、摄影、平面设计、广告、音乐、电影、电视——那么你现在很可能已经在从事其他工作了。
That's because those industries have shrunk or transformed themselves radically, shutting out those whose skills were once in high demand.
这是因为这些行业已经萎缩或发生了巨变，一些人的技能在过去有很大的市场需求，现在却被行业拒之门外。
Talk with people in their late 40s and 50s who once imagined they would be able to achieve great heights - or at least a solid career while flexing their creative muscles - and you are likely to hear about the photographer whose work dried up, the designer who can't get hired or the magazine journalist who isn't doing much of anything.
如果你与四五十岁的人交谈，他们曾以为自己能攀上事业高峰，或至少能在发挥创造力的同时拥有一份稳定的职业，那么你很可能会听到摄影师说自己的工作来源枯竭、设计师说自己找不到工作、杂志记者说自己无事可做。
Gen X-ers grew up as the younger siblings of the baby boomers, but the media landscape of their early adult years closely resembled that of the 1950s: a tactile analog environment of landline telephones, tube TV sets, vinyl records, glossy magazines and newspapers that left ink on your hands.
X世代是婴儿潮一代的弟弟妹妹，但他们年轻时候的媒体格局与20世纪50年代极为相似：那是一个由有线电话、显像管电视机、黑胶唱片、光面杂志、会在手上留下油墨的报纸构成的实体可触、没有网络的世界。
When digital technology began seeping into their lives, with its AOL email accounts, Myspace pages and Napster downloads, it didn't seem like a threat. But by the time they entered the primes of their careers, much of their expertise had become all but obsolete.
当数字技术开始渗入他们的生活，带来AOL电子邮箱、Myspace社交网页、Napster音乐下载器时，这似乎并不构成威胁。但当他们步入职业生涯的黄金期时，他们的大部分专业知识几乎都已过时。
When photography went digital, photo lab technicians and manual retouchers were suddenly as inessential as medieval scribes. The ubiquity of smartphone cameras and easy-to-use editing software made those in possession of the old skills seem almost quaint.
当胶片摄影变成数码相机，照相馆技师和手工修图师突然变得像中世纪抄写员一样无足轻重。智能手机摄像头的普及和易于使用的编辑软件让那些掌握传统技能的人几乎变成了老古董。
As opportunities and incomes dwindle, Gen X-ers in creative fields are weighing their options. Move to a lower-cost place and remain committed to the work you love? Look for a bland corporate job that might provide health insurance and a steady paycheck until retirement?
随着机会和收入减少，创意行业的X世代正在权衡他们的选择。搬到成本更低的地方，继续投身于你热爱的工作？还是找一份能交医保和稳定发工资的乏味公司工作，直到退休？
Mr. Gentile, the former photo studio manager at Condé Nast, went through something similar. The company was cutting costs as the consultancy McKinsey & Company roamed the halls, and he came face to face with his own irrelevance.
前康泰纳仕集团摄影工作室经理詹蒂莱经历了类似的事情。随着麦肯锡咨询公司在大楼里巡视，康泰纳仕正在削减成本，他直面了自己的无足轻重。
He was 40, with an artistic background. "Who would hire me?" he thought. "Maybe this is where I jump off." As a sideline, Mr. Gentile, an avid surfer, had opened a surf shop, Pilgrim, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
他当时40岁，有艺术背景。“谁会雇我呢？”他想，“也许我该离开了。”作为副业，热衷冲浪的詹蒂莱在纽约布鲁克林区威廉斯堡开了一家名为“朝圣者”的冲浪用品店。
He quit his day job and dedicated himself to the store. "One thing I'm grateful for, and it's a strength of my generation, is we weren't promised anything," Mr. Gentile said. "I was prepared to struggle."
他辞去了正式工作，全身心投入到店铺中。“我感激的一件事，也是我们这一代人的优势，就是世界没有给我们承诺过任何东西，”詹蒂莱说，“我生来就准备好去奋斗。”
词汇预习
- threat [高考]
美[θret] | 英[θret]
n. 威胁；恐吓；凶兆 - artistic [高考]
美[ɑːrˈtɪstɪk] | 英[ɑːˈtɪstɪk]
adj. 艺术的 - corporate [高考]
美[ˈkɔːrpərət] | 英[ˈkɔːpərət]
adj. 法人的；公司的；社团的；共同的；全体的 - landscape [高考]
美[ˈlændskeɪp] | 英[ˈlændskeɪp]
n. 风景；风景画；山水；[计]横向
v. 美化景观 - retirement [高考]
美[rɪˈtaɪərmənt] | 英[rɪˈtaɪəmənt]
n. 退休；隐匿处 - manual [高考]
美[ˈmænjuəl] | 英[ˈmænjuəl]
adj. 手工的；体力的
n. 指南；手册；键盘 - bland [高考]
美[blænd] | 英[blænd]
adj. 温和的；不油腻的；引不起兴趣的；平淡无奇的 - demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求
v. 要求；查问；需要 - media [高考]
美[ˈmiːdiə] | 英[ˈmiːdiə]
n. 传播媒介；(medium的复数)媒体；新闻媒介 - generation [高考]
美[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn] | 英[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn]
n. 一代（人）；一代人的时间；（产品发展的）代；产生 - struggle [高考]
美[ˈstrʌɡl] | 英[ˈstrʌɡl]
vi. 努力；奋斗；斗争；挣扎
n. 斗争；竞争；奋斗 - hire [高考]
美[ˈhaɪər] | 英[ˈhaɪə(r)]
v. 雇用；出租
n. 租金；雇用；租用 - quit [高考]
美[kwɪt] | 英[kwɪt]
v. 停止；离开；退出；辞职
n. 离开；[计] 退出
adj. 摆脱了…的；已经了结的 - grateful [高考]
美[ˈɡreɪtfl] | 英[ˈɡreɪtfl]
adj. 感激的；令人愉快的 - former [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrmər] | 英[ˈfɔːmə(r)]
adj. 前者的；前任的；以前的
n. 创造者；[英]学校某一年级的学生 - tube [高考]
美[tuːb] | 英[tjuːb]
n. 管，管子；管状物；管状容器；管状器官；[英]（伦敦）地铁；[美]电视机
vt. 使成管状；把…装管；用管输送
vi. 乘地铁；不及格 - steady [高考]
美[ˈstedi] | 英[ˈstedi]
adj.稳定的；稳固的；坚定的
v.使稳固；使稳定；(变得)稳固；使坚定
adv.稳定地，稳固地
n. 关系固定的情侣 ；固定支架 - insurance [高考]
美[ɪnˈʃʊrəns] | 英[ɪnˈʃʊərəns]
n. 保险；保险费；安全保障 - journalist [高考]
美[ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst] | 英[ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst]
n. 记者；新闻工作者 - software [高考]
美[ˈsɔːftwer] | 英[ˈsɒftweə(r)]
n. 软件 - possession [高考]
美[pəˈzeʃn] | 英[pəˈzeʃn]
n. 拥有；财产；所有；殖民地 - face to face [高考]
美[ˌfeɪs tə ˈfeɪs] | 英[ˌfeɪs tə ˈfeɪs]
面对面地 - lower [高考]
美[ˈloʊər] | 英[ˈləʊə(r)]
adj. 低的；下级的；下层的
v. 降低；减弱；跌落 - dedicated [高考]
美[ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd] | 英[ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd]
adj. 专注的；献身的；专用的 - expertise [高考]
美[ˌekspɜːrˈtiːz] | 英[ˌekspɜːˈtiːz]
n. 专门知识；专门技术；专家的意见 - glossy [高考]
美[ˈɡlɑːsi] | 英[ˈɡlɒsi]
adj. 光滑的；有光泽的 - medieval [高考]
美[ˌmediˈiːvl] | 英[ˌmediˈiːvl]
adj. 中世纪的 - where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里；在那个地方
conj. 在 ... 地方 - would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式 - email [四级]
美['imeɪl] | 英['i:meɪl]
vt. 发电子邮件；给……发电子邮件
n. 电子邮件，电子信函 - journalism [四级]
美[ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪzəm] | 英[ˈdʒɜːnəlɪzəm]
n. 新闻工作；新闻业；新闻写作 - radically [四级]
美[ˈrædɪkli] | 英['rædɪkli]
adv. 根本地；完全地；过激地 - easy-to-use [四级]
美['izit'əj'us] | 英['i:zi:t'əj'u:s]
容易使用 - graphic [四级]
美[ˈɡræfɪk] | 英[ˈɡræfɪk]
adj. 生动的；图表的
n. 图表 - advertising [四级]
美[ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ] | 英[ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ]
n. 广告；广告业 - all but [六级]
美[ɔl bʌt] | 英[ɔ:l bʌt]
几乎； 差一点 - smartphone [六级]
美[ˈsmɑːrtfoʊn] | 英
n.智能手机 - obsolete [专四]
美[ˌɑːbsəˈliːt] | 英[ˈɒbsəliːt]
adj. 已废弃的；过时的 - dwindle [专四]
美[ˈdwɪndl] | 英[ˈdwɪndl]
v. 减少；缩小 - quaint [专八]
美[kweɪnt] | 英[kweɪnt]
adj. 离奇有趣的；古色古香的；古怪的 - avid [专八]
美[ˈævɪd] | 英[ˈævɪd]
adj. 渴望的；贪婪的；热心的 - paycheck [考研]
美[ˈpeˌtʃɛk] | 英['peɪtʃek]
n. 薪水支票；工资 - tactile [托福]
美[ˈtæktl] | 英[ˈtæktaɪl]
adj. 触觉的；有触觉的；能触知的
重点讲解
If you entered media or image-making in the ’90s — magazine publishing, newspaper journalism, photography, graphic design, advertising, music, film, TV — there’s a good chance that you are now doing something else for work.
如果你在90年代进入传媒或图像制作领域——杂志出版、报纸新闻、摄影、平面设计、广告、音乐、电影、电视——那么你现在很可能已经在从事其他工作了。
be in demand 需求大
【例】Good secretaries are always in demand.
优秀的秘书总是很抢手。
【辨析】on demand 一经要求就……
【例】Books can be printed on demand in the library.
图书馆里的书若有需求，即可复印。
That’s because those industries have shrunk or transformed themselves radically, shutting out those whose skills were once in high demand.
这是因为这些行业已经萎缩或发生了巨变，一些人的技能在过去有很大的市场需求，现在却被行业拒之门外。
be in demand 需求大
【例】Good secretaries are always in demand.
优秀的秘书总是很抢手。
【辨析】on demand 一经要求就……
【例】Books can be printed on demand in the library.
图书馆里的书若有需求，即可复印。
Talk with people in their late 40s and 50s who once imagined they would be able to achieve great heights — or at least a solid career while flexing their creative muscles — and you are likely to hear about the photographer whose work dried up, the designer who can’t get hired or the magazine journalist who isn’t doing much of anything.
如果你与四五十岁的人交谈，他们曾以为自己能攀上事业高峰，或至少能在发挥创造力的同时拥有一份稳定的职业，那么你很可能会听到摄影师说自己的工作来源枯竭、设计师说自己找不到工作、杂志记者说自己无事可做。
flex one’s muscles
1. 屈伸胳膊；活动肌肉
【例】He stood on the side of the pool flexing his muscles.
他站在游泳池旁活动肌肉。
2. 秀肌肉；炫耀实力
【例】The country is flexing its military muscles.
该国在显示军事实力。
Gen X-ers grew up as the younger siblings of the baby boomers, but the media landscape of their early adult years closely resembled that of the 1950s: a tactile analog environment of landline telephones, tube TV sets, vinyl records, glossy magazines and newspapers that left ink on your hands.
X世代是婴儿潮一代的弟弟妹妹，但他们年轻时候的媒体格局与20世纪50年代极为相似：那是一个由有线电话、显像管电视机、黑胶唱片、光面杂志、会在手上留下油墨的报纸构成的实体可触、没有网络的世界。
tactile adj. 有触觉的；可触摸的
【例】tactile symbols (盲人的)摸读符号
【近义词】touchable adj. 可触摸的
tangible adj. 可触摸的；有形的；实体的
When digital technology began seeping into their lives, with its AOL email accounts, Myspace pages and Napster downloads, it didn’t seem like a threat. But by the time they entered the primes of their careers, much of their expertise had become all but obsolete.
当数字技术开始渗入他们的生活，带来AOL电子邮箱、Myspace社交网页、Napster音乐下载器时，这似乎并不构成威胁。但当他们步入职业生涯的黄金期时，他们的大部分专业知识几乎都已过时。
prime n. & adj.
1. 作名词：鼎盛时期；黄金时期
【例】a young woman in her prime 正当妙龄的女郎
the prime of your life 一生中的黄金时期
2. 作形容词：首要的；最优的
【例】our prime concern 我们的首要关切
a prime position in the mall 商场的黄金地段
obsolete adj. 过时的；被淘汰的
【例】obsolete technology 过时的技术
【近义词】outdated/out-of-date adj. 过时的
【反义词】cutting-edge/up-to-date adj. 最先进的
When photography went digital, photo lab technicians and manual retouchers were suddenly as inessential as medieval scribes. The ubiquity of smartphone cameras and easy-to-use editing software made those in possession of the old skills seem almost quaint.
当胶片摄影变成数码相机，照相馆技师和手工修图师突然变得像中世纪抄写员一样无足轻重。智能手机摄像头的普及和易于使用的编辑软件让那些掌握传统技能的人几乎变成了老古董。
manual adj. 手动的；体力的
【例】a manual transmission vehicle 手动挡汽车
manual and non-manual workers
体力劳动者和非体力劳动者
As opportunities and incomes dwindle, Gen X-ers in creative fields are weighing their options. Move to a lower-cost place and remain committed to the work you love? Look for a bland corporate job that might provide health insurance and a steady paycheck until retirement?
随着机会和收入减少，创意行业的X世代正在权衡他们的选择。搬到成本更低的地方，继续投身于你热爱的工作？还是找一份能交医保和稳定发工资的乏味公司工作，直到退休？
weigh v. 称重；权衡
【例】to weigh the pros and cons 权衡利弊
to weigh the benefits against the risks 权衡收益与风险
【搭配】weigh in with sth 发表有分量的言论
【例】We all weighed in with our suggestions.
我们都提出了有分量的建议。
go through sth 经历某事（尤指坏事）
【例】She has been going through a difficult time since her mother’s illness.
自从她母亲生病，她经历了很艰难的日子。
【近义词】undergo v. 经历；遭受（坏事）
【例】to undergo a major surgery 做了大手术
Mr. Gentile, the former photo studio manager at Condé Nast, went through something similar. The company was cutting costs as the consultancy McKinsey & Company roamed the halls, and he came face to face with his own irrelevance.
前康泰纳仕集团摄影工作室经理詹蒂莱经历了类似的事情。随着麦肯锡咨询公司在大楼里巡视，康泰纳仕正在削减成本，他直面了自己的无足轻重。
weigh v. 称重；权衡
【例】to weigh the pros and cons 权衡利弊
to weigh the benefits against the risks 权衡收益与风险
【搭配】weigh in with sth 发表有分量的言论
【例】We all weighed in with our suggestions.
我们都提出了有分量的建议。
go through sth 经历某事（尤指坏事）
【例】She has been going through a difficult time since her mother’s illness.
自从她母亲生病，她经历了很艰难的日子。
【近义词】undergo v. 经历；遭受（坏事）
【例】to undergo a major surgery 做了大手术
He was 40, with an artistic background. “Who would hire me?” he thought. “Maybe this is where I jump off.” As a sideline, Mr. Gentile, an avid surfer, had opened a surf shop, Pilgrim, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
他当时40岁，有艺术背景。“谁会雇我呢？”他想，“也许我该离开了。”作为副业，热衷冲浪的詹蒂莱在纽约布鲁克林区威廉斯堡开了一家名为“朝圣者”的冲浪用品店。
sideline n. 副业；兼职
【例】She is doctor, but she also writes web novels as a sideline.
她是医生，但是作为副业她也写网文。
【近义词】side hustle 副业
on the side 作为副业
He quit his day job and dedicated himself to the store. “One thing I’m grateful for, and it’s a strength of my generation, is we weren’t promised anything,” Mr. Gentile said. “I was prepared to struggle.”
他辞去了正式工作，全身心投入到店铺中。“我感激的一件事，也是我们这一代人的优势，就是世界没有给我们承诺过任何东西，”詹蒂莱说，“我生来就准备好去奋斗。”
sideline n. 副业；兼职
【例】She is doctor, but she also writes web novels as a sideline.
她是医生，但是作为副业她也写网文。
【近义词】side hustle 副业
on the side 作为副业
课后练习
What is the current situation of 40- and 50-year-old people in creative industries?
A. They are thriving in their long-term careers.
B. They are adapting well to the industrial changes.
C. Most have achieved great heights in their creative fields.
D. Many have changed jobs due to the shrink of the industry.What did the media landscape look like in the early adulthood of Gen X-ers?
A. A fully digital environment with smartphones and social media.
B. A tangible environment featuring press and pre-internet media.
C. An era of dramatic transformation and technological innovation.
D. An era of scarce cultural resources and inconvenient communication.What happened to Gen Xers when they entered the primes of their careers?
A. Their traditional skills became largely obsolete due to digital technology.
B. They quickly adapted to new digital tools and thrived in their fields.
C. The demand for their expertise in analog technologies increased.
D. They dominated the job market by combining old and new skills.How did Gentile feel about his choice of resigning and running a shop instead?
A. Regretful and uncertain about the future.
B. Helpless about his irrelevance in the industry.
C. Grateful and prepared for the challenges ahead.
D. Ambitious to achieve success in his new venture.
