How Art Made The World 说服的艺术 -02

…advantage. With just 12 hours to go, they ordered the original stage to be ripped out and a brand-new one built in its place. What they came up with was a modern masterpiece. The president's team drew on a set of visual techniques that leaders had been using for thousands of years. He walked to the stage alone, a commanding leader, confident and in control.The set was simple, but dominated by the symbols of his power. He was raised slightly above the crowd, but still stood amongst them, and they ensured that the cameras captured the conviction on his face. The effect was electrifying¹. Here was a man who was strong but caring, a powerful leader close to his people, the compassionate² head of a family at war.

Thank you all.

His advisers³ had succeeded. The scene recreated those iconic images so familiar to every American.

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you.

And the strategy worked, George Bush shot ahead in the polls and he stayed ahead until the election was won.

But why did it work? How do politicians use images to persuade us often without us even knowing it? The only way of understanding this is to uncover how these powerful visual techniques were invented by leaders thousands of years ago.

There was a time when our ancestors lived in small communities. Leaders were the heads of families or clan⁴s. Every one knew them. They had little need of any artistic⁶ devices to communicate their power.


words to remember:

1. clan: A division of a tribe tracing descent from a common ancestor.氏族

2. communicate: To convey information about; make known; impart. 传达

1 electrifying   

v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 )；使兴奋

参考例句：

• The dancers gave an electrifying performance. 舞蹈演员们的表演激动人心。
• The national orchestra gave an electrifying performance of classic music. 国家交响乐团举行了一次古典音乐的震撼性演出。 来自辞典例句

2 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

3 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

4 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

5 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。