VOA标准英语2010年-Steamy Soaps Have Turkish Audiences in

Cevik (L) acts as Niko and Nehir Erdogan as Nazli (R) on the set of the Turkish soap opera "Foreign Bridegroom" in Istanbul, 11 Mar¹ 2005

Turkey's appetite for romance and drama is well documented in its love for the more than 60 TV soap operas currently being broadcast in the country.  And the tawdrier the better, it seems. But not everyone is a fan.  Some factions² within the government are promising³ to bring the soaps under control.

For Cemile Kaptan, 30, it is another day and the beginning of another TV soap opera.  Like with so many episodes, it's about forbidden relationships.  And for Kaptan and much of Turkey, these programs have become a central part of life.

"I am watching them because I cannot think about anything else," she said.  "I cannot think about my problems.  I cannot think about where Turkey is really going.  I cannot think about anything.  But I am just concentrated on that.  I actually watch something every night, sometimes two.  I know that it's stupid, especially these love stories, and guys being with their uncle's wives.  There is a guy who's sleeping with both sisters.  So it's stupid and I am happy with that because my brain is not working.  It's actually a drug."

Through the small screen, Turkish television soap operas have a big influence at dinner tables,  boardrooms and in parliament, where lawmakers reportedly sometimes leave the debating chamber⁴ to watch their favorite programs.

TV 8's chief, Haluk Sahin, says soap operas have become the lifeblood to the more than 50 television channels in Turkey.  He says sex sells best.

"Once a series is successful, all the other channels start to imitate that particular story line," said Sahin.  "There is this spiral to get more and more risqué in the response to the need for larger audiences.  The main thing that counts, in this market, is the ratings you get.  And, ratings mean money.  The Turkish advertising⁵ pie has been growing and is now approaching $4 billion."

But not everyone is as enthusiastic.  Turkey, although secular⁶, is overwhelmingly Muslim and largely conservative.

The ruling AK party has its roots in Islam and its minister for family affairs, Selma Aliye Kavaf, says these programs are out of control and are threatening the country's social fabric⁷.

Kavaf says it is important to protect and sustain the significance of families and their role in the transfer of values.  She says certain TV programs have a harmful effect on the dignity of children and the family.  There are ways of controlling the broadcasting of these programs and, she says, the government is considering new ways to do so.

Already, many soaps have been fined for their erotic content.  But Kavaf is taking it a step further by creating a committee called the "Adult Monitoring Board Against Obscenity."  The board will have powers to ban specific episodes of soap operas if they violate the code protecting morality and the family.  In their place, television channels would air programs that advocate family values. 

But TV 8's Haluk Sahin says the minister is playing to her party supporters and he doubts that she would enforce the regulations.

"There have been outcries of pornography or immorality⁸ in response some of these scenes," added Sahin.  "But these also are the scenes that have attracted the greatest audiences.  People complain, but they watch."

Back at the home of Cemile Kaptan, after nearly three hours, the latest episode of her soap has finally finished.  It was a good episode, she says, because the lead character finally seduced⁹ his brother's wife.  Kaptan says banning these programs is unthinkable.

"What would be the reaction?  People would go just out of their minds because everybody is thinking like me," said Kaptan.  "Why does everybody watch them?  They can't ban them; they cannot ban them."

With a general election due in less than a year, many analysts¹⁰ say such optimism is well placed.  They say that with the ruling AK party facing a rejuvenated¹¹ opposition¹², the last thing the party needs is outraged¹³ viewers, many of whom are its own parliamentary deputies.

 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

6 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

7 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

8 immorality   

n. 不道德, 无道义

参考例句：

• All the churchmen have preached against immorality. 所有牧师都讲道反对不道德的行为。
• Where the European sees immorality and lawlessness, strict law rules in reality. 在欧洲人视为不道德和无规则的地方，事实上都盛行着一种严格的规则。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

9 seduced   

诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷

参考例句：

• The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 rejuvenated   

更生的

参考例句：

• He was rejuvenated by new hope. 新的希望又使他充满了活力。
• She looked rejuvenated after plastic surgery. 她做完整形手术后显得年轻了。

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。