Performing Civility

出版者:Cambridge University Press

作者:Lisa McCormick

页数:280

出版时间:2015-9-30

价格:USD 99.00

装帧:Hardcover

isbn号码:9781107100862

具体描述

Although competitions in classical music have a long history, the number of contests has risen dramatically since the Second World War, all of them aiming to launch young artists' careers. This is not the symptom of marketization that it might appear to be. Despite the establishment of an international governing body, competitions are plagued by rumors of corruption, and even the most mathematically sophisticated voting system cannot quell accusations that the best talent is overlooked. Why do musicians take part? Why do audiences care so much about who wins? Performing Civility is the first book to address these questions. In this groundbreaking study, Lisa McCormick draws from firsthand observations of contests in Europe and the US, in-depth interviews with competitors, jurors and directors, as well as blog data from competition observers to argue that competitions have endured because they are not only about music, they are also about civility.

Review

"Offering a peek into the fascinating world of international classical music competitions, Lisa McCormick's Performing Civility highlights the sociological tension between combat and civility. A rich, masterful study of performing, judging, and listening. Bravo!"

Eviatar Zerubavel, Rutgers University

"Music competitions, as Lisa McCormick shows us in this very clever book, place music and civility in contradiction. This contradiction gets played out as judges, musicians and audiences are converted into publics engaged in debate over what should count as talent, beauty, and perfection. Performing Civility will be of interest to cultural sociologists, political scientists, musicians, and anyone who aspires to be a member of civil society, musically conceived."

Tia DeNora, Exeter University

Book Description

Lisa McCormick considers the history of classical music competitions and their role in society by examining their highlights and ongoing controversies. She explains why, despite a widespread belief that performances cannot be ranked, aspiring musicians still enter them, professionals still judge them and audiences still invest emotionally in the results.

作者简介

Dr Lisa McCormick is a cultural sociologist who specialises in the sociology of music. During her residency at the Centre for Death & Society from 03 June to 20 August 2013, she will be working on a new project about music at contemporary funeral services.

McCormick‘s work in cultural sociology can be divided into two themes. The first, music and civility, includes her research on international classical music competitions, symphonic diplomacy, and the musical public in China. The second, music and death, includes her research on the dead composer cult in classical music, the expanding range of music played at contemporary funerals, and the role of sound technologies in the transformation of mourning. What unites these two strands is her interest in meaning and performance.

用户评价

这是一本极具思辨性的读物，它对当代社会中“效率至上”文化对人际关系侵蚀的批判，直击痛点。作者尖锐地指出，现代人常常为了追求速度和结果，牺牲了交往中的“过程美学”，导致人与人之间关系日益疏离、表面化。书中花了相当大的篇幅探讨了“数字时代的礼仪缺失”，比如在即时通讯工具中，回复延迟是否构成不尊重，以及表情符号的使用规范等，这些都是当下我们每天都在面对的困惑。我尤其欣赏作者在提出问题后，并没有给出绝对化的答案，而是鼓励读者进行自我审视和判断。这种开放式的讨论，使得这本书的生命力很强，不会随着时间推移而过时。它像一面镜子，照出了我们不愿承认的社交惰性，迫使我们停下来思考：我们所追求的“效率”，是否正在以牺牲我们与他人建立深度联系的能力为代价？

最近读了一本关于人际交往和职场礼仪的书，书名有点像《文明之举》，具体名字记不太清了，但它给我留下了非常深刻的印象。这本书的内容非常贴近生活，几乎可以当作一本“行为指南”来使用。它探讨的不仅仅是表面的礼貌，而是深入到如何在一个复杂的社会环境中保持得体、高效的沟通。我特别喜欢其中关于“倾听的艺术”那一章，作者用了很多生动的案例来阐述，比如在商务会议中，如何通过非语言信号来表达尊重，而不是一味地打断别人。书里提到一个观点，真正的礼貌不是为了取悦他人，而是为了维护双方的尊严和效率。这一点让我深受启发，尤其是在处理一些棘手的客户关系时，我尝试运用书中学到的技巧，效果立竿见影。它让我意识到，很多时候人与人之间的矛盾，源于沟通中的微小失误，而这本书恰好提供了一套系统的解决方案。它不是空泛的理论，而是充满了实操性的建议，比如如何撰写一封得体的拒绝邮件，或者如何在压力下保持冷静的语气。

这本书的价值远超出一本普通的礼仪手册，它更像是一部关于“如何做一个完整的人”的哲学小册子。我从中学到的最重要的一课是关于“不完美中的优雅”。作者坦承，人无完人，偶尔的失误在所难免，关键在于如何得体地处理这些尴尬的时刻。比如，当你不小心失言时，书中提供了一套快速、真诚的“撤回与修复”策略，这比事后一味地道歉要有效得多。此外，书中对不同年龄层、不同职业群体的社交场景进行了细致的划分，提供了大量极具针对性的建议，使得书中的内容可以即学即用。它的行文流畅，富有音乐感，仿佛作者在用一种近乎诗意的语言，描绘着人与人之间最美好的连接状态。读完之后，我感觉自己不仅学会了更多的社交技巧，更重要的是，收获了一种更平和、更具同理心的世界观，愿意以更宽容的态度去面对他人的“不完美”。

坦白说，我一开始对这类书籍是抱持着怀疑态度的，总觉得无非就是老生常谈的那些“请、谢谢、对不起”。然而，这本书完全颠覆了我的预设。它关注的焦点，从“行为规范”转向了“内在心态的塑造”。书中有一段关于“同理心式回应”的描述，我至今记忆犹新：它强调在表达反对意见时，必须先完整复述对方的观点，确保对方感到被理解，然后再提出自己的看法。这个小小的技巧，极大地降低了沟通的对抗性。更重要的是，作者引导我们去反思，为什么我们有时候会表现出不礼貌的行为——往往是因为我们内心处于一种防御或焦虑的状态。因此，这本书与其说是在教你如何“表演”礼貌，不如说是在帮你清理内心的“杂草”，从而自然而然地流露出尊重。对于长期处于高压工作环境、需要不断与人交涉的职场人士来说，这本书简直就是一剂强心针，它教会我们如何保持强大的内心，并将其转化为优雅的外在表现。

这本书的叙事风格真是别开生面，它没有采用那种枯燥的说教方式，反而更像一位经验丰富的导师在耳边娓娓道来。我之所以这么说，是因为它大量运用了历史典故和哲学思辨来佐证观点，这使得整个阅读过程充满了智力上的愉悦。比如，作者追溯了西方礼仪的起源，探讨了不同文化背景下“尊重”的定义差异，这极大地拓宽了我的视野。我以前总觉得礼仪就是一套固定不变的规则，但读完后才明白，它更像是一种流动的、需要我们根据具体情境进行调整的“社会润滑剂”。书中关于“界限感”的讨论尤为精彩，它清晰地区分了“亲密”与“职业”之间的那条微妙的红线，教你如何在不显得冷漠的前提下，坚守自己的底线。这本书的排版和用词也很有品味，读起来让人心旷神怡，完全没有那种阅读工具书的疲惫感。它更像是精心酿造的一杯茶，需要慢慢品味其中的回甘。