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Argument for awards
It’s always exciting every year in October when the Nobel Prizes are announced. We get to witness the acknowledgement (表彰) of some of humankind’s greatest minds in six fields – literature (文学), medicine, physics, chemistry, economics and activism for peace.
This year, however, part of the excitement will be taken away, since there won’t be a Nobel Prize in literature due to the fact that the Swedish Academy – the institution (机构) that awards the prize – was involved in a sexual harassment scandal.
People worry that a scandal like this will affect the reputation of the Nobel Prizes. But at the same time, we have to ask ourselves whether we really need these awards after all.
According to Jana Gallus, an economist from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, one of the reasons that people give out awards is to establish a legacy (遗产). In the case of the Nobel Prizes, they encourage people to achieve more by acknowledging the hard work of top figures in different fields.
Awards may also help establish standards of what’s considered high quality. For example, if you’re having a hard time deciding which movie to watch, one of them having an Oscar under its belt will probably help you to make your mind up. And by reading the books that have won The Man Booker Prize or listening to songs that have been awarded a Grammy, you get an idea about what “great” literature and music look and sound like – at least in the eyes of judging panels (评审团).
Sure, awards can backfire. There was the OscarsSoWhite movement in 2015 and 2016, when it turned out that all 20 actors nominated (提名) for two years in a row were white. There was also the GrammysSoMale movement in January, when Alessia Cara was the only woman to win a solo Grammy this year. But still, it was these incidents that brought the problems of racism (种族歧视) and gender (性别) inequality into the public eye once more. And with influential voices – like that of black actor Will Smith, who refused to attend the Oscars ceremony – the problems became more likely to be noticed and dealt with instead of being buried silently, again.
Maybe these awards do matter, and we do need them – just not while they are under the shadow of a sexual harassment scandal.
So when it comes to this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature, I’m going to have to say: “No, thanks.”
BY CHEN XUE, 21ST CENTURY TEENS STAFF
1. What does Jana Gallus think is one purpose of giving out awards?
A. To honor important figures in history. B. To pass down a long-established tradition.
C. To draw attention to social problems. D. To encourage people to make achievements.
2. Some famous awards are mentioned in Paragraph 5 to ______.
A. give advice on how to choose movies, books and songs
B. show how something with an award can be a sign of quality
C. show how awards are related to people’s daily life
D. point out that judging panels are sometimes wrong
3. The underlined word “backfire” in Paragraph 6 probably means ______.
A. go to the wrong person B. fail to be given out
C. have an unwanted result D. receive wide recognition
4. What’s the author’s attitude toward the canceling of this year’s Nobe l Prize in Literature?
A. Supportive. B. Doubtful. C. Disappointed. D. Unconcerned.
