BBC随身英语:Spy Undercover 007的性感魅力

Christoph Lindner, author of The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader, says: "He can have something closer to an emotional relationship but the Bond format can't allow that to endure."

What use, after all, would a monogamous, committed, psychologically secure 007 be? Audiences seem to make all sorts of allowances for this ladies' man.

"At his core he remains the same as he was when Ian Fleming started writing - he's sexist, he's misogynist," says Lindner.

It's an unreal world, in which a series of attractive women essentially revolve around and invariably give in to the charms of the hero.

Fans insist its entire basis is as a modern fantasy - and suspension of disbelief is required during the bedroom scenes just as much as it is for the fights, car chases, gadgets and super-villains.

And the fantasy is reinforced by the statistics. A 2009 study of the film series for the journal 'Sex Roles' found that 007 had enjoyed "strong" sexual contact with 46 women until 2002's Die Another Day. The fictional character is miles ahead his real countrymen.

A 2011 Health Survey for England found that the average man reported 9.3 sexual partners in their lifetime.

Quiz 测验 What”s the title of the next James Bond movie?

Skyfall

Look at the article. Why is the character still single?

According to the article, it is the conventions of the series that keep him single, and not his womanising.

Is the following statement true, false or not given? James Bond is no longer the sexist and misogynist character created by Ian Fleming.

False. The author of a book about James Bond, Christoph Lindner, quoted in the article, says the character remains the same as he was when Ian Fleming started writing about the fictional spy, who was sexist and misogynist.

What word means attractive qualities that are appealing to others?

Charms.

What expression is used to refer to watching something without questioning if it is possible?

Suspension of disbelief

Glossary 词汇表 a chat up line搭讪语 the silver screen银幕 cheesy俗气的 to shake摇动 to stir搅拌 to womanise 追求女色 the appeal吸引力 convention常规，习俗 shortcomings短处，缺点 objects of his affections他的感情对象 emotional relationship情感关系 monogamous一夫一妻制的 committed忠诚\的 ladies” man讨女人喜欢的男人 sexist性别歧视的 misogynist厌恶女人的人 to give in屈服，投降 the charms魅力 suspension of disbelief难以置信的悬念