鎖定如何改變閱讀習慣
人們在閱讀中尋求更多的安全性
. 安德里·科布林/ Shutterstock

During times of crisis, people find themselves faced with lifestyle changes.在危機時期,人們發現自己面臨著生活方式的改變。 One of the earliest and most noticeable changes seen during the COVID-19 lockdown was how we consume media — and especially how we read.在COVID-XNUMX鎖定期間出現的最早且最明顯的變化之一是我們如何消費媒體-尤其是我們如何閱讀媒體。

人們往往會發現 某些書中的安慰以及閱讀習慣和體裁偏好 可以改變 during periods of stress.在壓力時期。 This helps to explain why much genre fiction has roots in times of significant social, political or economic upheaval.這有助於解釋為什麼很多類型小說都源於重大的社會,政治或經濟動盪時期。 Gothic literature is, in part, a British Protestant哥特文學部分是英國新教徒 回應 法國大革命(1789-99)。

科幻小說,作為一種類型出現在 findesiècle受到工業革命和 理論 of Charles Darwin.查爾斯·達爾文The的 艱苦的偵探故事它出現於1930年代,其靈感來自大蕭條的匱乏。

While it's still relatively early to see the influence of the coronavirus and the lockdown on creative industries, there were some striking patterns in media consumption in the early part of the pandemic.儘管現在還很早就看到冠狀病毒和封鎖對創意產業的影響,但在大流行初期,媒體消費有一些驚人的模式。 Books about (literal and metaphorical) isolation, like Sylvia Plath's有關(文字和隱喻)隔離的書籍,例如Sylvia Plath的 鐘罩 和加布里埃爾·加西亞·馬克斯(GabrielGarcíaMarquez)的小說 百年孤獨在霍亂時期的愛情 在那些看到一個 銷量大增。 (除了書本, 恐怖盛行; in particular, films about global pandemics such as特別是有關全球流行病的電影,例如 28天之後, 傳染性暴發 是流媒體服務租金最高的地區之一。)


內在自我訂閱圖形


In view of these patterns of changing reading habits during times of upheaval and signs that such changes were happening during COVID-19, our team decided to research reading habits among the UK public.鑑於劇變期間閱讀習慣發生變化的這些模式以及在COVID-XNUMX期間發生這種變化的跡象,我們的團隊決定研究英國公眾的閱讀習慣。 We were particularly interested in the following questions about the effects of the pandemic:我們對以下有關大流行病影響的問題特別感興趣:

  1. 有多少人在讀書;

  2. 人們一直在閱讀什麼類型的文本?

  3. 人們在多大程度上已經恢復了以前看過的書。

As many as 860 participants took part in our online survey, which was advertised through social media.多達19名參與者參加了我們的在線調查,該調查通過社交媒體進行了廣告宣傳。 Our findings show that the COVID-XNUMX lockdown changed not only how people read during times of stress, but also what people turn to for comfort or distraction.我們的發現表明,COVID-XNUMX鎖定不僅改變了人們在壓力時期的閱讀方式,而且改變了人們尋求安慰或分散注意力的方式。

閱讀頻率

Respondents generally reported that they were reading more than usual.受訪者普遍表示,他們閱讀的內容比平常多。 This was largely due to having more free time (due to being furloughed, or not having a commute, or the usual social obligations or leisure activities).這主要是由於有更多的空閒時間(由於休假,沒有通勤或通常的社會義務或休閒活動)。

(由於鎖定已改變了閱讀習慣)那些照顧孩子的人報告說,他們花更多的時間與孩子一起閱讀。 rSnapshotPhotos / Shutterstock

This increased reading volume was complicated for those with caring responsibilities.對於負責任的人來說,閱讀量的增加非常複雜。 Many people with children reported that their reading time had increased generally because of their shared reading with children, but had less time than normal for personal reading.許多有孩子的人報告說,由於與孩子們共同閱讀,他們的閱讀時間總體上有所增加,但個人閱讀時間卻比平常少。

Reading frequency was further complicated by a quality vs quantity snag.質量與數量的障礙使閱讀頻率更加複雜。 People spent more time reading and seeking escape, but an inability to concentrate meant they made less progress than usual.人們花更多的時間閱讀和尋求逃生,但是無法專心致志意味著他們取得的進步比平常少。 In short, people spent more time reading but the volume they read was less.簡而言之,人們花費更多的時間閱讀,但閱讀量卻更少。

類型選擇

儘管 早期數字 showing spikes in interest for content about pandemics and isolation, it appears that people quickly tired of these topics.對大流行和孤立的內容的興趣激增,看來人們很快就厭倦了這些話題。 Many respondents sought out subject matter that was at least predictable, if not necessarily comforting.許多受訪者尋找的主題至少可以預見,即使不一定令人欣慰。 Many found solace in the “security” of more formulaic genres (whodunnits and other types of thrillers were often cited).許多人在較為規範的體裁的“安全性”中找到了慰藉(經常提到那些蠢貨和其他類型的驚悚片)。 Others found themselves significantly less picky about genre than they were before the lockdown: they read more, and more widely.其他人發現自己對類型的挑剔遠不如鎖定前那樣:他們閱讀更多,內容更廣泛。

許多人發現鎖定是一個很好的機會,可以探索他們通常沒有時間或渴望閱讀的東西(例如沉重而沉悶的經典,無法通勤)或填補其他知識空白(抗議)警察的殘酷和種族歧視經常被引為許多讀者尋求非白人作者更多文章的催化劑。

重讀

Much as with the choice of genre, readers generally fell into two camps: those that read for exploration and those that re-read for safety.與選擇類型一樣,讀者通常分為兩大陣營:為探索而讀書的人和為安全而重讀的人。 The re-readers found solace in previously read books: familiar plots and known emotional registers helped stressed-out readers avoid suspense and surprises.重讀者在以前閱讀的書中找到了安慰:熟悉的情節和已知的情感記錄幫助壓力大的讀者避免了懸念和驚喜。

Unsurprisingly, lockdown also made re-reading a physical necessity for some.毫不奇怪,鎖定還使某些人重新閱讀了身體上的必要性。 Some respondents noted how they were unable to visit the library or browse at the bookshop for new books.一些受訪者指出他們如何無法訪問圖書館或在書店瀏覽新書。 Others reported that they simply wished to save money.其他人則報告說,他們只是希望省錢。 On the other hand, the participants who reported re-reading less than normal during the lockdown period wanted to use their newfound time to seek out new topics and genres.另一方面,在鎖定期間報告的重讀少於正常水平的參與者希望利用他們新發現的時間來尋找新的話題和體裁。

兩組還使用不同的隱喻來描述他們的經歷:一些非重讀者談論時間是一種商品(例如,重視閱讀新事物),而重讀者討論了輕鬆旅行的能力,以及毫不費力地熟悉熟悉的地方,人物和經歷。

我們的研究 shows that the lockdown really did affect the reading habits of those who took part in our survey.表明鎖定確實確實影響了參與我們調查的人們的閱讀習慣。 But what might be the longer term implications of the lockdown on how and why we read?但是鎖定對我們閱讀方式和閱讀方式的長期影響可能是什麼? And what might happen given the possibility of a second lockdown?如果再次鎖定,可能會發生什麼? It remains to be seen if and how the pandemic might be responsible for continuing changes in our relationship with books.大流行是否以及如何導致我們與書本關係的持續變化還有待觀察。談話

關於作者

英國文學講師Abigail Boucher, 阿斯頓大學; Chloe Harrison,英語語言文學講師, 阿斯頓大學,以及英語語言和文學高級講師Marcello Giovanelli, 阿斯頓大學

本文重新發表 談話 根據知識共享許可。 閱讀 原創文章.