INTERVIEW

 PART - I : The Interview as a Genre

Introduction:

This part is written by Christopher Silvester. He says since last 130 years, interview has become very common in journalism. Almost everyone who is famous has been interviewed.

Key points from this part:

1. What is an Interview?

It's a conversation where a journalist asks questions and the famous person answers. It helps common people to know about the thoughts of great people.

2. Why some people love it and some hate it?

- Supporters: It is the highest form of truth and art. It's a great source of information.

- Opposers: It is an unwanted intrusion into someone's private life.

3. Celebrities who HATED interviews - with exact quotes (Important for exam):

- V.S. Naipaul: "People are wounded and lose a part of themselves by interviews."

- Lewis Carroll: He had a "horror of the interviewer" and never gave any interview in his life.

- Rudyard Kipling: He hated it the most. His wife wrote in diary that Kipling told her interview is "immoral and a crime, just like an assault, it deserves punishment, it is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask for it, much less give it."

- H.G. Wells (1894 interview): Called interview an "ordeal".

- Saul Bellow (1965): Said interviews are like "thumbprints on his windpipe".

4. Conclusion of Part I:

Even after so much criticism, the interview is still very useful. It is a very good medium to know a person's real personality. British writer Denis Brian said - "Almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another."

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PART - II : Interview with Umberto Eco

This is a real interview taken by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu, when Eco was a Professor at University of Bologna, Italy.

About Umberto Eco - Full Detail:

- Born: 1932 in Italy, Died: 2016

- A Professor, Scholar, Philosopher, Novelist, Literary Critic.

- He wrote 40+ academic books on Semiotics (study of signs/symbols), medieval history, philosophy.

- He wrote 5 novels, including The Name of the Rose (1980). This one novel made him world famous.

- The novel sold more than 10-15 million copies.

- He was famous for his non-fictional style - playful, informal, like telling a story.

THE ACTUAL INTERVIEW - Q & A:

Q1. The English novelist David Lodge was puzzled how one man can do so many things. How do you do it?

Eco's Answer: This puzzlement is because of our false idea. People think scholars do serious work only. But I have always done two types of work. I am a Professor who writes novels on Sundays. I use the theory of INTERSTICES.

What is Interstices? [MOST IMPORTANT - 2 Marks]

Interstices means empty spaces or gaps. If you have two important works, there is always a gap between them. For example, you are waiting for someone, or waiting for your flight. I use those empty moments to write. That is how I write so much. If you eliminate those empty spaces, you get a lot of time.

Q2. Your famous novel 'The Name of the Rose' is a very difficult novel. It has detective story, metaphysics, theology, medieval history. How did it become so popular?

Eco's Answer:

- He said he didn't understand why it became so popular. It was a surprise.

- Maybe because it is like a detective story at one level, but at another level it goes deep into metaphysics and theology.

- Readers who like only mystery story read it as a mystery story. Others who wanted serious knowledge read it for deep ideas.

- The timing was perfect. If he had written it 10 years earlier or 10 years later, it would not have been so successful.

- He said his American publisher loved it but didn't expect it to sell so much in America. It sold 2-3 million copies in America itself.

Q3. What is the secret of your style?

Eco's Answer:

- He said he started writing novels by accident at age of 50.

- He said novels satisfied his taste for narration (storytelling).

- His academic books have a narrative style - not dry and boring. Even children enjoy his academic writing.

- And his novels have a lot of academic research. So both are connected.

Q4. Are you disappointed that you are more famous as a novelist than as a scholar?

Eco's Answer: He laughed and said yes, but it is okay. He is a professor who considers himself a scholar first and novelist second. But people know him more as a novelist. He feels a little annoyed but accepts it.

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THEMES FOR 6 MARKS QUESTION

1. Reality vs Image: Interviews show the real person, not just his public image.

2. The Power of Time Management: Eco's theory of Interstices teaches us to use even 10-15 minutes of free time.

3. Dual Personality: A person can be successful in two different fields at same time.