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Think as you read

1. What are some of the positive views on interviews? Answer: Some positive views on interviews are that in their highest form, they are a source of truth and an art. They are a supremely serviceable medium of communication and provide vivid impressions of contemporaries. The interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.

2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed? Answer: Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed because they see it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. They also feel that it diminishes them or makes them lose a part of themselves, as if their soul is being stolen.

3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed? Answer: In some primitive cultures, it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody, one is stealing that person’s soul.

4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”? Answer: This expression was used by Saul Bellow to describe interviews. It suggests that interviews are a suffocating or constricting experience for the person being interviewed. It implies a feeling of being overpowered and unable to speak freely.

5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities? Answer: In today’s world, our chief source of information about personalities is the interviewer, as they hold a position of unprecedented power and influence.

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 UNDERSTANDING the text

1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion. Answer: Yes, it seems Umberto Eco likes being interviewed. He answers the questions openly and doesn’t show any signs of being bothered. He is relaxed enough to laugh, shrug, and even tell stories like “a Chinese wise man.” He acknowledges that interviews allow him to reach a larger audience, which he wouldn’t be able to do with his academic work on semiotics.

2. How does Eco find the time to write so much? Answer: Umberto Eco finds the time to write so much by working in what he calls “interstices” or empty spaces. He uses the small, often wasted, moments in life to write, such as while waiting for an elevator to arrive.

3. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style? Answer: Umberto Eco’s academic writing style was distinctive because it was not dry and boring like a regular academic text. Instead of just putting the final conclusions, he told the story of his research, including his trials and errors. This gave his writing a narrative, personal, and playful quality.

4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar? Answer: Umberto Eco considered himself an academic scholar first. He states that he is a “university professor who writes novels on Sundays” and identifies himself with the academic community, not with Pen Clubs and writers.

5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose? Answer: Umberto Eco says that the huge success of his novel is a mystery. He believes it is not because journalists and publishers like it, or because people like trash. He thinks the book’s success is linked to the readers who don’t always want easy reading experiences. He also suggests that the timing of the book’s publication was a factor, and that if it had been published ten years earlier or later, it might not have been as successful.

TALKING about the text 

1. Talk about any interview that you have watched on television or read in a newspaper. How did it add to your understanding of the celebrity, the interviewer and the field of the celebrity? Answer: This is a discussion-based question. You can choose any interview you know. A good answer would talk about how the interview revealed a new, personal side of the celebrity, how the interviewer’s style made the interview engaging, and how you learned something new about the celebrity’s work or field.

2. The medium you like best for an interview, print, radio, or television. Answer: This is a discussion-based question. You can discuss the pros and cons of each medium. For example, print interviews can go into more detail and be read at your own pace. Radio interviews focus on the voice and message without distractions. Television interviews allow you to see the person’s body language and expressions, which can provide a deeper understanding.

3. Every famous person has a right to his or her privacy. Interviewers sometimes embarrass celebrities with very personal questions. Answer: This is a discussion-based question. You can discuss the ethical balance between the public’s right to know and a celebrity’s right to privacy. Think about questions that are appropriate (about their work, influences, and opinions) versus those that are not (about their personal life, relationships, or family, unless they choose to discuss them).

WRITING 

If the interviewer Mukund Padmanabhan had not got the space in the newspaper to reproduce the interview verbatim, he may have been asked to produce a short report of the interview with the salient points. Write this report for him.

Answer:

Mukund Padmanabhan conducted an interview with [Interviewee’s Name] to discuss [topic of the interview]. The interview focused on several key aspects:

1. Background and Experience: The interviewee shared insights about their personal and professional background, highlighting significant experiences that shaped their career and perspectives.
2. Main Achievements: The discussion covered notable achievements, including contributions to [field/industry], awards received, and successful projects undertaken.
3. Challenges and Lessons: The interviewee spoke about challenges faced in their journey and the lessons learned, emphasizing resilience, hard work, and continuous learning.
4. Future Plans and Advice: The interviewee outlined future goals and offered advice to young aspirants, stressing the importance of passion, dedication, and ethical practices in their work.

The interview provided a comprehensive view of the interviewee’s career and philosophy, offering valuable insights for readers interested in [relevant field/topic].

THINGS to do 

Interview a person whom you admire either in school or your neighbourhood and record it in writing.

Answer: This is a hands-on activity.

• Step 1: Choose a person you admire.
• Step 2: Think about what you would like to know about them. Write down a list of questions.
• Step 3: Ask for their permission to interview them.
• Step 4: Conduct the interview, either by writing down their answers as they speak or by recording it (with their permission).
• Step 5: Write a summary of the interview, highlighting the most important points.