The interview

SUMMARY

‘The Interview’ written by Christopher Sylvester briefs the new invention – interview in
the field of journalism. Interview that was invented over 130 years have become a
commonplace journalism. Today, every literate or illiterate will have to experience
interview at some point of the daily life.
However, opinions of interview- of its functions, methods and merits vary considerably.
Some claim it as a source of truth and in its practice, an art. Others despise the interview
as an ‘unwarranted intrusion into their lives’. They feel it diminishes them. Sylvester lists
out well – known writers who are against interview – V.S. Naipaul, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard
Kipling, H.G. Wells though he had interviewed many personalities. It is surprising to notice
that as interviewer, each one is comfortable, whereas, as an interviewee, they feel it
much disturbing and diminishing. Yet in the words of the writer, ‘it is a serviceable
medium communication’.
Part II is an extract from an interview of Umberto Eco, author of the popular novel,’ Name
of the Rose’ by Mukund Padmanabhan from ‘The Hindu’ This interview helps us know
many aspects of his writing style and ideas. Though he gives the impression of doing many
things at a time, he says he is doing the same thing, pursuing his philosophical interests
through his writings and his novels. Through his modest answers, he tells the secret of his
success .He utilizes the interstices – empty spaces to his advantage.
Umberto eco pan academician refers himself to be called an academician. He has written
40 philosophical writings and just 5 novels. When Mukund Padmanabhan asks the reason
behind the huge success of ’The Name of the Rose’, he honestly replies that it is a mystery
even to him. Perhaps the appropriateness of the time it was written could be the reason.
He himself admits had the novel come 10 years later or earlier, the novel would not have
got such success.
As we go through this extract, we can easily note that Umberto Eco does not think,
interview is a crime or an offence. He interacts properly and modestly.

NOTES
PART I
 Interview has become a commonplace of journalism. Opinions on the functions, methods
and merits of Interview vary considerably.
 Some claim it to be the highest form, a source of truth and in its practice an art.
 Some despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into lives, which diminishes their
personality.
 S. Naipaul feels that ‘some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of
themselves.’
 Lewis Carroll never consented to be interviewed for he believed it to be ‘a just horror of
the interviewer’.
 Rudyard Kipling considered it ‘immoral, a crime, an assault that merits punishment’.
 G. Wells referred interviewing to be an ‘ordeal’.
 Saul Bellow describes it ‘like thumbprints on his windpipe’.
 Despite the drawbacks interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication.
Interviews are the most vivid impression of our contemporaries and the interviewer holds
a position of unprecedented power and influence.
PART II
 An extract from an interview of Umberto Eco interviewed by Mukund Padmanabhan.
 Umberto Eco was a professor with a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on
Semiotics, literary interpretation and medieval aesthetics before he turned into writing
literary fiction. He attained intellectual superstardom with his publication “The Name of
the Rose”.
 In the interview Eco shares his idea of empty spaces in our lives just as they exist in an
atom, which he calls Interstices. He says that he makes use of these empty spaces to
work.
 Eco’s essays were scholarly and narrative. He likes to be identified more as a university
professor who writes novels.
 Eco’s ‘The Name of the Rose”, a serious novel, which delves into metaphysics, theology
and medieval history, enjoyed a mass audience. It dealt with medieval past. He feels that
the novel wouldn’t have been so well received had it been written ten years earlier or
later.
Answer the following:
1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Interview, in the 130 years of its existence, has become an inherent part of
journalism. It is a useful means of communication that is, at times, considered to be
an art, serving as a source of truth. Denis Brian has stated that in today’s world we
get to know “our contemporaries” through their interviews.
2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Celebrity writers believe that interviews unduly interfere in their private lives. They
regard themselves as victims of interviews. They claim that the interview in some
way ‘diminishes’ them, just like some ancient cultures believed that a portrait of a
person takes away his soul. Certain celebrities like V.S Naipaul have claimed that
interviews leave them wounded, while others like Rudyard Kipling have referr ed to
it as a crime and an immoral act.
3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?
Some primitive cultures believed that getting oneself photographed would rob them
of their souls.
4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
“Thumbprints on his windpipe” means to choke or suffocate somebody by applying
pressure on his throat. Saul Bellow uses this expression to refer to the pressure and
discomfort felt by a celebrity while giving an interview.
5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities?
Interviews help us know our contemporaries and their opinions. They serve as a
means of communication between the celebrities and the audience. In this case, the
interviewer is endowed with a very special power and he becomes our chief source
of information about personalities.
6. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed?Give reason for your opinion
Yes, Umberto Eco, in all possibilities, likes being interviewed. He readily answers
every question asked by Mukund Padmanabhan in an energetic and lively manner.
He does not seem apprehensive about sharing his secrets, experiences and opinions
with the interviewer, and consequently, the world. There is no indication
throughout the interview that he dislikes being interviewed.
7. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
During the interview, Mukund Padmanabhan reiterates David Lodge’s astonishment
on Umberto Eco’s large amount of works and how he manages to write them al l.
Eco replies that just like the universe has empty spaces, our lives too, have a lot of
empty spaces or ‘interstices’, as he calls them. Whenever he has a few moments to
spare in between two different tasks, instead of wasting them, he uses the time to
write. He even gives an example of his working technique. He says that while
waiting for someone to come up the elevator he keeps himself busy.
8. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Eco’s writing style is strikingly different from that of the standard academic mode.
The academicians first make a thorough research, then move on to prove their
hypotheses, and finally, give their conclusion on that subject. The final outcome,
therefore, comes out as tedious. Eco, on the other hand, tells t he story of his
research, including his “trials and errors”. While the scholars usually use a very
depersonalised and dull manner, Eco’s style is personalised and playful, and in the
form of a narrative.
9. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Umberto Eco considered himself an academic scholar first and then a novelist. He
wrote more scholarly articles as compared to novels; and, he attended academic
conferences and not meetings of Pen Clubs and writers. According to him, he was a
university professor who wrote novels on Sundays. “I started writing novels by
accident”, he said.
10. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
Umberto Eco has rightly pointed out that the success behind The Name of the
Rose is a mystery. It is not possible to know the exact reason behind a book’s
success or failure; one can only make wild guesses. Perhaps the time in history
when it was written has proved favourable for its success. According to Mukund,
the novel’s setting in the medieval past might have contributed to its success. But
many novels written about the medieval past have failed to get as much success.
11. Interviews are necessary. Justify the statement.
Ans. Despite the drawbacks of interviews they are supremely serviceable medium of
communication. They are an art and a source of truth. We know about our contemporary
celebrities and others through their interviews.
12. Do you think Eco’s non-fictional writing style is a departure from regular style? Give
reasons.
Ans. Eco’s non-fictional writing is not depersonalized and boring like his scholarly works.
There is a playful and personal touch in it, which is a departure from his regular style.
13. What did Eco learn at the age of 22 that he pursued in his novels?
Ans. Eco learnt at the age of 22 that scholarly books should be written by telling the story
of research. He learnt that there should be a narrative technique employed in scholarly
writing that he later employed when he wrote novels at the age of 50.
14. What makes ‘The Name of the Rose’ a serious novel?
Ans. ‘The Name of the Rose’ is a serious novel as it delves into metaphysics, theology and
medieval history inspite of being a detective story at one level.
15. What does Eco think of the readers of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’?
Ans. Eco thinks that there are readers who don’t like ‘trash’ and like to have difficult
reading experiences. It is contrary to what journalists and publishers think. The selling of
15 million copies of his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’- a very serious work is testimony
that readers don’t want easy reading experiences.
11. 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:
A CHAT WITH UMBERTO ECO
By Mukund Padmanabhan
Delhi, 6 September
Umberto Eco, the renowned scholar and writer, in a short interview with The
Hindu claimed to be an academician first and a novelist later. He is a professor at
the University of Bologna in Italy. His works range from semiotics to literary
interpretation, medieval aesthetics and finally to novels and children’s
books. When asked about his wide-ranging works, he clarified his position saying “I
am a professor who writes novels on Sundays”.
One is amazed by his ability to manage time. He revealed his secret theory of empty
spaces or ‘interstices’, as he calls them. Eco explained his way of utilising every
second, even the free ones between two different tasks.
All of Eco’s works including his academic publications have a personal touch to
them. This is Eco’s unique style of writing which, he declared, began at the age of
22 when he was a research scholar. His inclination towards creative writing led him
to novel-writing in his later years.
His detective novel The Name of the Rose has sold 10 million copies, but its success
apparently did not surprise him. He stated that the success of the book proves that
there are people who read difficult texts.
All in all, Eco turned out to be a dynamic personality who loves his work. His
enthusiasm is apparent in the way he gave the replies to all the questions, without
any apprehension or qualms.