The Interview Class 12 animation in English

Summary

The video script features an interview with Umberto Eco, discussing his dual career as a scholar in semiotics and a novelist. Eco shares his views on the interview process, his writing approach, and the unexpected popularity of his novel 'The Name of the Rose,' which blended medieval history with a detective story. He reflects on the misconception that the public only enjoys easy reading, asserting that many seek challenging experiences, and ponders the unpredictable nature of his book's success.

Takeaways

• 📚 The interview has become a staple of journalism since its invention around 130 years ago.
• 👥 Opinions on interviews vary widely, with some seeing them as a source of truth and others as an intrusion.
• 📸 Some celebrities, like Lewis Carroll, detest interviews, comparing the feeling to having their soul stolen by a photograph.
• 🗣️ Rudyard Kipling viewed interviews as immoral and criminal, despite himself conducting them.
• 😅 H.G. Wells referred to interviews as an 'ordeal', indicating their often unpleasant nature.
• 🎭 Sol Bellow felt suffocated by interviews, likening them to thumbprints on his windpipe.
• 💡 Umberto Eco sees interviews as a powerful medium of communication, reaching a broad audience.
• 📈 Eco's writing style in his scholarly work is playful and personal, diverging from the dry academic norm.
• 📈 He believes in storytelling in academic writing, which he started doing from his first doctoral dissertation.
• 📚 Despite being a prolific academic, Eco is more widely recognized as a novelist.
• 🏰 The success of 'The Name of the Rose' might be attributed to its blend of detective story and deep dives into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history.

Q & A

What is the general attitude of celebrities towards interviews, as described in the transcript?

Celebrities have varying opinions about interviews. Some view them as a source of truth or an art, while others, especially those who see themselves as victims, dislike interviews, feeling they are an intrusion into their private lives and diminish their individuality.

How did Lewis Carroll, the creator of 'Alice in Wonderland,' feel about interviews?

Lewis Carroll had a strong aversion to interviews, described as a 'horror' of being lionized. He avoided public attention, rejected interview requests, and found amusement in maintaining his privacy.

What was Rudyard Kipling's view on interviews?

Rudyard Kipling considered interviews to be immoral and a form of assault. He believed they were cowardly and undeserving of respect, comparing them to crimes against a person. Despite his stance, Kipling himself once interviewed Mark Twain, which is seen as ironic.

How did H.G. Wells perceive interviews, and what is ironic about his view?

H.G. Wells referred to interviews as an 'ordeal' and found them unpleasant. However, he was often interviewed himself and even conducted high-profile interviews, such as one with Joseph Stalin, making his negative view somewhat ironic.

How did Saul Bellow describe the experience of being interviewed?

Saul Bellow compared interviews to having 'thumbprints on his windpipe,' implying that he felt suffocated and restricted by the process of being interviewed.

What does Dennis Bryan suggest about the role of interviews in modern society?

Dennis Bryan states that interviews are a crucial medium of communication in contemporary society, offering one of the clearest ways to learn about contemporaries. Interviews hold unprecedented power and influence because so much information is conveyed through one person asking questions of another.

How does Umberto Eco manage to accomplish so many things in his career?

Umberto Eco believes he is always doing the same thing, despite appearing to engage in many different activities. He credits his productivity to working in what he calls 'interstices,' or the empty spaces in life, like waiting for an elevator, during which he can write articles and accomplish small tasks.

Why does Umberto Eco believe his scholarly work has a playful and personal quality?

Eco explains that he began writing his scholarly works with a narrative approach, telling the story of his research, including his trials and errors. This narrative style sets his work apart from traditional, dry academic writing, which likely contributed to his ability to write engaging novels.

How did Umberto Eco transition from being an academic to writing novels, and at what age did he start?

Umberto Eco began writing novels at the age of 50, largely by accident. He never felt frustrated by only being an essayist like his friend Roland Barthes, but one day, having nothing else to do, he started writing novels, which fulfilled his narrative storytelling desires.

Why does Eco think 'The Name of the Rose' became a mass success despite its challenging themes?

Eco believes the success of 'The Name of the Rose' is a mystery. While it deals with complex topics like medieval history, metaphysics, and theology, he suggests that readers don’t always want easy reading. He notes that the novel reached a specific audience who were seeking more challenging experiences, though he admits timing also played a role.