Unit - 7: The Interview – Christopher Silvester

 The Interview – Christopher Silvester

1. About the Author

Christopher Silvester: Journalist and writer, educated at Cambridge. He worked for Private Eye and contributed to several reputed newspapers. Known for his critical and analytical style.

2. Central Idea of the Chapter

This essay examines the role, importance, and mixed opinions about interviews in journalism. It traces the history of interviews since their invention about 130 years ago. It highlights how interviews have become a common means of communication and information. It presents different viewpoints of celebrities – some see interviews as an intrusion, others as a useful form of self-expression.

3. Key Points of the Essay

1. Definition & Power of Interviews
• Interviews are considered a “supreme means of communication.”
• They provide the most vivid impressions of people.
2. Historical Perspective
• Invented about 130 years ago.
• Initially, interviews were considered intrusive and vulgar.
3. Famous Personalities’ Opinions
• Rudyard Kipling: called interviews “immoral” and an “ordeal.”
• V.S. Naipaul: considered interviews as “the most serviceable form of communication.”
• H.G. Wells: praised interviews as a new art form but also admitted to being both interviewer and interviewee with discomfort.
4. The Interview with Umberto Eco
• Eco (novelist, semiotician, philosopher) shares his thoughts.
• He became famous after The Name of the Rose (1980), though he had already been working in other areas.
• Eco explains his success in terms of his style: mixing scholarly knowledge with narrative.
• He uses his “interstices” (small gaps of free time) productively.
• He says writing novels is a way to express his serious philosophical interests in a popular manner.

4. Themes

• Power of media and journalism
• Dual nature of interviews – informative yet invasive
• Celebrity discomfort with exposure
• Creative process of writers and thinkers (Umberto Eco’s method)

5. Flow Chart

→ History of Interview
  → About 130 years old
  → Powerful tool
  → Common in journalism

→ Views of Celebrities
  → Kipling → Immoral, horror
  → Naipaul → Useful
  → Wells → Both useful & awkward

→ Umberto Eco’s Interview
  → Scholar & Novelist
  → Success of The Name of the Rose
  → Writes in free time gaps (interstices)
  → Blends seriousness with playfulness
  → Believes novel = extension of philosophy

6. Important Quotes

• Kipling: “Interviews are immoral, an ordeal, a crime.”
• Eco: “I am always doing the same thing – serious things in a playful way and playful things in a serious way.”

7. Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Kipling detest interviews?

Rudyard Kipling detested interviews because he found them immoral, vulgar, and an assault on his privacy. He described the experience as an ordeal, even going so far as to call it a crime.

2. How does Umberto Eco explain the success of his novel?

Umberto Eco explained the success of The Name of the Rose by saying that people loved it because it was a detective story combined with deep philosophical ideas. He blended seriousness with playfulness, which made his work appealing both to scholars and to common readers.

3. What is the role of “interstices” in Eco’s productivity?

By “interstices,” Eco meant the small gaps or free moments in his daily routine. He used these short intervals of time productively for writing and research, instead of wasting them, which enabled him to achieve so much in different fields.

Long Answer Questions

1. Discuss the changing perception of interviews as described by Christopher Silvester.

Christopher Silvester traces the history of interviews over the last 130 years. Initially, interviews were looked upon with suspicion and were considered vulgar or intrusive. Many celebrities like Rudyard Kipling disliked them, calling them immoral and an ordeal. Over time, however, interviews became recognised as a powerful means of communication, providing the most vivid impressions of people. Writers like V.S. Naipaul acknowledged their usefulness, while H.G. Wells even described them as a new art form. Thus, the perception of interviews gradually shifted from negative to a more balanced view, where they were seen as both intrusive and informative.

2. How does the interview with Umberto Eco highlight the writer’s unique style and philosophy?

The interview with Umberto Eco reveals his unique style and philosophy as a writer. Eco was not just a novelist but also a philosopher and semiotician. He believed in using “interstices” or small gaps of free time productively. His greatest success, The Name of the Rose, combined a detective story with history and philosophy. Eco explained that he always did serious things playfully and playful things seriously. This blending of scholarship with storytelling made his work accessible and appealing to a wide audience. The interview brings out how his novels were an extension of his philosophical interests, presented in a popular and engaging form.

3. Do you agree with the view that interviews are intrusive? Justify your answer.

Interviews can sometimes be intrusive, especially when they invade the privacy of individuals or force them to reveal things against their will. This is why many celebrities, like Kipling, disliked them. However, interviews are also an important tool of journalism. They provide authentic insights into the thoughts, experiences, and personalities of people. When conducted respectfully, interviews are informative and serve as a valuable means of communication. Therefore, while interviews can be intrusive if misused, they are not inherently negative; their value depends on how they are conducted.

Extra Questions:

1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?

Some people believe interviews are a powerful and useful means of communication. V.S. Naipaul called them a “useful and serviceable” medium. H.G. Wells considered them a new art form. Interviews help in knowing authentic details about people and their work, and they provide vivid impressions of personalities.

2. Why do most celebrities despise being interviewed?

Celebrities often dislike interviews because they feel their privacy is invaded. Some, like Rudyard Kipling, considered interviews immoral and a form of crime. Others found the process uncomfortable, as probing questions often expose their personal lives or inner thoughts.

3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?

In some primitive cultures, people believed that being photographed would steal or diminish their soul. This belief is similar to the discomfort many feel when exposed through interviews, as if part of their inner self has been taken away.

4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?

This metaphor means feeling suffocated or oppressed. Some celebrities felt interviews were like someone pressing on their throat, making them uncomfortable, trapped, or helpless under probing questions.

5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities?

In today’s world, the interview itself is the main source of information about celebrities and other personalities. It is through interviews that the public learns about the lives, thoughts, and achievements of famous people.

6. What are some of the distinguishing features of Umberto Eco’s academic writing style?

Umberto Eco’s academic writing style is unique because he mixes seriousness with playfulness. He writes in a narrative manner, blending scholarly ideas with storytelling. This makes his work accessible to both scholars and ordinary readers.

7. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?

Umberto Eco considered himself primarily an academic scholar, philosopher, and semiotician. His fame as a novelist came later with The Name of the Rose, but he believed that his novels were only an extension of his philosophical and scholarly interests.

8. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel The Name of the Rose?

According to Eco, The Name of the Rose succeeded because it worked at many levels. It was a detective story that entertained general readers, while also containing philosophical, historical, and scholarly elements for intellectuals. The blending of playfulness with seriousness appealed to a wide audience.

9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being interviewed, according to Eco?

Eco admitted that interviews can be repetitive, but he also saw them as a chance to clarify his ideas for readers. While some questions might be boring, interviews gave him the opportunity to explain his work to a larger audience.

Text Book Questions:

Understanding the Text

1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Yes, Umberto Eco seems to like being interviewed. He answers all questions patiently and seriously, without irritation. He uses the interview as a chance to explain his ideas to readers. He also adds humour, as when he talks about using “interstices” of time productively. Although interviews can be repetitive, Eco treats them as opportunities to clarify his views for a wider audience.

2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Eco explains that he makes use of “interstices” – the small gaps in his daily routine. Instead of wasting those moments, he uses them productively for writing and research. By managing his time well and making use of such intervals, he is able to achieve a lot in different fields.

 

3. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Eco’s academic writing style was unique because he combined seriousness with playfulness. His scholarly works were not dry or dull; instead, he used a narrative style that made them engaging and readable. This allowed both ordinary readers and intellectuals to enjoy his writing.

4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Eco considered himself first and foremost an academic scholar, philosopher, and semiotician. His fame as a novelist came later with The Name of the Rose. He felt that his novels were only an extension of his interest in philosophy and semiotics.

5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel The Name of the Rose?
According to Eco, the novel succeeded because it worked at many levels. On the surface, it was a detective story, which entertained the common reader. At a deeper level, it contained history, theology, and philosophy, which appealed to intellectuals. This blending of entertainment with scholarship made it popular worldwide.

PYQs

Q1. Why does Umberto Eco describe himself as “a university professor who writes novels on Sundays”?
Eco’s main profession was that of an academic scholar and university professor. Writing novels was not his primary occupation but something he did in his free time. Hence, he jokingly described himself in this way.

Q2. How does Eco explain his ability to achieve so much in life?
Eco said he made use of “interstices” – the small gaps of free time in his routine. Instead of wasting them, he used them productively for reading, research, and writing.

Q3. What is Eco’s theory of interstices?
According to Eco, interstices are the small gaps or intervals of free time that occur in daily life. He believed in utilising those moments efficiently, which allowed him to accomplish more work than others.

Q4. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Eco combined seriousness with playfulness. His scholarly works were written in a narrative and engaging style, making them interesting even for non-specialist readers.

Q5. Why was the success of The Name of the Rose surprising?
It was surprising because it was a complex novel, full of history, theology, and philosophy, yet it became a bestseller. People expected such a serious book to appeal only to academics, but it attracted general readers as well.

Q6. How does Eco view his novels in relation to his scholarly interests?
Eco believed his novels were not separate from his academic work. Instead, they were an extension of his philosophical and scholarly interests, expressed in a narrative form.

 

Long Answer Type PYQs (5–6 marks)

Q1. What are the different opinions about interviews presented in the essay?
Interviews have been a common means of communication for over 130 years. Some celebrities dislike them, calling them immoral, vulgar, or invasive. Rudyard Kipling described interviews as an ordeal, while H.G. Wells admitted they could be uncomfortable. On the other hand, writers like V.S. Naipaul valued them as a useful medium. Thus, opinions range from seeing interviews as intrusive to regarding them as an important and serviceable tool of journalism.

Q2. How does the interview bring out Umberto Eco’s personality and writing style?
The interview reveals Eco as a scholar, philosopher, and semiotician first, and a novelist later. He explains how he makes use of interstices to be productive. His writing style mixes seriousness with playfulness, making his works appealing to both intellectuals and common readers. The interview also shows his humility, humour, and clarity of thought, which reflect his unique personality.

Q3. Why does Eco call himself “a serious novelist”? How does his novel combine seriousness with playfulness?
Eco calls himself a serious novelist because his novels deal with themes of history, theology, and philosophy. Yet, he writes in a narrative style that entertains readers, as seen in The Name of the Rose, which is both a detective story and a philosophical novel. This combination of seriousness and playfulness makes his novels distinctive.

PYQ –RTCs

RTC 1

Extract:
“Interview, in its highest form, is a valuable and indispensable medium of communication.”

Q1. Who made this statement?
Ans. Christopher Silvester mentions this idea in the essay The Interview.

Q2. What does the statement suggest about interviews?
Ans. It suggests that interviews can provide authentic insight into the lives, thoughts, and personalities of famous people, making them a powerful medium of communication.

Q3. Why are interviews considered indispensable in the modern world?
Ans. Because they serve as a primary source of information, bridging the gap between the public and prominent personalities.

RTC 2

Extract:
“Thumbprints on his windpipe.”

Q1. Who is referred to here and in what context?
Ans. Rudyard Kipling is referred to here. He once said that interviewing him was like placing “thumbprints on his windpipe,” expressing his strong dislike for interviews.

Q2. What does the metaphor suggest?
Ans. It suggests that Kipling felt interviews were suffocating, restrictive, and an invasion of his personal space.

Q3. What does this reveal about Kipling’s attitude towards interviews?
Ans. It shows his detestation for interviews, considering them an unwelcome intrusion into his private life.

RTC 3

Extract:
“I always lived like a scholar.”

Q1. Who said this and to whom?
Ans. Umberto Eco said this to MukundPadmanabhan in his interview.

Q2. What does Eco mean by this statement?
Ans. He means that even when he was involved in writing novels or essays, he maintained the discipline, curiosity, and dedication of a scholar.

Q3. How did this influence his productivity?
Ans. It allowed him to manage his time efficiently and explore different areas like semiotics, philosophy, literary criticism, and fiction writing.

 

RTC 4

Extract:
“These are empty spaces we often waste.”

Q1. What are “these empty spaces” referred to here?
Ans. Umberto Eco refers to the small gaps or interstices of free time in daily life.

Q2. How did Eco utilise them?
Ans. Instead of wasting them, he used those small intervals to write and think creatively, which contributed to his vast body of work.

Q3. What does this tell us about Eco’s philosophy of work?
Ans. It shows his belief in making the most of every available moment and being productive even in the smallest units of time.

 

RTC 5

Extract:
“I don’t let myself get bored.”

Q1. Who made this statement?
Ans. Umberto Eco.

Q2. In what context does he say this?
Ans. He says this while explaining how he manages to do so many different things at once without feeling exhausted or distracted.

Q3. What quality of Eco does this reflect?
Ans. It reflects his enthusiasm, discipline, and creative energy that helped him succeed in multiple fields.