What are the contrasting views of celebrities regarding interviews, as mentioned by the writer?

Most celebrities view interviews as an unnecessary intrusion into their lives, while the writer believes that interviews are an important and reliable source of information.

Interviews are considered a reliable source of ___ according to some people.

Truth

True or False: The writer has never conducted interviews in his career as a reporter.

False; the writer has extensive experience interviewing celebrities during his ten years as a reporter.

What is one major reason the writer values interviews in journalism?

The writer values interviews because they provide a crucial and trustworthy source of information.

Fill in the blank: The writer's experience reveals that many celebrities find interviews to be an ___ in their lives.

Intrusion

What are some negative perceptions of interviews expressed by authors like V.S. Naipaul and Rudyard Kipling?

Authors such as V.S. Naipaul believe that interviews can wound individuals and diminish their essence. Rudyard Kipling described the experience as a crime and an assault, indicating a strong disapproval of the interview process.

Umberto Eco was known for his expertise in ___ and ___.

Semiotics and literary functions

True or False: Saul Bellow viewed interviews positively and saw them as beneficial to his self-expression.

False. Saul Bellow described interviews negatively, likening them to thumbprints on his windpipe, suggesting they are constraining.

What is the primary benefit of interviews, despite the criticisms mentioned?

Interviews provide vivid impressions of contemporaries, serving as a valuable medium of communication.

Fill in the blank: Lewis Carroll had a just horror of the ___ and never consented to be interviewed.

Interviewer

What significant transition did Umberto Eco experience in his writing career around the age of fifty?

Umberto Eco transitioned from being primarily an essayist to becoming a novelist.

In 'The Name of the Rose', what themes are explored beyond the detective narrative?

The novel delves into theology, metaphysics, and medieval history.

Umberto Eco's assumption about the success of his novel can be described as a ___ that he could not explain.

Mystery

True or False: Umberto Eco considered writing novels to be his primary focus throughout his life.

False. He primarily considered himself an academician and dedicated Sundays to writing novels.

How did Eco utilize the concept of 'empty spaces' in his life?

He discovered that he could use every single moment of his time to write.

What was the approximate number of copies sold of 'The Name of the Rose' worldwide?

More than 10 million copies.

Fill in the blank: Umberto Eco worked at the ___ of Bologna and was deeply involved in the field of ___ during his academic career.

University, Semiotics

What does semiotics study?

Semiotics studies signs and symbols and their meaning and use.

The term 'interstices' refers to ___ and ___.

Small cracks or spaces.

True or False: A dissertation is a brief article on a subject.

False. A dissertation is a long piece of writing on a particular subject.

In philosophy, metaphysics deals with the nature of ___, ___, and ___.

Existence, truth, and knowledge.

What is the meaning of the word 'seminal'?

Seminal means very important and influential.

Fill in the blank: To 'delve' means to ___ or ___ deeply into a subject.

Probe or search.

What is the ethical dimension of a subject concerned with?

Ethical refers to matters relating to morals.