1.Write a report of the interview conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu of Umberto Eco, a professor at University of Bologna in Italy.
Answer:
The Interview by Parinity Shukla
Ahmedabad

Jan. 2020

An interview of Umberto Eco, a professor at the University of Bologna, in Italy, was conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu.

The professor was a scholar for his ideas on semiotics, literary Interpretation and medieval aesthetics. Later he wrote literary fiction, academic texts, essays, children’s books and newspaper articles. In 1980* he acquired intellectual superstardom.

According to David Lodge, an English novelist, it was surprising that one man could do all these things. To this Umberto Eco claimed that he had some philosophical interests. His novels were free from violence and were of peaceful nature. He occupies the empty space in the lives of men.

Mukund observed that everyone could not do this and added that his non-fictional work had playful and personal quality which was different from regular academic style. Mukund wanted to know if that approach came to him naturally.

Umberto Eco responded to this and said that one professor commented on his dissertation saying that people read his writings and drew a false hypothesis and then put down their comments. But the publishers had appreciated his writings and published them. At the age of 22, he realised scholarly books should be written. His essays were always narratives. At 50 he began writing novels. His friend felt that Umberto Eco was an essayist.

Mukund wanted Umberto to comment on his own novel ‘The Name of the Rose’. Umberto wanted to reach large number of audience through his novel. The journalists were puzzled. Yet 10-15 million copies were sold. It proved that people did not appreciate easy reading experiences.

Mukund wanted to know if the large audience was due to medieval history. Umberto felt it was due to the mysterious nature of the novel.