This discussion board post is from my Unit 2 project, the art interview. The purpose of listening to and reading the transcript of the Terry Gross interview assignment was to help better understand the flow between interviewer and interviewee, and how to structure an interview so that it produces meaningful, usable information relevant to an art-related idea. This assignment encouraged me to think more critically about how to approach research and how the way you ask questions can shape the quality of the responses. This assignment pushed me to reflect on how interviews are not just casual conversations; they’re structured, intentional, and require preparation. One of the most important things I learned was the value of researching ahead of time. Knowing background information allows the interviewer to ask deeper, more relevant questions and keep the conversation flowing naturally. It also taught me the importance of tailoring questions to the audience and making the interviewee feel comfortable so they’re willing to open up more. Watching the interview between Terry Gross and Rennie and Brett Sparks was especially helpful.
This interview showed both what to do, and what not to do for my interview. This assignment helped me understand what’s considered appropriate, how to expand on someone’s ideas, and how to maintain proper interview etiquette. I learned when it’s acceptable to bring up sensitive topics and when it might be considered inappropriate. This experience changed how I view the role of research in writing. I realized that research isn’t just about finding information; it’s about evaluating your sources and considering their purpose, credibility, and relevance. These rhetorical elements helped guide how I prepared and structured my interview. I find the most important part of the heuristic that matters is understanding the audience and purpose. Knowing who the audience is and the interview's goal best guides the trajectory of the interview and what questions to ask. The interview conducted by Terry Gross with Rennie and Brett Sparks clearly illustrates the dynamics of a proper interview. It showed how preparation, tone, and timing affect the overall success of the conversation. Reflecting on it helped me better prepare for my own interview and made the writing process more insightful.
I thought the interview was very interesting. I learned a new perspective on the music genre I don’t typically listen to. The Handsome Family is a duo between a husband and wife, Rennie Sparks, the writer, and Brett Sparks, the singer. The genre of music is folk/ alternative country. I thought the interviewer did a good job at matching the tone and “ vibe of music”. She had a calm and soothing voice when asking questions. The host of the show did a good job at asking questions to both Rennie and Brett. I think sometimes this can be hard to balance in an interview but she had a good structure. It was evident there was preparation and research in advance, the interviewer did her research on popular songs and analyzed specific lyrics. Along with, learning how Brett did vocal training to get his rich deep voice. There were lots of research-based questions about Brett’s past, which is reflected in his music about his experience with mental health issues, and how he struggled with bipolar disorder. I think this topic could raise some ethical concerns, and there could have been a better transition for the listeners and a warning that mental health topics would be mentioned. This can be a sensitive topic for viewers. Overall, I enjoyed the interview. One thing I think the interview could work on is at times she would ask questions and speak over Brett which broke up the interview's fluidity.