11.2
MEDIA RECLUSES IN THE ARTS
108
READING
1
You are going to read about a famous recluse.
What do you think a recluse is? Guess, then read the
introduction of the article below to check your answer.
A recluse is someone who:
a
likes public attention.
b
avoids public attention.
c
comes back after a period away from public attention.
2
a
In groups of three, each read about one recluse
and answer the questions.
Student A:
Read the article below.
Student B:
Read the article on page 162.
Student C:
Read the article on page 161.
1
How is the person’s character described in the article?
2
What are they most famous for?
3
How was their relationship with other people?
4
What did they do later in life?
5
Is there anything surprising in the article?
2
b
Tell your group about your article. Use the
questions in Exercise 2a to help you.
2
c
Discuss in groups. Which person/people:
1
communicated with friends by writing letters?
2
moved to the countryside?
3
didn’t want to move out of a hotel?
4
won an award?
5
only talked to guests through a door?
6
returned to his place of birth?
7
bought a television station?
8
was/were offered a lot of money for any new work?
9
liked travelling by air?
10
had a book written about them by one of their children?
VOCABULARY
WORDS CONNECTED WITH BIOGRAPHIES
3
Find words or phrases in the texts that mean the
following.
1
a very successful book (article 1, para 5)
2
a great work of art (article 1, para 6)
3
a book about someone’s life (article 1, para 7)
4
Flying an aircraft (article 2, para 1)
5
social separation (article 2, para 2)
6
a large set of rooms at the top of a hotel. (article 2,
para 2)
7
unwilling, not enthusiastic (article 3, para 2)
8
a small gift or present (article 3, para 4)
9
collection of poems. (article 3, para 5)
1
In today’s multi-media age, it seems no artist with
something to sell can afford not to do interviews and
chat shows to publicise their latest product. People’s
interest in celebrity means we often know more about
the artists than their work. Below, our reporter Wendy
Finch profiles three recluses from the world of the arts
who decided not to play the media game. Why are we
fascinated by the artists themselves when really their
work should speak for them?
Out of sight,
out of mind?
J.D. Salinger
(1919–2010)
2
The American writer J.D. Salinger was known
as a recluse. He did not give an interview after
1974, nor publish any new work after 1965.
Salinger’s complete published works consist of
one novel and 13 short stories, all written in the
period 1948–59.
3
In 1997, a rumour started that Salinger was
going to release the first book version of his
last published story. Fans became very excited.
