Venetian masks (2)

Après party...

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Domenico: So how did it go?

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Lucretia: Everyone came, braving the countryside, suffering through confusing directions, surviving the CoCo bus ride or hikes through fields, bringing gourmet delicacies and enduring rounds of Proustian jousting. A day to remember, seeing everyone, reawakening memories, and creating some new ones. They were all brilliant.

Through a mask, darkly...

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Domenico: And they all answered the Proust questions?

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Lucretia: With aplomb.

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Domenico: And the Venetian masks?

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Lucretia: Absolutely necessary. The true self emerges from behind a mask.

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Voice-over

Insight: Asking Proust questions with no warning, no preparation. It might work face to face but there would be fidgeting, squirming, and pausing. Suggestion: In front of a camera give possible questions beforehand to help squirming subjects prepare.

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Proustian questions and Venetian masks (1)

Party game…

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Antonio: I think we should do a Proust questionnaire.

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Cecilia: What, on everyone? Too time consuming.

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Antonio: How about one question for each person at random? And we video their responses. Like they do in Inside Actors' Studio.

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Cecilia: Some of the guests are publicity-shy.

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You must not know who I am...

Antonio: OK. So they wear Venetian, you know...

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Cecilia: Blinds?

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Antonio: Venetian masks. I have a collection.

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Voice-over

Proust questions, a selection:

The principal aspect of my personality.

The quality that I desire in a man.

The quality that I desire in a woman.

What I appreciate most about my friends.

My favorite pastime.

My dream of happiness.

What would be my greatest misfortune?

What I should like to be.

The country where I should like to live.

The flower that I like.

My favorite bird.

My favorite prose authors.

My heroes in fiction.

My favorite heroines in fiction.

My favorite composers.

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