CONFIGURATION OF KENYAN FILM ACTING: A STUDY OF EIGHT SELECTED DRAMA FILMS AZANGALALA SHAPAYA BENEAH M88/26499/2013 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMINT ARTS, FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FILM STUDIES) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. March, 2019 i ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would sincerely like to thank my supervisors Prof. John Mugubi and Dr. Kisa Amateshe for the time they took to look through this work and huge contributions they made to it. I also wish to thank my parents for the support they offered while I undertook this study. My wife Kunda and son Festus have been a pleasure and a constant source of delight that I hope is reflected in this study. I would like to thank Erick Wanyama, Judy Kibinge, Joan Kabugu, Bruce Makau, Marion Bosire, Joyce Arigi, Sam Kihiu, Elsaphan Njora, Abubakar Mwendwa, Steve Mwangi, Alison Nyawira, Maqbul Mohammed, Melvin Alusa, Joy Karambu, Mirriam Chemmoss, Marrianne Nungo, Veronicah Waceke and Joe Kinyua for having taken the time to attend to the interview questions. To all those who participated in the interviews and focus group discussions I would like to say Ahsante sana. ii TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.................................................................................................................. ii TABLE OF CONTENT .................................................................................................................. iii TABLE OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... vi OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS .............................................................................. vii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Background to the Study ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Objectives of the Research ......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research questions ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research assumptions ................................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Justification of the Study ........................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Scope of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Delimitations .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.8 Review of Related Literature ..................................................................................................... 7 1.8.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.8.1 A Global Historical Background to Acting ............................................................................. 7 1.8.2 Studies of Acting in Africa ..................................................................................................... 9 1.8.3 Contextualizing Content in the Selected Films ..................................................................... 12 1.9 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................ 19 1.9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 19 1.9.2 System Acting ....................................................................................................................... 19 1.9.3 External Acting Method ........................................................................................................ 22 1.9.4 Speech Act Theory ................................................................................................................ 24 1.10 Research Methodology .......................................................................................................... 26 1.10.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 26 1.10.2 Research Design.................................................................................................................. 26 1.10.3 Sample Size ......................................................................................................................... 27 1.10.4 Sampling Procedure ............................................................................................................ 28 1.10.4.1 Sampling Procedure for Primary Texts ............................................................................ 28 1.10.4.2 Sampling Procedure for Actors/Actresses ....................................................................... 30 iii 1.10.4.3 Sampling Procedure for Focus Group Discussants .......................................................... 31 1.10.5 Study Location .................................................................................................................... 33 1.10.6 Data Collection Instruments and Procedures ...................................................................... 34 1.10.6.1 Data Collection Instruments............................................................................................. 34 a. Unstructured Observation .......................................................................................................... 34 b. Unstructured Interviews ............................................................................................................. 35 c. Focus Group Discussions ........................................................................................................... 36 1.10.6.2 Data Collection Procedures .............................................................................................. 36 a. Primary Data Collection Procedures (Observation) ................................................................... 36 b. Secondary Data Collection Procedures ...................................................................................... 37 i. Interview Procedures .................................................................................................................. 37 ii. Focus Group Discussion Procedures ......................................................................................... 38 iii. Literature Research Procedure .................................................................................................. 40 1.10.7 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 40 1.10.8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 43 THE ACTOR’S/ACTRESS’ USE OF VOICE IN THE SELECTED FILMS .............................. 43 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 43 2.2 Elements of the Actor’s/Actress’ Voice – Quality, Pitch, Power and Tempo ......................... 43 2.3 Pauses, Silences and Emphases ............................................................................................... 61 2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 90 CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................................... 94 THE ACTORS’/ACTRESS’ USE OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, GESTURES AND POSTURES IN THE SELECTED FILMS ......................................................................................................... 94 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 94 3.2 The Actors’/Actress’ Use of Facial Expressions ..................................................................... 95 3.2.1 General Facial Features ......................................................................................................... 95 3.2.2 The Actor’s/Actress’ Eyes .................................................................................................. 116 3.3 The Actor’s/Actress’ Use of Gestures ................................................................................... 129 3.4 The Actor’s/Actress’ Use of Postures ...................................................................................