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Facial Expression In Hilborn's Speech

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As indicated before, the human face is very expressive. This point combined with the fact that “the information relayed to the brain in visual presentations, 83% comes via the eyes, 11% via the ears, and 6% through the other senses.” (Ibid) leads us to the conclusion that facial expression in a performance plays a vital role in creating mutual feelings between the performer and audience. Hilborn used this technique to enhance his already well-established connection with the audience. His facial expression throughout the performance was precisely in line with the speaker’s feeling. Beginning from the initial incident, his face color and expression, relaxed facial muscles, steady gaze and a gentle smile, indicated calmness. This expression displayed the speaker’s true happiness in recalling his beloved and their first encounter. (Figure 7)

When he expressed OCD symptoms his face would slowly turn red, his neck becomes more rigid and, his teeth clench. However, he still holds his smile all the while. This gives the audience the impression that although he was disgusted, angry and anxious about his condition, as long as he had the love of his beloved he was …show more content…

This is most evident when he repeats the line “blows out candles—” seven times which is the longest repetition in this performance. This repetition shows rereading compulsion and its length indicate that the speaker is losing the battle with OCD as his power wore out due to his broken heart. Since his mental strength is no longer capable of controlling his obsessive thinking to stop himself from repeating the line he resorts to physical reaction. He frowns, turns his left hand into a fist and suddenly moves it toward his head as if to hit himself on the head, stamping his foot. (Figure

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