ABSTRACT
This is one of the crucial chapters: it contains the theory on acts, actors and action which is fundamental for further analysis, case studies and the developing the theory. It is framed by theories of Arendt, Isin, Heidegger, Bakhtin, and Zizioulas, which bring forward the philosophical, theological and political aspects of acts and action. First, the chapter focuses upon the notion of act and its ontological and ontic meaning: what is act and why do we act, and how does act constitute the actor- the one who creates, through the relationship with the Other, to then focus upon action and actor. In this chapter the author discusses the meanings and implications of acts of citizenship as both ontic and ontological. In order to understand acts of citizenship a clear distinction is made between acts, action and actors. Moreover, the author examines how acts and action are reduced and suppressed within totalitarianism. The chapter introduces films to illustrate how acts of citizenship are manifested and to familiarize the readers with how the theory is put into action and how it applies in film.
