CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Film is a story recorded as a set of moving pictures to be shown on the television or at

the cinema. It is also a roll on shut of flexible plastic that is sensitive to light for the use of in

photography. Film also known as movie or motion pictures is series of still moving image. It

is produced by recording photographic images with cameras or by creating images using

animation techniques or visual effects. It is considered to be important for a source of popular

entertainment a power method for educating or indoctrinating people especially children.

According to Cook (2007) Films are mad up of sources of individual images called

frames. When these images are show rapidly in succession a viewer has the illusion. Film as

medium of mass communication has its major role to play in the society which to educate

entertain and inform the audience.

According to Chamber Dictionary of twentieth century “film is a thin skin of mainframe

coated with a very sensitive substances for taking photographs of a ribbon of celluloid

prepared with such a coating for instantaneous photographs for protection by cinematography

a motion pictures series.

According to Balogun (1987)”Film can be classified in Europe film American Chinese

film Nigerian film length feature films.

All these classification can produce violent films comic films entertainment film etc.

By “Violence” we mean any form of aggressiveness or use of physical force such as

boxing fighting rape killing stealing shooting and wrestling to mention but a few which

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are displayed on our television screen or recorded by our film industries on video tape

recorder.

According to Concise Oxford Dictionary of current English violence can be defined as

unlawful exercise of physical force intimidation. It adds that violence has to do with conduct

or treatment outrage injury. Children are young boys or girls sons and daughters babies or

infants who are under the influence of their parent or guardians children can be influenced by

other factors such as films or peer groups.

According to the American Academy of paediatrics (APA) [2005] “Children are

influenced by media they learn by observing imitating and making behaviours on their own.

It is quite depression to note that since inception of violent films there has been increased

incident of violent behaviours in children. For instance a child after watching violent film is

seen as imitating the models by using his fellow play mate for demonstration. This has led to

a child injuring another in the process of imitating his ideal hero. Few movies found to be

capable of injecting violence acts into children includes: House of wax Scarface commando

pretty woman etc. these movies all displayed horrible series rape and illicit taking hard

drugs. Children learn from what they see even if it is on big screen. Children spend a

substantial amount of time in watching the television he or she catch a glimpse of violent act

which goes contrary to the ethics of the society.

In Nigeria there are audience member of home video films who are influenced in one

way or another by the subjects treated in Nigerian films which involves subjects that are

detrimental to the well being Nigerian society. They portray cases of virtual killings armed

robbery prostitution rapes disease and other immoral behaviours and it is shown in such a

way that viewers are confused abut whether they are right norms or not that is why Frank Aig

Imoukhuede in Opubor (1995) confirms that “many Nigerians have complained of the

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poisonous content of films shown on the screen in Nigeria. A great number of people have

criticised the nation’s television for featuring materials which contradicts r erode the quality

of life and undermine the peoples value and norms saying that what is needed as films for

self projection which present the facts and figures of life in Nigeria.

Historical background of films in Nigerian experience

The first motion picture was screened in Nigeria on Monday August 12 1903. It was

shown to an exciting Nigeria audience at Glover Merumorial Halliri Lagos. As Lagos

standard announced “The cinematographs exhibition which is made at the Glove Memorial

Hall from Monday night and is to continue for the nights is the talk of the town”.

The film was shown by Messri’s Balboa of Barcelona Spain under management of the

Nigerian Herbert Macaulay. Although ticket buyers considered the gate fee of three shillings

high it was discovered after the first night at the film was worth the price.

The standard later suggested lowering the price so that everybody in Lagos may see for

herself by middle of September 1903 Mrs Balboa closed her exhibition in Lagos and left to

continue showing in other west African countries. On her departure an enterprising European

merchant Stanley Jones began to show films in the same Glover Memorial Hall Lagos. He

showed his first film in November 1903. One of the most thrilling films Stanley showed was

about Alake of Abeokuta a famous Nigerian ruler.

After the independence the film unit became a division of federal ministry of information

with the main objectives of producing and exhibiting documentaries. The Nigerian rural film

unit experiment was carried by the Colonial film unit propaganda section in 1952. Therefore

it is emphatically clear that the type of media content (video film) that are exposed to the

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adolescent will also affect their sense of reasoning and action. The film being audio visual in

nature have immense role to play in moulding the behaviours of the adolescent.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Over the years people have been joining the film making business either because of

money or they want to gain popularity. Films are veritable tools of mass communication

which cut across national and cultural boundaries with wide and fast distributing network

internationally.

There are two important factors that must be included in the discussion of influence of

violent films on adolescent. One factor is media literacy which was addressed by Renn

Hobbs. It contended that “Just because our children can use media and technology doesn’t

mean they are effective at actually analysing and evaluating the message they receive.

Children need a set of skills to ask important question about what they watch see listen to

and read about.

The second factor that can affect how children are influenced by violent film is the

amount of parental involvement in suspending media exposure of children. Studies show that

increasing guidance from parents at least as important as reducing media violence. Video

films are the mirror through which the society is viewed as it is the most popular medium of

entertainment in Nigeria which is suitable to a large audience. With the production of lot of

interesting Nigerian films in both vernacular and English language there is a great constancy

with which the audience always sticks to the front of the screen. Therefore the central

problem to be investigated in this study is To what extent have violent films influenced the

adolescent social behaviour? This is the question this study is out to address.

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1.3 Objectives of the Study

1 To find out the level of exposure of adolescent in Osisatech Boys’ Secondary School to

violent films

1 To find out what type of violent films adolescent in Osisatech Boys’ Secondary School

prefer.

2 To find out the influence of their preferred violent films on their social behaviour

1.4 Research Questions

2 What is the level of exposure of adolescent in Osisatech Boys’ Secondary School to

violent film?

3 What type of violent films do adolescent in Osisatech Boys’ Secondary School

prefer?

4 How have their preferred violent films influenced their social behaviour?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H

1

Violent films influence the character formation of the adolescent

H

0

Violent films do not influence the character formation of the adolescent

1.6 Scope of the study

This study is limited to adolescents of Osisatech Boys’ Secondary School Enugu but since the

characteristics of adolescents are generally similar in many ways the findings of the study

therefore would be generalised to include all youths.

1.7 Significance of the study

Home video films offer children a great deal of what they want to see and hear their appeal

to curiosity and their convincing realism is very powerful.

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Therefore the importance of the study is as follows:

1. The study will help instruct parents or guidance to be mindful of the type of films

their children watch.

2. The study will be very useful in identifying the extent to which films flooding the

market despoil the fabrics of Nigerian culture.

3. The study will also keep government alert to the need to censor the different types of

films that are produced.

4. It will help instruct producers to be conscious of the negative influences on younger

generations and offer solution to better ways of presentation of the cultural content of

Nigerian film.

5. It would become a reference material to students and other researchers who would

intend to carry out studies related to the present study.

1.8 Operational definition of terms

Influence: This is the character a person portrays as a result of what he or she watches from

violent films.

Violence: It is the action of adolescent as a reason of exposure to violent films which causes

damage to their life.

Films: It is played and viewed by people with the aid of a television set which is connected to

video machines such films include documentary films horror films etc.

Adolescent: They are the audience member used or the study who receive the message

transmitted.

Social behaviour: It is the behaviour directed towards adolescents of Osisatech Boys

Secondary School Enugu.

Attitude: The reactions habit and practice of the adolescent to violent films.

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