EFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIAN HOME MOVIES ON BEHAVIORAL PATTERN OF YOUTHS IN MKPAT ENIN
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study
Mass Communication is the process by which a person, group of people, or large organization creates a message and transmits it through some type of medium to a large, anonymous heterogeneous audience (Meril and Lowenstein, 2008).
This implies that the audiences of mass communication are mostly made up of different cultures, behavior and believe system.
In order to achieve an efficient and effective mass media, certain vehicles of mass communication are used to facilitate it purposes.
These vehicles or instruments include: television, radio, films, newspapers, magazines, journals, billboards, handbills etc. the mass media perform various functions which benefit the individual as a member of a society. These range from informational and education functions to higher functions like entertainment.
The entertainment function of the mass media is very compelling and the question is why do media audience give their eyes for two or more hours watching film or television or like wisely tune to FM radio station? The answer is the glue their eyes for so long for enjoyment or entertainment.
In the answer of production and transmission of entertainment, television is said to outshine all other mass media, that is why the youths are really in love with home movies.
Television is used exclusively for entertainment examples are soap operas, sporting events, comedies and music.
Films are cultural artifacts erected by specific culture which reflects those cultures and in turn, affect them.
Film is considered to be an important art form, a source of popular entertainment and powerful method for educating citizens.
Basically, film production started in the 1860’s when the mechanism for producing two dimensional drawings in motion was demonstrated with devices such as image lanterns. While producers became desperate to remain to the motion picture business, the initial target audience for these motion pictures was found in one room viewing center and news hall equipped with a television set.
The film business gradually made entry into the Nigerian market in the early 80’s through Idumota market in Lagos. Studies have been found by early adolescent that the average Nigerian youths have watched thousands of dramatized films have countless other acts of violent film on television.
In order to propagate indigenous culture and preserve the traditional values of Nigerians, home movies have a pioneering role toward fulfilling cultural identification, promotion and redefining those cultural norms that are gradually, providing inadequate and unacceptable e.g (violence, sex, infidelity, rape, lesbianism, fraud, witchcraft, corruption and cultism).
Home movies vary both in actions and names. Types of movies include: Action, drama, comedy, romantic comedy, science fiction, horror and commentary.
It is a fact culture identifies a people and gives them a sense of belonging in every society, cultural heritage speaks a lot about the people, foods, dance, language arts, music, rites, rituals, fashion, philosophy. In order to ensure the place of Nigerian cultures home movie as a medium used for cultural transmission, propaganda and entertainment, have a role and duty of portraying Nigerian culture to enhance development and creating job opportunities in the cultural and movie industries.