1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Considerations about the effects of films can be traced back to the 1920s. At that time, the earliest coordinated social scientific research or investigation into the impact of these effects began in the Western countries. It was intended at studying the harmful impacts of films on societies.
The development of this medium as a common mass entertainment and information source during the 1950s encountered similar concerns about potential harms, especially in connection with young audiences (Gunter, 1994). Nowadays, many concerns have been raised about the kinds of values and attitudes that may be inculcated by exposure to certain kinds of media contents, especially enculturation and violence in movies (Kubey and Larson, 2005).
The most important concern in the debate about violent film has been whether or not it promotes aggressive behavior among viewers most especially the young ones (Evra 1990). Researchers have also shown that heavy exposure to screen violence can cause problems in other domains of social behavior.
For example, it can make people become both fearful of the world around them and accepting violence in the real life as displayed by others (Ibid). Violence is one of the global concerns today in all segments of the world. Antisocial behavior in human beings is accepted to be associated to a number of physiological, psychological, domestic and cultural aspects.
The learning environments which a child is exposed to are also assumed to contribute to the increase of aggressive behaviors and attitudes as well as his inclinations to customs, values and norms of the society (Berkowitz, 2001).
The media, as one of the specific learning condition is believed to be a potential contributor to the growth of antisocial attitudes and behavior in children and teenagers (Ibid). While social scientists work on determining the major causation of violence, such as social environments, cultural factors, family instruction, and group membership parents, teachers, politicians and school administrators continue to blame the media for increased cultural alienation and attitudinal change among adolescents (Fraser and Staub, 1996).
For instance, school principals, mothers, and young people were surveyed for their perceptions of factors influencing home cultures among youth. The results showed that violent messages in rap music and violence in the movies are perceived as the factor among others, influencing the formative process of the teenagers (Kandakai, Price and Telljohann, 1999). Also and importantly, the question of cultural promotion in the developing world has been hampered by blind acceptance and practice of western cultures by the young ones.
Findings however show that film as a medium of mass communication is one the major contributors. Nowadays, the teenagers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole watch western films with impunity or without caution. This shapes their thoughts, attitudes, associations, behaviors and general ways of life.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
The impact of western films on teenagers is wider in scope even more than the ordinary world. Many things happening around can be attributed to it. It was reported that western films have reshaped Nigerian teenagers' thoughts, attitudes, associations, behaviors and their general ways of life.
The impact of Western films on teenagers have been said to be a serious problem facing Nigerians. Some of these problems are:
- Inadequate policy to guard the youths towards Western Films/ Programmes.
- There is an erosion of the cultural values.
- The imitation of Western cultures especially the American cultures.
- The Nigerian youths are faced with brain wash.
Therefore, if the above problems are not been taking care off, it will lead to a total destruction of the Nigerians culture.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The researcher's objective is to assess the impact of western films on teenagers with an insight to determine its implication to the cultural values of Nigerian youths are:
- To show how the contents of Western films affect Nigerian Polytechnic students.
- To assess its pervasive impact on the cultural values of Nigerian Polytechnic students.
- To know how to isolate ugly Western films that have negative impact on teenagers from Nigeria.
- Another objective of this study is to know the efforts of the film censorship Commission in finding a lasting solution to the problem of western film violence on the teenagers.
1.4 Significance of the Study
- The research will help in possible dilution, domination and finally absorption of the African/Nigerian culture which until the present has been characterized with good neighbourliness, respect for elders, virtuousness, community orientation and collectivism.
- It will enable the government and policy makers to put adequate measures in place to check the movement of Western films into Nigeria.
- It will help remove the idea of imitating Western cultures or ways of life from Nigeria.
The conduct of this research will enable the government to know what role the movie industry can play in the development of a country and therefore, harness the movie industry in the democratic process and development process in general.
1.5 Research Questions
The study answered these pertinent questions in order to fulfill the overall goal.
- Do western films shape the attitudes, behaviors and general lifestyles of the teenagers in Nigeria?
- Do Nigerian teenagers accept and practice western cultures exposed to through western films at the expense of Nigerian cultures?
- At what degree do Nigerian teenagers resist foreign or western cultures exposed to through western films?
1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of this is to assess how the Western Films affect the teenagers using Federal Polytechnic Nekede as a case study.
The institution is been noted for a constant influence of Western films on their cultural values. Hence, the need for choosing the institution as a case study commenced.
In the cause of the research, oral interview were consulted on both staff and students of the institution. But the research depends more on the questionnaire which were distributed to students and staffs and were completed and returned. The researcher also consulted some textbooks, Newspapers and journals which provided a lot of information pertaining to the study.
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