1.1 Introduction
The Nigerian Home video has spawned an industry that turns out 1000 films every year, generates 300,000 jobs every year, has a turnover of well over N5 billion yearly; with a growth rate of some 60%, the industry is bursting at the seams. These groundbreaking achievements of the video film as against the Lethargy of celluloid film as forms of media production in Africa indicate a call for an urgent revision of the concept of filmmaking in the continent. Film has been one of the greatest influences in our modern life, and it is also a form of art, the seventh art along with photography, architecture, painting and music. It is the combination of technology, business, entertainment and aesthetics, each and everything of these four has important role in present day world and it is also visible in the variation of its forms (Mahmood Istiak 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In contemporary Africa, one of the greatest pastimes is the video film. It has become a newfound love for the African mind. This is largely due to its accessibility to huge audience including children and adolescents as compared to an older form of media production like the cinema. Retrospectively, motion pictures history will be inconsequential without Hollywood. There are different kinds of films ranging from romance, adventure/epic, detective, horror, crime, war, pornography. These movies are viewed on television, cinema screens, through video machines such as VHS, VCD, DVD, and computer CD ROM, and digitalized mobile phones. Majority of Hollywood movies, flourishing in Nigeria’s markets contain scenes which are uncensored and should be prohibited to youths.
Many researchers have agreed with the facts that youths imitate what they see on screen without knowing the negative implications. In recent times it has been observed that youths no longer create time for their studies or helping out with domestics, or moreover some parents are vegetated in catering for their wards. These acts affect their formative ages and other behavioral patterns in abject recalcitrance (Brown, N. J and Bassey-Duke V. 2014).
The video film and films shot on electromagnetic tape is readily produced with a shoe string budget. Apart from the inexpensive nature of this form of media production, the masses in much of Africa especially Nigerians are readily reached. The home video film has thus become very popular amongst Africans. Interesting too, it has become a veritable expression of African modernity in terms of Mass culture. Looking at both forms of mass media production from the standpoints of economics of scale and production output could be revealing as well as instructive. In Africa, video films are-easily and readily produced as against that of traditional cinema. Larkin (2003:194) points out that; in 1999 over 500 video films were produced in Nigeria. This means that, in this one year alone, more video films were produced than in the entire history of feature film production in this country. From almost 10 years ago, video films have blossomed to become perhaps the most vibrant new form of media production in Africa.
Therefore, in National Open University of Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigation know the effects of home video on Nigeria youth.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the television media have taken a center stage in our daily activities especially in the 21st Century with the emergence and consolidation of different television stations and service providers. It has been observed in cities that satellite and cable television stations have a greater amount of audience than the local television stations.
Although the Home Video Industry in Nigeria is barely more than a decade, it commands a household name. It commands a very large and active audience and it covers every aspect of the Nigerian society.
Its impact on the areas of the culture, religion and morality has generated a lot of uneasiness. Fear looms heavily in the mind of conservatives about the possible results of the incursion into the traditional value of culture and morality. It is against this backdrop that this study therefore, attempts to examine the effects of home video on Nigeria youths with a keen focus on the youths in National Open University of Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of home video on Nigeria youth using National Open University of Nigeria as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out the effect of home video on Nigeria youths
- To ascertain the relationship between youths’ violent behaviors and home videos
- To determine if home videos shape the attitude, behaviors and general lifestyle of youths in Nigeria
- To investigate whether Nigerian youths accept and practice African culture portrays in home movies.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does a Nigeria youth accept and practice African culture portrays in home movies?
- Is there any significant relationship between youths’ violent behaviors and home videos?
- Does home video shape the attitude, behaviors and general lifestyle of youths in Nigeria?
- What is the effect of home video on Nigeria youths?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between youths’ violent behaviors and home videos
- H1: There is a significant relationship between youths’ violent behaviors and home videos
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Nigeria youth does not accept and practice African culture portrays in home movies
- H1: Nigeria youth accept and practice African culture portrays in home movies
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit in the following ways;
- The study will help to educate the general public of the inter-relationship between media programme contents (i.e home video) and youths’ violent/immoral behaviors.
- This study is expected to help the government, religious leaders, educationist and also policy maker to know the extent to which the mass media (films) can bring about drastic change in the lifestyle of teenagers and how it can serve as a tool for cultural importation as well as guide them to put adequate measures in place to check the movement of home videos and television programmes into Nigeria society.
- Finally, this study does not only aim at contributing to knowledge but also providing a foundational basis for further studies into the socialization role of entertainment television.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the effects of home video on Nigeria youth using National Open University of Nigeria as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Home movies: This is any pre-recorded media films played and viewed by people with their movie players in their homes or movie clubs. These films are viewed with the aid of a TV set which is connected to the movie machine. They are recorded on movie tape, disc or DVD.
Television: This is an electronic medium through which pictorial messages are passed or transmitted to the audience.
