THE EFFECT OF FOREIGN MOVIES ON NIGERIAN CULTURE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Foreign movies are movies imported from other countries for entertainment purposes. Foreign movies have proven to be most popular brand of movies in Nigeria. Movies from countries like the United States of America, India, Mexico and Korea dominate the Nigerian movie industry popularly known as Hollywood

The situation has gotten so bad that Nigerian actors and actresses re-act foreign movies. A good example of this is “street girls” featuring Queen Latifah and Viviane fox was later acted by Nigerian popular actress Fathia Balogun among others. And it has proven that whatever affects the culture. Considerations about the effects of films, 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 film on societies. The development of the 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 kind 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 films 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 others 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 an increase in aggressive behaviours and attitude as well as his inclinations to customs values and norms of the society (Berkowitz, 2001).

1.2       STATEMENT OF  THE PROBLEM

It cannot be over emphasized 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. The media, as one of the specific learning conditions are believed to be a potential contributor to the growth of antisocial attitudes and behavior in children and teenagers (Berkowitz, 2001).  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 factors among others, influencing the formative process of the teenagers (Kandakai, Price and Telljohann, 1999). It is against this backdrop that this study therefore, attempts to examine the effect of foreign films on  Nigerian culture

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY   

The objectives of this study are as follows, to;

i.         To find out the effect of foreign movies on Nigerians.

ii.       To ascertain if there is a relationship between foreign movies and cultural distortions.

iii.    To know if foreign films shape the attitude, behaviors and general lifestyle of  Nigerians.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study will be guided by the following research questions

i.         What is  the effect of foreign movies on Nigerians?

ii.       Is  there is a relationship between foreign movies and cultural distortions?

iii.    Has foreign films shape the attitude, behaviors and general lifestyle of  Nigerians?

1.5       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will find out the effect of foreign movies on Nigerians. The study will also ascertain if there is a relationship between foreign movies and cultural distortions. Lastly, the study will know if foreign films shape the attitude, behaviors and general lifestyle of  Nigerians.

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed to be helpful in the following ways;

The study will help to educate the general public of the inter-relationship between media programme contents (i.e foreign film) and teenagers’ 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 Western films and television programmes into Nigeria society.

By embarking on this study the researcher hopes to contribute to possible dilution, domination and absorption of the Nigerian culture from exposure to western television. Yet, his aspirations do not end there. He is optimistic that his investigation will prompt the government and policy makers to put adequate measures in place to check the inflow of Western television programmes and films into Nigeria.

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.

1.7       OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Foreign movies: involving, located in, or coming from another country, area, people, etc.