Students Perception of Nudity on Social Media (Instagram), A Study of DELSU, Abraka
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study is to investigate the perception of students towards social media (Instagram) nudity while the specific objectives of the study to:
- Determine the frequency at which Delta State University students use Instagram.
- Determine the amount of nude contents viewed by student on Instagram.
- Ascertain the perceptions of Delta State University students towards nude contents on Instagram.
- Find out the motive behind posting of nude contents on Instagram by students
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Naked/Nude
To understand contextual influence, it is necessary to survey the linguistic and environmental effects on the nude. Hinton (2014:xi) states that making sense of context relies on how an environment is understood and then “it explores how language takes part in that understanding”. When we speak of historical periods we refer to particular social and cultural orders. Later on I will discuss environmental effects on the artistic exploration of the nude as a subject. But before getting into historic roles it is important to understand the influence language has on the nude as subject matter and one’s understanding of it. Van Dijk (2008:6) states “language and language use are of course social phenomena”. The nude figure in art is a subject that has been referred to by a number of names and discussed in certain light depending on the name it goes by. When you take off your clothes are you naked or nude? The body stripped of clothing, and its various represented forms, have been central topics of discussion through various, extended, points of time. The nude versus naked discussion has frequented literature since the 1950s. The conversation on this subject focuses on the evolving semiotics and semantics of the unclothed body. Because context comprises unpredictable variables it is often apt to create a conventional understanding of a subject at, or in relation to, a particular time through discourse signifiers. Here, language plays an influential role. Through selective use it is possible to control the perceptual outcomes (Van Dijk 2008:221). The figure in art has been subjected to this use of language. Naked and nude conjure varied images and offer different implications. This section explores the various perceptions of the subject of nudity through language and modes of representation. In this case language becomes the context from which the bare body can be understood; which can generally be considered the historic nude and the contemporary naked. Through the literature I consulted (Clark 1956; Berger 1972; Borzello 2012) it becomes evident that the nude has many forms of meaning and a different name (naked) depending on the formal elements (the way in which a naked body is represented in art influences the way theorists have spoken and written about it. Is the figure an unknown person who shows no awareness of being naked? Or does the figure have characteristics that could only be specific to an individual? These are amongst the issues discussed in this section). With each of these titles the symbolism changes; the nude has integrity and reveals little, while the naked is shameful or exposing and honest. Even though the images are sometimes similar the language we use suggests different discourses and therefore a varied, sometimes contrasting, understanding of the final work. In discussing these arguments, I refer to the following authors: Clark (1903 – 1983) for his initiation of the discussion on the naked verse nude 8 dynamic, in which he favours the nude as ideal; and Berger (1926 -) who was selected for his addition to the discourse, in which he opposes Clarks views when speaking to the values of the naked. While these two authors have been cited by a number of authors, the discussion and progression of the naked verses nude argument has most recently been taken up by Borzello (1939 -). Borzello has created an overview of the nude, referring to both of the afore mentioned authors and their contributions. But, she was selected for moving the conversation on to how the nude has been recycled and, now, reinvented as the contemporarily relevant naked nude. The nude has become a subject that is differentiated from just being naked. Clark (1956:1) states that English, “with its elaborate generosity, distinguishes between the naked and the nude”. The word operates as a euphemism for the term naked. While the Oxford Dictionary (2010:804) does define nude as “wearing no clothes; naked”, it also states that it is “a naked human figure, typically as the subject of a painting, sculpture, or photograph”. So even though the meanings overlap the nude signifies the artistic form. It is “the body reformed” into an image that is “balanced, prosperous and confident” (Clark 1956:1). This act of looking at the body transformed the subject from flawed and blemished to perfection, to art. Art, in this sense is created, not by “direct transcription” or “imitation, but, by perfecting” (Clark 1956:4), the represented nude is not a living body, “but a design”. The body is redesigned for viewing, flaws ironed over and obscenity obscured to evade offence. Clark was communicating that the artistic process translated and placed real life on a pedestal. Borzello (2012:18) states that Clark’s message in The Nude (1956) “was that fine art was superior to life and by extension nudity in art was purer than nudity in life”. There is a separation between the image and the sitter. So while there might be a level of discomfort in looking at, or being in the presence of, a naked stranger or person other than one’s own partner, the nude in art was distanced from these feelings, allowing the nude to be looked at with the same seriousness as other esteemed genres of art making, such as portraiture or history painting. Borzello (2012:18) states that this “allowed artists to use it as a vehicle of expression that could stand for purity and truth as well as beauty”. The literal stripping of the sitter also worked as a process that removed identity and transformed the body into a conceptual object. 9 The unclothed body represents the idea of form (Benjamin13 2010:19) and speaks of numerous conceptual elements such as erotica, academia and art (Vaughn-Evans B14, pers. comm. 27 March 2012). These elements relate to both the nude and naked. Barcan (2004:77) states that while it is true that the figure cannot be fully understood outside of “it’s particular historical and cultural contexts” it is possible to identify “persistent elements of a symbolic tradition”. Barcan (2004:77) says that these symbols are held “in the most primal cultural binary – the division between good and bad”. Nudity exhibits positive and negative metaphors. Positive associations of the state include, “simplicity, lack of artifice or worldliness”, “honesty, openness”, innocence, humility and childhood”, “freedom”, “nature and ‘naturalness’” and “authenticity and truth” (Barcan 2004). Negative symbolism, which relate to nakedness according to Clark’s (1956) definition of nude, suggests, “exposure”, “a sign of sin and criminality”, “sex”, “death”, “shame”, “anxiety”, “punishment, humiliation and degradation”, “poverty, wretchedness, vulnerability”, “bare humanity” and “savagery” (Barcan 2004). Context brings out different attributes of the unclothed.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine students perception of nudity on social media (Instagram). Delsu, Abraka forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Students Perception Of Nudity On Social Media (Instagram), A Study Of Delsu, Abraka. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of the Students Perception Of Nudity On Social Media (Instagram), A Study Of Delsu, Abraka.
Summary
This study was on Students Perception Of Nudity On Social Media (Instagram), A Study Of Delsu, Abraka. Three objectives were raised which included: Determine the frequency at which Delta State University students use Instagram, Determine the amount of nude contents viewed by student on Instagram, Ascertain the perceptions of Delta State University students towards nude contents on Instagram and find out the motive behind posting of nude contents on Instagram by students. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Delta State University students. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Based on the findings, we could conclude that the students in institutions of higher learning in Delta state use the social media extensively for different purposes which range from academic, entertainment, social interactions and engagement to commerce. Additionally, we found that the students spend good number of hours daily using the social media. We also concluded that the students have very favourable perception of the social media and this favourable perception has a significant positive correlation with their usage of the social media specially nude pictures. In essence, they use the social media significantly. Additionally, we could conclude from the study that there is a significant correlation between gender and media usage among students of higher institutions learning in Delta State.
Recommendation
The students should be encouraged by their lecturers and the appropriate authorities to get exposed to more of the social media which serve other important purposes in addition to the ones they are already hooked to. The authorities of the institutions should formulate and implement functional ICT policies and enlighten the students to use the social media for positive and productive purposes. The students should also be encouraged by their institutions and the appropriate government departments to channel their use of the social media to better and more productive purposes. The authorities of the institutions, information technology (IT) bodies, the mass media and the government should organize awareness campaigns on the use of the social media in order to encourage the students to get more exposed to the social media and to use them more positively and productively.
References
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