Effect of Violent Films on Nigeria Cultural Values: Study of Owerri Municipal
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study focuses on examining the effects of violent films on Nigerian cultural values. The specific objectives include the following:
- To ascertain the preference of violent films among teenagers in owerri municipal
- To find out the influence of violent films on the dressing pattern of teenagers in owerri municipal
- To examine if violent films affects the temperament of teenagers in owerri municipal
- To investigate the negative impact of violent films on teenagers in owerri municipal
- To assess if violent films affect the cultural values of teenagers in owerri municipal
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CONCEPT OF VIOLENCE
Violence implies physical attack of an individual on another person. Activities that may legally involved violence include hunting, law enforcement, sports and war. Crime includes many illegal forms of violence such as armed robbery, burglary, arson suicide, rape, gansterism toughness, thuggery, murder, karate and judos, illegal forms of firearms and all illegal forms of violence that ate recognized in the rules and regulations of a given society. Webster’s dictionary of English language defines ‘violence’ as the quality or state of being violent, intensity fury, also unjust exercise of power, injury, outrage, physical force unlawfully exercised and act tending: an act tending to intimidate or overawe by causing apprehension of bodily injury. Violence is not just physical. People inflict psychological and emotional damages after viewing televised violence. Episode in which someone is reduced to tears, humiliated or simply made fearful (perhaps by threat of violence) are still violent. Violent is the adjective meaning the situation whereby injury is caused by exhibiting intense emotional or mental excitement. So the inherently different nature of televised violence becomes yet another variable. Television violence do not exist in isolation, so our understanding of what is violence behaviour is the formation of our attitudes towards violence and it happens through a collection and accumulation of experiences from various media and texts. Graeme (2005) posits that violence is not a single act of a single text within a single medium. The underlying fact about violence (especially televised violence) is that the viewers form different reactions towards a given violence movie. Whereas some viewers might exhibit non-aggressive attitudes; others might be aggressive after watching televised violent movies. (Odenigbo and Adejefor, 1997) Regrettably, it has equally been found that females, children and the elderly are usually victims of violence; they have already been cast in this role by the prevailing mythologies which inhabit texts. We are disinclined that women will commit violence as their male counterparts. Newcomb (1979) cited in Ezeukwu (1999) asserts that; Violence on television is an overt expression of physical force against self on another person, with the intent to compel action against one’s will on pain of being hurt or killed, or actually hurting or killing. The following specific acts of violence are typically televised in Nigerian society: rape, fantasy world, gangsterism, toughness and other various aggressive behaviours. Today, the television screens of television stations are daily bombarded with local and foreign movies that portray violence. With the emergency of cable transmission that allows for multiple stations, the competition is becoming stiff as stations how compete for the available airspace and audience. The result is the increase in production, distribution and airing of televised violence. Media experts are concerned with the effects of television individuals especially children.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to effect of violent films on Nigeria cultural values: study of owerri municipal
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was Effect of violent films on Nigeria cultural values : study of owerri municipal. 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 violent films on Nigeria cultural values : study of owerri municipal
Summary
This study was on Effect of violent films on Nigeria cultural values : study of owerri municipal. Five objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the preference of violent films among teenagers in owerri municipal, to find out the influence of violent films on the dressing pattern of teenagers in owerri municipal, to examine if violent films affects the temperament of teenagers in owerri municipal, to investigate the negative impact of violent films on teenagers in owerri municipal and to assess if violent films affect the cultural values of teenagers in owerri municipal. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents in owerri municipal. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married women, married women, students and youths were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Some scholars (Huesmann and Moise) are of the opinion that media violence promotes violent behavior in young people, that viewing habits of young people predicts subsequent aggression and also that exposure to violence leads to arousal, desensitization and acceptance. Some other scholars (Wilbur Schramm, Jack Lyle, Edwin Parker etc.) are of the opinion that for some children under some conditions, watching violent films might be harmful, for some under other conditions, beneficial and for most children under most conditions, it might be neither harmful or beneficial (Vivian, 1999: 401) while some scholars (Freedman etc) are of the opinion that media violence does not promote violent behavior in young people. That the results are inconsistent, unrealistic and inconclusive, and that young people know the difference between real and fiction. Vivian (1999:397) opines that “some experts however say that the negative effect of media-depicted violence is too often overstated and that media violence actually has a positive side”. It therefore means that some people when they have viewed violent films might tend to act positively. A woman who is abused at home by her spouse and who has bottled up her emotions might decide to check an NGO on domestic violence or seek help from a counselor. George Gerbner theorizes that the media violence has negative effects on society. He calls it, “the mean-world syndrome”, that people has been exposed to so much violence that they now see the real world as a mean place and can easily adapt to violence in the world
Recommendation
The study advocates for control on the depiction of violence in the media, there should be strict and monitored policies on violent programmes in the media since some heavy viewers will be affected. Parents are enjoined to know what programme their children are viewing on the media, if possible they should watch with them explaining some of the issues to them, thereby educating them. This will make them to have positive parental influence on their children
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