Influence of Home Video on the Moral Behavior of Students of Caritas University Enugu

Influence of Home Video on the Moral Behavior of Students of Caritas University Enugu

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of home video on the moral behavior of students of Caritas University Enugu. To achieve this, the survey research method was used. Subjects were drawn from the Caritas University, using the simple random sampling techniques and purposive sampling. Four research questions guided the study. Research findings showed that, a great number of students in Caritas University, Enugu have access to allot of home videos. To the end, the researcher recommended that the Nigerian film censor board should monitor and filter films before sending them for sale. This is to upgrade the moral behavior of students.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Over the years world views have continually detected the moral disposition of the world’s people. This is true for Nigerians and other countries. This comprehensive view is the fundamental cognitive orientation of an individual or society, encompassing the entirety of the individual or society’s knowledge and point of view (Wikipedia 2013)

Olu and Iduaja (2007) noted that, with the mass production of visual images made television, cinema, internet, etc, the world has eventually become a global village sharing different world views in common.

There is a common belief in Nigeria, that home movies negatively project the culture of Nigeria. That is why Frank Aig-Imoukhuede in Opubor (1995) confirms that, “Many Nigerians have complained of the poisonous content of films shown on the screens in Nigeria. A great number of people have criticized the nation’s television for featuring materials which have contradiction or erodes, the quality of life and undermine the people’s values and norms. What is needed are films for self projection for presenting the fact of life in Nigeria.

Home video is a blanket term used for prerecorded media that is either sold or rented for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from VHS era, when the predominant medium was video tape, but has carried over into current optical disc format like DVD and Blu-ray disc and to lesser extent into methods of digital such as Netflix. The home video business distributes films, telemovies and television series in the form of video in various formats to the public. These are bought or rented, then watched privately from the comfort of home by consumers. (Wikipedia 2014)

Moral behavior is an action that produces good outcome for individuals as members of the society. It can be applied to the whole global society. Morals are principles that are learnt about, the difference between right and wrong. Empathy and other forms of social awareness are important in the development of moral sense. Morality embraces a person’s beliefs about the appropriateness or goodness of what he does, thinks or feels. Childhood is the time at which moral standard begin to develop in the process that often extends well into adulthood.

The history of home videos has it that actual recording and presentation of actualities started with the Lumiere Brothers experienced on December 28th 1985 when they achieved this by recording the “break Time” in their factory. Dosumu (1995) averse that “ when the brothers Louis and Auguste Lumiere unveiled their cinematographer in the basement of grand café in Paris on December 28th 1895, they no doubt felt satisfied that they found a new medium of recording and presentation of actualities. Recording activities is what a documentary does and that is what Lumiere Brothers achieved by recording “Break Time” in the factory. The impact of the film medium on market has been great and varied: carrying ideas and aspirations beyond cultures.

The development of films in Nigeria started with the colonial experience. The first film shot took place at the Glover hall Lagos, on Monday August 12th and lasted for 10 nights Messrs. Balboa of Boronia Sain shaved the film under management of the Nigerian Herbert Macaulay. Nevertheless film production started rather late. According to Balogun (1987),Obe was considered the first to have made a standard film production in Nigeria by making mute film for the health department in the year 1936.

In 1947 the Nigerian government established the federal film Unit. The unit produced many newsreels, and documentary films in the fifties, the film industry in Nigeria was dominated totally by foreigners and foreign films.

During this ere, film shows were done in cinema halls, village squares, schools and church premises among other locations. This public show of films, made it possible to show only films that were of “high technical quality”. With the advent of video cassettes, video compact disc (VCD) or the digital video disc (DVD), the old culture of going to the cinema centre’s and public arenas for film shows dropped. Children and adults sit indoors glued to their TV sets. Then the area of home movies was born. Movies in English, Pidgin English, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba flooded the market on daily basis.

It is pertinent to draw the attention of the Minister of Information and Communication Mr. Labaran Maku, to the arts and industry in Nigeria. Only a fool will argue that the country’s art and culture industry is insignificant in the nation’s rebranding.

It has been established rightly that the movie industry of Nigeria (Nollywood) is the biggest in Africa and also comes third after Bollywood of India with the United States of America’s Hollywood in the forefront.

However a cursory look at the content of our home videos brands is good enough to keep well intention tourist and visitors out of our shoes. Over 90% of movies released in Nigeria, display perverted and negative impression about the country, where violence and afro-centric sciences of juju and ritualized killings dominate the scene. Also most moves are seen as pornographic because most of the actors and actresses appear nude. At times one wonders where the imaginations of the script writers spurn from; as a result of the kind of bizarre make-belief movies they produce. Even young Nigerian growing up under the influence of these images is bound to develop negative virtues about his environment and people.

It is, therefore, necessary for Mr. Labaran Maku to put it in motion to correct these notions and bring some forms of sanity into the industry. As Hussein (2002) lamented “we need time to achieve this (sanity) because a lot of damage has been done already. Here is an industry where a fellow is probably because he cried in a movie and drew the sympathy of viewing public or she appears nude in a movie.

One would ask “does negative influence of home videos bring about moral behavior change?” Opubor et al (1995) answered this by saying that “of all the media of communication the motion picture has perhaps the most universal appeal and impact; a film can rise above the limitation of language, and culture barriers by power of visual images, its use of music and sound effects and can succeed in conveying much the same message to audience of heterogeneous backgrounds.

According to Lippman (1922) he states that, “People act on the basis of pictures in their heads rather than in accordance with reality of the world outside”. It is envisaged that at the end of the study, the outcome will help in formulating and packaging home videos for youths, draw parental attention to the influence of home videos on the moral behaviours of youth and above all, the study will increase existing literatures on the influence of home videos on youths. 

Brief History of Caritas University

Caritas University is a private Catholic University in Amoji-Nike, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria on December 16th 2004, and was officially opened on January 31st 2005.

The University operates on a faculty system which is: Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Natural Sciences, Management and Social Sciences.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Movies are veritable tools of mass communication which cuts across national and cultural boundaries with wide and fast disturbing networks internationally. It is obvious or crystal clear that the moral behavior of students can be influenced positively or negatively as a result of Home video.

Therefore, the question this study seeks to answer is,how does home video influence the moral behavior of students in Caritas University Enugu. 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The study has the following objectives

1. To find out students who have access to television.
2. To find out how often the students watch the home video.
3. To determine the level of exposure the students have to home video.
4. To know or to find out the influence of home video on the moral behaviour of students of Caritas University.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the various home videos the students have access to?
2. How often do the students of Caritas University watch home video?
3. What is the level of exposure of students of Caritas University to home video?
4. What is the influence of home video on the moral behaviour of students of Caritas University?

1.5 Scope of the Study

The essence of this research study is to primarily study the influence of home videos on the moral behavior of students of Caritas University.

1.6 Significance/ justification of the study

The study will help researchers with the information on the influence of home videos on the moral behavior of students of Caritas University Enugu. It will be relevant in assisting students in understanding the diversity of social media. It will provide relevant materials for students and other researchers undertaking similar research.

1.7 Operational Definition of Key Terms

Influence: The ability of home videos to affect or alter the moral behavior of students of Caritas University.

Home Video: A film on video tape for viewing at home.

Films: Are moving pictures usually shown in a cinema on television and they often tell stories.

Moral Behavior: Is an action that produces good outcome for the individual and members of a society.

Students: A person formally engaged in learning especially one enrolled in a school.

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