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.
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-Imoukahude 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 erods, 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.
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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’sbeliefs 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 August 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.
Bolboa of BorceoniaSoain shaved the film under management of the Nigerian Herbert
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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.
LabaranMaku, to the arts and industry in Nigeria. Only a fool will argue that the country’s
art and culture industry is insignificant in the nations 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 afrocentric 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
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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. LabaranMaku to put it in motion to correct these notions
and bring some forms of sanity into the industry. As Husein (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.
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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
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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.
1.7Operational 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.