CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

An assignment for Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya

Why I Like films.

           

‘I would not describe myself as a movie connoisseur. Nevertheless, in so many ways, I could say that I am a movie buff. This is because, in my spare moments, my idea of relaxation and fun, is to either curl up on the sofa and watch a nice movie, or go to the cinema to enjoy the action on the big screen.’I like films, and I believe that there is so much to learn from them.

For one whose life has been largely sheltered, I have learnt vicariously about some aspects of life  by watching movies. In this sense, I see films as tools of information. I do not just watch everything I see. Although I enjoy the occasional horror movie or comedy flicks, I love to watch more of epics, thrillers, espionage, or romantic films, and I carefully select the ones with a meaningful thematic concern. I have been able to have a glimpse of the human psychology and relationship matrixes through watching films. I believe that films are an exaggerated portraiture of everyday life as we know it. I use the word ‘exaggerated’ in the sense that the action in a movie is crafted to appeal to the visual senses; hence, the movie makers exaggerate a little to be able to drive their message home. I watch movies from everywhere- Hollywood, Nollywood, or Bollywood, as long as there is a lesson or two to pick up from each.

 The educational advantages of a well-produced movie are unparalleled. I see this in my children. I monitor what they watch. I go out of my way to buy age appropriate movies for them. I have noticed that their vocabulary is quite extensive. My children are aged 10, 7, 5 and 2, but their grasp of the English language is impressive. One of the movies they enjoy, which I even watch along with them, is the evergreen ‘Sound of Music.’  Each time we travel to see my parents, my dad, who is a most impressive writer and newspaper editor, is always amazed at their lexicon. 

 I also like to watch movies because of the vista of understanding it opens up into other cultures. When one watches a movie which is set in another culture, one immediately has an understanding of the workings of that culture. There was a period that I watched so many Indian movies that, though I have not been opportune to visit India before, I now have some understanding of that culture. Some things I have gleaned include: their deep family bonds, the bride price system whereby a woman gets to pay a man’s dowry, instead of the other way round, and their funeral practices whereby a corpse is cremated before the ashes are buried, and a lot more. The Italian movies give an insight into the issue of the mafia and gangster  matters.


I do not see watching movies as a waste of time at all as I have learnt so much from the well crafted ones. I look forward to having my books, when I publish them, made into movies in future. The visual medium is most powerful. One does not easily forget what one sees, and I believe that films can be a strong means of adding value to the society if the whole process is carefully thought out.

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An Assignment for Dr. Eugene Ohu
Media Ethics- a summary.

 The evolution of the traditional media as we knew it, into a more convergent one, has come with attendant benefits and disadvantages as well. For one, barriers to publishing have been removed as the media practitioners can reach a wider audience; on the other hand, it is largely self regulatory. Thus, more than ever, the self regulatory nature of the new media also throws up the dilemma of what actually defines media ethics and practitioner's responsibility to self and its stakeholders, as they pursue their agenda.

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Media Ethics Contd.

              

Players in the media industry are expected to pursue the objectives of truth, fair play and decency in the gathering, reporting and interpretation of information.  Mere information gathering does not suffice; extra efforts should be made to ensure that in disseminating  information to the general public, it is done in such a way that the interests and rights of members of the public are taken into consideration. In a situation where a report is going to cause harm to others, it should be handled in a way that such potential harm, is minimized, and its effects ameliorated in the best way which is humanly possible.  Situations could arise, which pose a dilemma to the natural tendency of the Journalist to be overtly curious.  If the Journalist realizes that, giving in to this lurid curiosity could cost great damage to the other party, then it behooves him to quell his curiosity, and exhibit the ‘milk of human kindness’ in his reportage.

The one interest which takes preeminence over every other one is the public’s right to know. Every media practitioner must have as his mantra, ‘service to the society.’  This will serve as a check against conflicts of interests.

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