Abstract
Image matters whether it concerns a
nation or an individual. The image of the Nigerian and the Nigerian nation in
the media, both national and international, leaves so much to be desired.
Daily, we are bombarded with negative stereotypes and images in the media: of Nigerian
armed robbers in Dubai; Yahoo Yahoo and Yahoo
plus experiments and; credit card fraudsters in the
UK and other European nations. These images do not help in projecting the real
potential and the endowments of the nation both in human terms and natural
resources. This paper investigates the genuine practise and patterns of Nigerian workers,
especially as it is represented in the Nollywood film "93 Days" which
is a film that shows Nigeria in a positive light over an incident that was well
handled by the Government. This, however, is one of the rare films that showed
Nigeria in good light. There are many in Nollywood and even Hollywood that show
the country in negative image such as District 9 and Shanty Town. This paper examines
how films could be used
as tools in creating and sustaining positive images for Nigeria and the
Nigerian nation. It
will also explore how, through the use of themes and characterisation, films can be used to create
positive images for the nation. It will then suggest steps that could be taken
to increase the number of Nollywood films that could help in rebranding the
nation's image positively. Negative representation in Nollywood harms the country's
reputation because there is no telling how far the films go. The theoretical
framework for this paper is Jean-Louis Baudry's Apparatus theory. The theory
avers that cinema (film) is ideological; its mechanics of representation are
ideological because films are created to represent reality. It also adopts a
literary method of analysis to answer the question posed on the reality of the
effectiveness of the Nigerian sectors. From the analysis, the aplomb nature of
the Nigerian health workers is revealed. In a period that is evidently
challenging for everybody, especially health workers, outdid themselves and
protected the people.
Keywords: Apparatus theory, Image, Nollywood,
Stereotypes, Yahoo plus, Yahoo-Yahoo
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/tjllc.2024.v03i01.002
author/ADEDINA, Femi. PhD
journal/Tasambo JLLC | 15 February 2024 | Article 02
