Narrative and Discourse Analysis of the Ideology in the Representations of Women in Nigerian Home Video Films

Abstract This study investigates the pattern of representations of women in Nigerian home video films with the aim of exposing the ideologies that are constructed and embedded in the representations. Indeed, the major objective of the study is to understand whether or not Nigerian films are reinforcing or renegotiating the patriarchal ideologies about women. Thus, the study adopted narrative analysis that enables a discourse and critical examination of Nigerian films. This involves not only a narration of the plots of the selected films, but also a dissection of the plots in relation to the discourses and ideologies about women that are being constructed in the films. A total of eleven video films were randomly selected from films released within ten years period for detailed analysis in this study. Eight of the films are English Language films while the other three are Yoruba language films, The study suggests that the representations of women in Nigerian films are a reflection or re-presentations of the dominant patriarchal ideologies about women, which are created and valued by the discursive practices and cultural system of Nigerian society. It also concludes that since the representations of women in Nigerian films are ideological based, the representations are only a fraction of the reality of women’s lives in Nigeria. Key Words: Representation, Discourses, Ideologies, Nigerian Home Videos, Narratives JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, April 2013, 157 – 170. ©Delmas Communications Ltd About the author *Dr. Adesina Lukman Azeez is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Full Article Words: 8,700; Pages: 14