TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE NIGERIA THEATRE

ABSTRACT

The main purposes of ths study is to investigate technological advancement and the problem with the Nigeria theatre. The study made use of four research questions and four research objectives.The specific objectives of the study are thus; 1.To examine the extend technologies  influenced the operations of the Nigeria theatre  2.To analyze the proficiency of theatre staff in the use of the new media technologies 3.To examine the extend technologies have been incorporated into the theatre operations in Nigeria 4.To understand the challenges posed by technologies adoption in Nigerian theatre. The theories adopted for this study are: Technological Determinism Theory, Theory of Dependency, Cultivation Theory, Structural Functioning Theory.The results showed, among other things, that the Nigerian theatre have accepted and adopted the use of some relevant technologies, particularly the extensive application of the computer in various areas of production. The study also found out that this application has been very gradual, though moderate in Nigeria. It was also revealed that most of the producers  are not proficient in the use of the new media technologies. High cost of the equipment and lack of access are the possible challenges encountered by in the application of the technologies as was further revealed by the study. The study among others recommend that The Nigerian government should try to formulate policies that will give prominence to the promotion of research in science and technology. This will improve the outlook of Nigerians on technological innovations, and help to improve their general awareness and acceptance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of Study

As the world grows complex and sophisticated, new media technologies are invented. The invention of new media technologies has always been a catalyst for change in the broadcast industry. This change can be attributed to the introduction of new media technologies in broadcasting occasioned by giant technological advancement.

The advancement in media technologies has cut the barrier of time and space in our broadcast industry; it has also made communication easier and more democratic and the creation and distribution of media content easier. No wonder Defleur and Dennis (1991: 229) observed that:

Technology has always been a metaphor for change in media industry. As far back as Gutenberg, it was technology: the movable type that spurred change. Later, fast printing presses, the telegraph, zinc engraving, modern photography, radio, television, fibre optics, and other technologies heralded new developments for media and their audience.

 The emergence of ICT and the imaginative applications of these new technologies and older technologies make it possible for the society to be more informed. It also makes information processing, delivery, storage and retrieval easier. As the world strives towards globalization, the new media technologies are believed to be a great facilitator of this move.

 With digital technology, films on the screen are presented in nearly perfect condition without declining brightness and color, dirty spots and scratches caused by damaged film. At the same time, digital technologies preserve and present original high-fidelity sound, creating a true, exciting stereo ambience for audiences (Jieyi, 2011).

Digital technology embraces digital electronics, and utilizes certain equipment to transform picture, text, sound, image and other information into binary digits that can be recognized by electronic computer, which then computes, processes, stores, transmits, spreads and resume these information. It is named as digital technology because the computer is used to encode, compress and decode the information in computing and storage.

Digital technology in this study refers to all computer technologies applied in film. It can be divided into two: technologies that used to produce the film itself, i.e. digital graphic processing technology based on computer graphics, including digital imaging, HD technology, non-linear editing, and scene design; and digital film transmission technologies represented by digital video, network, digital distribution and digital projection (Jieyi, 2011).

As the world grows complex and sophisticated, internet communication technologies are invented. The invention of internet communication technologies has always been a catalyst for change in the broadcast industry. This change can be attributed to the introduction of graphics communication in broadcasting occasioned by giant technological advancement. Film is an artistic product of science and technology that brings out the filmmaker’s story and fantasies in a motion picture. The history of film is based on the technological advancement for quality. According to Wang (2011), the Lumière Family is considered as the inventor of film develop from silent film to sound film, black and white to color, followed by wide screen, digital, huge screen, and 3D films, even the revolutionary VR film. All these are the products of technology in the field of film. Technological developments have revolutionized the Nigeria theatre.

Based on the above the background, the researcher seeks to study   investigatw the Technological advancement and the problem with the Nigeria theatre: Youtube as a case study

1.2 Statement Of Problem

It is saddening that despite the startling developments in media technology, theatre in Nigeria is yet to assimilate to the new innovation or imbibe the realities of modern broadcasting technologies. The advancement in technology can only be said to be achieving the desired ends when they readily and continuously influence positively the operations of the Nigerian film production. What this translates to, is that the success or otherwise of all these technologies can only be measured in terms of the extent to which they bring improvement on the accuracy, speed and transfer of message and redefine the concept of broadcasting to an enviable height. The use of advance technology can only be said to be effective when the professionals and audience benefit from the technologies through improved quality of programmes. The problem still remains as to how to assess the extent to which the new media technologies have influenced theatre . This research is therefore set basically to answer this question; what influences have technology played in the Nigeria theatre?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study is on Technological advancement and the problem with the Nigeria theatre

The specific objectives are;

1. To examine the extend technologies influenced the operations of the Nigeria theatre
2. To analyze the proficiency of theatre staff in the use of the new media technologies
3. To examine the extend technologies have been incorporated into the theatre operations in Nigeria
4. To understand the challenges posed by technologies adoption in Nigerian theatre

Research Questions

1. To what extend do technologies influenced the operations of the Nigeria theatre?
2. What are the proficiency of theatre staff in the use of the new media technologies?
3. To what extend have technologies been incorporated into the theatre operations in Nigeria?
4. What are the challenges posed by technologies adoption in Nigerian theatre?

Scope Of Study

This study tends to access Technological advancement and the problem with the Nigeria theatre. It will be limited to technological equipment, devices or systems available in graphics communication in theatre industry.

 Significant Of The Study

The outcome of this study would contribute to the existing body of knowledge, though there are a lot of studies on Technological advancement and the problem with the Nigeria theatre, there is dearth of evidence. The outcome of the study would therefore serve as a reference material for subsequent researchers and would provide a basis for further research in this area.

The findings will help to reposition the thought pattern and help movie producers to get acquainted with the new technologies to help produce quality movies

The findings from this research ascertained how favorable or unfavorable these new technologies are to the movie industry.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Technology: A machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge. It is also the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
• Communication: Communication is the act of conveying meanings from one entity or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs, symbols, and semiotic rules.
• Movies: also known as films or cinema film, are a type of visual communication which uses moving pictures and sound to tell stories or teach people something
• Graphics: Are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone to inform, illustrate, or entertai
• Theatre:Isa collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage.