Creative Artist: A Journal of Theatre and Media Studies

A critical analysis of the gender question in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists

2025-01-02T07:20:44+00:00

This study chiefly focuses on gender-based issues in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. Applying the theory of social constructionism and qualitative resources such as critical analyses of the salient points in the text, this paper argues that women are grossly undervalued in the African context. This is not only because of the prejudiced societal constructions of femininity in the continent but additionally, due to the pattern of training to which young men are exposed. Hence, these authors advocate special trainings for boys in ways that would imbue them with respect for women. The absence of a formidable gender parity beginning from infancy destroys the man-woman relations as well as enfeebles women in the Nigerian society.

Traditional Nigerian attires and cultural signifiers in selected Nollywood films

2025-01-02T07:28:40+00:00

Nigeria's thriving film industry, Nollywood, has long been praised for its vivid narrative and diverse cultural representations. Nollywood has grown to become a potent tool for introducing both local and foreign viewers to the country's rich cultural heritage. Traditional Nigerian costumes are potent cultural signifiers and symbols of national identity and they are central to the visual narratives of many Nollywood films. Thus, these costumes are powerful symbols of social standing, spirituality, and cultural identity. In this study, the several functions of traditional Nigerian clothing in Nollywood films are discussed, along with their historical background, artistic development, and socio-cultural ramifications. Through the content analysis and descriptive approaches of the qualitative research methodology, the study interrogates the costumes used in two Nollywood films titled The Figurine and The Milkmaid; and explores how traditional dresses function as visual languages in Nigerian films; noting that they express cultural heritage, social status, and personal identity. The study recommends a knowledgeable portrayal of Nigerian dress cultures through effective costuming in Nollywood films.

Scenography and cultural preservation in Nigeria: A Study of the 2023 performance of Ododo’s Hard Choice in Lead City University, Ibadan

2025-01-02T07:40:38+00:00

The concern for the promotion and preservation of indigenous culture in the face of globalization has a continued to gain the attention of scholars, as well as policy and non-policy-makers. Various approaches have been adopted in various places like in museums and libraries to ensure the preservation and promotion of the tangible and intangible aspects of indigenous cultures. This study recognizes scenography as one of such powerful media for promoting and preserving cultural expressions; especially drama whose content and material carry cultural elements. Scenography is one of the most effective visual aspects of the theatre that the audience encounters first upon entrance into the theatre to experience a live performance. A well-designed play makes statements on the location, period and experiences of the culture being dramatized and through this, the projected culture is exhibited, promoted and stored in the memories of the audience. Using the performance of Sunnie Ododo’s play titled “Hard Choice” staged on the 1st of December, 2023 by the students of Lead City University as primary datum, this study discusses how scenography goes beyond mere aestheticism to create and aid cultural awareness and preservation. It exposes the creative strategy and design techniques deployed to negotiate the interpretation of Ododo’s “Hard Choice”. In this regard, the study employs descriptive method which includes descriptive analysis and participant observation, coupled with interviews with the cast and technical crew members as sources of data. Moreso, constructivism was also romanticized in foregrounding the theoretical framework. The study concludes that theatre is a veritable means of promoting and sustaining African values and culture through effective and functional scenographic considerations.

Potentials of drama therapy for healing childhood trauma in delinquents in Ibadan

2025-01-02T07:45:36+00:00

Drama therapy is the deliberate deployment of healing aspects of drama to address mental, emotional, and psychological issues bedevilling humans. Studies have confirmed the potency of drama therapy in addressing different health problems such as schizophrenia, dementia, learning disorder, trauma, domestic violence, and even eating disorders, especially in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, etcetera. However, there is limited or no research on leveraging the potency of drama therapy for childhood trauma in juvenile offenders in Nigeria. Therefore, this study is hinged on the propensity of drama therapy with juvenile offenders in Ibadan to alleviate the mental effects of childhood trauma in the correctional facility. The study dwelled on David Read Johnson’s developmental transformation, while adopting the qualitative approach with instruments such as interview, focus group discussion and participant observation to collect relevant data. Findings reveal that developmental transformation methods are capable of propelling traumatic juvenile offenders towards adapting with situations and suggesting ways to achieve their goals. It is concluded that drama therapy helped delinquents in Ibadan to release emotions and develop the courage and audacity to confront their problems, and suggest way-forwards without fear. Hence, the study recommends that theatre scholars in Nigeria and Africa should consider instituting the practice and research of drama therapy to expose its potency as a multidisciplinary field while also extending its impacts to the community.

Current trends and practices in graphic communication in Nigeria: A focus on Canva

2025-01-02T07:57:12+00:00

The use of graphics is fundamental to modern modes of communication, reflecting the need for mastery of graphic communication. Various user-friendly graphics applications and devices, such as Canva, are available on online platforms. Others include Adobe Creative Cloud, FontShop, Filestage, Adobe Edge Inspect, Computers and high-end smartphones. Despite their potential to enhance graphic content, awareness among communicators remains limited. This paper aims to identify accessible graphics applications and empower communicators to create contents independently. This paper is anchored on the Technological Determinism theory which emphasises the idea that technology drives societal change and shapes human behaviour. The research employs thematic analysis within the qualitative methodology. The theory attributed to Thorstein Veblen has been discussed and expanded upon since the early 20th century by thinkers such as Marshall McLuhan, Jacques Ellul, and Neil Postman who believe that technology will continue to determine societal landscape including communication. This research involves in-depth interview with 10 graphic designers in Abuja, Nigeria, purposively selected among expert graphic artists. Interview questions bordered on the following: what applications are available to the communicator to mitigate issues and challenges in graphic communication; and how can those applications be accessed and used in their day-to-day efforts. Prevalent viewpoints inform the identification of actionable solutions. This study unveils a range of user-friendly graphics applications such as Canva, bridging the knowledge gap and enabling independent graphic creations.

Cinematic space in contemporary Ghanaian narratives: a re-reading of the film Sinking Sands

2025-01-02T08:03:29+00:00

Film is the replication of real-life which employs visual elements apart from dialogue and sound effects to communicate effectively to an audience. An aspect of using such visual elements includes setting, sets and props to define a character's social status, geographical location, period, and other circumstances. In addition, such visual elements in the cinematic space can present significations, meanings and visual metaphors in the story. These visual elements are signs and symbols perceived as film language and used to communicate in films. The explication of this communication apparatus and its study as signification is known as semiotics. As observed, very little scholarly attention has been given to research on setting, sets and props in Ghanaian films based on semiotics. Therefore, this paper focuses on setting, sets and props in the Ghanaian film titled Sinking Sands (2010). It employs the qualitative approach and framework. Based on the semiotics theoretical anchorage, this paper attempts to analyse how some settings, sets, and props are used in the selected Ghanaian film Sinking Sands (2010) to make meaning and present visual metaphors in the cinematic space. It is observed that the use of visual elements such as setting, sets and props in films, in addition to their functional or utilitarian purposes in society, also display different dimensions of meanings and visual metaphors in the cinematic space

Photo-documentation of Okpe traditional marriage performance aesthetics

2025-01-02T08:08:37+00:00

This study examines and documents the performance rituals, aesthetics, and entertainment in Okpe Traditional marriage performances using still photographs. Traditional marriage performances in Nigeria serve as entertainment, cultural re-awakening, and a means of connecting/energizing the relationship between the physical and the supernatural world. While some of these performances have attained visibility through literary documentation, others seek recognition. Okpe marriage performances have the potentials for global visibility. This Study engages Okpe marriage performance aesthetics using ethnographic research and critical participant observation methods. Findings indicate that while the performance and ritual aesthetics in Okpe traditional marriage have continued to serve as source material for modern African drama, still photography has remained a ready tool for documentation of the myriad traditional performances across Africa.