Signs in Films

By

Obododimma Oha

Introductory Remarks:

Films are also on situations we could have in life. We, therefore, have in them  not only signs that borrow from real life but also signs we need to pay attention to in our pursuits. The relevant signs are discussed below. 

Signs in Films:

Viewing or watching films means viewing or looking at the signs. It is through the signs in films that

-- we get to know those that feature in it, like or dislike them

-- we get immersed in the imagined situations 

-- we understand how the issues could apply to us or to those we know

-- we can assess how well the film has been packaged. 

Let us consider the speeches, which are important signs in every film. 

-- Speeches.

The actors speak, leading us to their backgrounds and pursuits. Just like in plays, the speeches help us  to understand the actors who have to represent certain ideas well enough.

The speeches, in capturing background, may reflect

-- dialectal or other varieties.

-- stereotypes assigned to some actors as markers

-- character traits

-- anchorage of some visuals

-- etc.

The one we want to further comment on here is the speech stereotyping or mannerisms of some characters. The person in Nollywood that comes to mind easily here is Chiwetalu Agu whose speech mannerisms are remarkable. His slogans and slang expressions stand out and help viewers to enjoy the humor behind his mistakes and mischiefs.

If anyone wants to explore speech-oriented humor, the speeches of Chiwetalu Agu need to be sampled.

Similarly, the relationship between speech and conflict (fighting) can also find data from Mama G useful.

-- Background Music as Sign:

Some musical performances used in introduciang some scenes and people are indexical signs. Even though impressionistic, the musical notes create moods and atmosphere for other actions in films

The musical background is part of the scene, not just  a helper.

They may be tunes that viewers already know, in which case they are invited to expect things along that line of thinking. The musical background is intertextual in this case. There is a visiting text and a host text.

-- Signification and Reality:

The film makers are in the market and are out to make money. They are not under obligation to tell the truth or reflect true situations. Thus, signs shown may not reflect true situations. There are no Igbo Igwes worshipped by their subjects. Also, there are no "kingdoms" in the bush with rulers swaggering pompously and wearing expensive apparels made in Heaven! 

Other Signs in Drama:

Other signs applicable to drama, such as those that relate to space, movement, culture, etc, are also found in films. One reason: films started as drama and still have the dramatic outlook. The only differences are that films are

  - - private, that is, could be watched in privacy

  - - films are electronic

  - - environments that cannot be captured naturally on stage drama can be realized in films, with photographs 

  - - films can be presented in many devices, including phones. 

The Cultural Angle and the Dubious Use of the Signs in Films:

The dimension that is worrisome has to do with people's wrong attitude to signs in films. First, it is  colonial entertainment that can further enslave the colonized, just like the mirror, the radio, and television. Films, as "elebe-ejeghiọrụ" (that which can get one engrossed and prevent one from going to work "), as the Igbo may ridicule it, could be used as retrogressive weapons for exploitation. 

It is therefore important to alert that they are signs in the struggle and could be directed to any end. 

Individualistic Use of Signs:

Another thing we need to note: the individualistic dimension in using signs in films. Signs are primarily meant for interaction with others . But films repackage them for private use and reactions. This could further entrench the culture of individualism and making people less community-spirited. 

Concluding Remarks:

Signs in films are those that try to recapture situations and have the capacity of being mistaken for signs in real life. Futuristic films are quite demanding, for producers have to imagine what life would be like and create out of imagination. Similarly, recreating the past, as we find in historical films, could be quite a task. From realistic costuming to speech habits, the films are problematic and take a lot in terms of resources.