Photography and the use of photographs in photoplay magazines: An analysis of Atọ́ka, a photoplay magazine

Abstract

Right from primitive times to date, the means of communication among men have been changing. The circle of change entails the period pictorial representations were used to communicate. It gravitated to the use of the photographs to pass messages when the first clear and permanent photographs were made in 1839. Today, photographs still communicate. At a time in Nigeria, drama was transmitted through the photoplay magazine. This has warranted this study which focused on Atọ́ka, a Yorubá photoplay magazine produced in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria from 1967-1991. It is a quantitative study that was hinged on Lookism theory. The study set out to ascertain if Atọ́ka photoplay magazine performed the functions of photographs in print communication; determine the extent photoplay magazine is a viable tool for drama presentation, and confirm if magazine design principles were adhered to in Atọ́ka photoplay magazine. The study period was 1984-1989. Results revealed that Atọ́ka photoplay magazine played the role of photographs in print communication. Also, the photoplay magazine remains a viable tool for drama presentation. The study concluded that the place of drama and communication in the life of man can never be wished away due to their importance. Therefore, it was recommended that photoplay magazines should be resuscitated, and there should be English and various language versions, and that play texts for schools, particularly secondary and tertiary institutions, should be made into photoplay magazine forms.