Gentrification in media spaces: Nollywood in perspective

Abstract

Gentrification has been stigmatised for its single-reality definition that upholds class, standard and especially displacement. While displacement remains an outcome of the gentrification process, this study attempts to investigate the concept beyond its usual negative Marxist critique. It perceives the concept, a neologism and thus incorporates it into media study where it is used as a metaphor to examine state interest and investment in the transformation of Nollywood. This study proposes that the concept of gentrification, interpreted from a modern liberal perspective, could give insight and understanding to the growth and development of evolving film economies. It offers a definition for the concept in media studies and reviews previous studies to determine the extent to which gentrification has been studied in media spaces. With a focus on understanding the transformation of the Nigerian film industry popularly known as Nollywood, this study narrows down to the industry. It examines as gentrification certain transformations reshaping the industry such as class struggle, changes in quality, aesthetics and standard of production, and most importantly displacement in places of production and consumption. Hence, using political economy as a theoretical framework, this study attempts to answer the research question: how does gentrification describe the transformations reshaping the Nigerian film industry?

Keywords

• gentrification
• media
• film
• nollywood