ABSURDISTOR SCHIZOPHRENIC REALISM IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE MAD MAN

Abstract

This paper examined how real Nollywood filmmakers portray language absurdity of persons experiencing psychosis in their films. Since the beginning of recorded time, abnormal behaviours (psychosis) have been part of the human experience and these behaviours are represented in the cinema using language. Schizophrenic characters in films are convincingly created with speeches similar to real human personalities. This means that language is crucial in signaling the film's character experiencing psychosis. This paper uses the concept of absurd and identity to examine how real Kenneth Okonkwo used language to identify Nwabueze, the madman in his film, Village Destroyer. From the evaluation of the film, the researcher find that language was used correctly to distinguish Nwabueze, the mentally ill character, from other sane characters in the film. Nwabueze, in the movie, though possessed psychosis, is a realistic character in his true form who represented a community of the mentally ill within the society. Okonkwo also used the character of Nwabueze to teach his audience the absurdist nature of mad persons since he presented language as one of the first visible identities in the development of psychosis. Like Okonkwo, this study recommends that other Nigerian film writers and directors (filmmakers) should investigate the real-life situation of people in order to create characters who are real, natural, and believable.