ANS 1401S – 2023

Anthropology of Development & Difference

Course Coordinator/ Convener Course Administrator

Marlon Swai Jodi Knipe
AC Jordan, Room 5.19 AC Jordan, Room 5.21.1
Email:caco.burgess@uct.ac.za Email: jodi.knipe@uct.ac.za
(Office Hours to be confirmed) (Office Hours to be confirmed)

Course Lecturers

Dr. Marlon Swai

caco.burgess@uct.ac.za
Professor Susan Levine
susan.levine@uct.ac.za

Dr. Nikiwe Solomon

nikiwe.solomon@uct.ac.za

Mr. Robin Thompson

thmrob020@myuct.ac.za

Mr. Kevin Dornbrack

drnkev002@myuct.ac.za

Plus Tutorial Coordinator/EDTA

Elthea De Ruiters
drtelt001@myuct.ac.za

Lecture Details
Venue: Baxter Concert Hall (Wednesday and Thursday) LS 2A (Friday)
Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Time: 8:00-8:45

Tutorial Details
Day: Monday
Time: 8:00 - 8:45 am
For more information, please check section info on Course Amathuba Site

Course Description:
The course ‘Introduction to Social Anthropology: Development and Difference’ aims to introduce you to key
concepts and some main theoretical approaches, basic assumptions and arguments which frame the discipline of
anthropology. Taught in 2023 by Marlon Swai, Susan Levine, Nikiwe Solomon, Robin Thompson and Kevin
Dornbrack, the course explores ways in which anthropological perspectives challenge familiar ideas and
conventional wisdoms about social relations. Through an exploration of anthropology through the interrelated
concepts of development & difference, we explore some old ways and find new ways to think about humanity.
We consider via various avenues the ways in which the notion of development has impacted societies and how
conceptions and/or experiences of difference have been a central factor in determining and in many cases over-
determining the destinies of innumerable human beings on the planet. Unraveling the fluidity of markers of
difference and their social and cultural interpretations will provide an enriching starting point from which to
understand human and non-human conflict and confluence. By exploring these themes, the course aims to train
students not only in a history of anthropology, but to situate that history in a pursuit of knowledge informed by an
awareness of the ethical implications of whatever means by which we engage epistemically. After providing a
conceptual and historical backdrop to the discipline of anthropology in the first half of the course, the second part
uses case studies to demonstrate the kinds of ways in which anthropology, anthropologists, and ethnographic
knowledge makers offer generative perspectives on some of the most pressing questions of our time. Through
training in writing, reading and researching, this course will enable students to develop the skills to be able to
offer a critical perspective on social life and how it is changing.

Learning Objectives

Core Skills
1. reading
2. reflecting
3. listening
4. engaging
5. ethnographic observation
6. writing

Core Concepts/Keywords
1. Development
2. Difference
3. Participant Observation
4. Kinship
5. Ethnocentricism
6. Cultural Relativism
7. Ethnography
8. Religion
9. Historicity
10. Positionality
11. Race
12. Class
13. Gender
14. Agency
15. Political Economy
16. Worldmaking
17. Lifeworlds
18. Cultural practices
19. Anthropology of Imaginaries
20. Discourse

Course Requirements and Policies

Lectures:
Lecture attendance is compulsory.

Assignments:
Late submission of written work will be penalized at 5% points per day unless a satisfactory
medical certificate is produced, or an extension has been applied for and granted in writing. A
submission that is 10 days late will accrue 0% if no medical certificate is produced.
Regardless, all assignments must be submitted for DP which will qualify your course work to
be evaluated by an external examiner who will award your final course grade.

Tutorials:
All reading set for tutorials is both prescribed and compulsory. Your tutor may call upon you to
prepare additional written submissions if they feel that you are not reading the prescribed
material in the best manner for your own learning. All written work assigned by tutors is
compulsory. Participation in tutorials is essential. Students who are absent from tutorials or fail
to submit work assigned by tutors put themselves at risk of missing crucial components of
the course objectives.
Extensions:
Students who wish to apply for an extension may apply online prior to the due date of the
submission (link below). Tutors have no authority to grant extensions: all applications are
scrutinised by a departmental sub-committee to ensure fairness. Extensions will NOT be
granted for submission of an essay on a date after other students' essays have been returned.
Extensions are granted on medical or compassionate grounds ONLY. Please note that
workload (i.e. pressure of work in other courses) will NOT be considered a valid reason for
extensions. https://humanities.uct.ac.za/department-anthropology/course-
resources/application-extension

Extensions for the class quiz 1 and 2 will only be granted based on medical grounds.

Referencing:
You are required to reference your work according to the Citation Guidelines compiled by the
Humanities Faculty. This document can be found on the departmental website:
https://lib.uct.ac.za/research/referencing-help . Work submitted without proper referencing will
be returned unmarked and/or will be penalized by the deduction of marks.

Plagiarism:
It is University policy that any incidents of students found cheating by copying others' work
(whether those others are fellow students or the authors of published works) must be reported
to the Principal for disciplinary procedures to be set in motion. The University Court has the
authority to suspend or expel a student who is found guilty on such a charge. We will be using
the electronic copies you submit of your assignments to help you to understand precisely how
plagiarism can occur, and how to avoid it.

All students are required by the University to submit a completed and signed plagiarism form
with each essay and assignment. Work submitted without signed plagiarism form will not be
marked. The form can be found on course’s VULA site.

Examination:
This is an exam-free course. This means that the 50% weighting that an exam would ordinarily
carry is distributed across the coursework assessments. It also means that ALL coursework
assessments count for DP.
 Semester Overview
WEEK TUTORIAL LECTURE TASKS
Orientation &
24 – 28 July Introduction:
1 No Tutorial
Development &
Difference
MS
Tutorial 1
Problems,
Observation & Concept Map activity Perspectives &
31 July – 4 August Methods
2 Project groups formed MS

tutorial 2
Gender, Space &
7 – 11 August Quiz 1 Prep - The Grill Activity Time Assessment 1:
(Wed, Aug 9 - SL Ethnographic
3 Project work
Public Holiday - Ethnographic observations from campus
Observation Concept
Map
Women’s Day) 11/08/23
Using Concept Map to analyze observations

tutorial 3
Researching the
Quiz 1 Prep Anthropocene:
14 – 18 August Introduction to
4 Project work multispecies
Research Question
ethnography
Using AI to brainstorm
NS
tutorial 4
Problematizing the
Quiz 1 Prep Development
21 – 25 August Concept
5 MS
Project work
Literature Review+ applying theoretical
concepts to project cite observations

tutorial 5
Consolidation Week Assessment 2:
Quiz 1 Prep MS Quiz 1
01/09/23
Wed + Thurs
28 August – 1
6 Project work No F2F Lecture: Online
September Podcast Training Review: Prep for Class
Test Friday

Friday
Quiz (In lecture venue)

Week 7: Mid-Semester Break – 4 – 8 September

tutorial 6 Case Study 1:

The Social Life of
11 – 15 September Quiz 2 Prep Numbers
8 RT
Project work
Podcast Training

tutorial 7
Case Study 2:
Quiz 2 Prep An ethnography of the
9 18 – 22 September music industry from the
Project work perspective of a bassist
Outlining the Script RT
 No Tutorial Case Study 3:
25 – 29 September Public Holiday An ethnography of
10 (Mon, Sep 25 – running
KD
Public Holiday)
Tutorial 8 Case Study 4: Assessment 3:
Quiz 2 Prep The social life of Group Project
2 – 6 October chemicals
11 Project work
6/10/233
KD
Final Touches
Consolidation Week Assessment 4:
MS Quiz 2
13/10/23
Wed + Thurs
No F2F Lecture: Online
9 – 13 October
12 Review in preparation
for quiz

Friday
Quiz (In lecture venue)

Assessment 5:
Final Project Prize Course Evaluation
16 – 20 October Giving & Student 23/10/23
13 Work Showcase
MS
 Lecture Information
Week 1: Orientation, Introduction to Anthropology, Framing Development &
Difference
Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
24 – 28 July

In this opening week, we orient ourselves to this course and we outline our plans for the semester.
Readings offer entry points into our introduction to anthropology through the themes of development
and difference and set the tone for the rest of the course.

Lecture 1: Orientation: Course and discipline – Framing Development & Difference

Lecture 2: Three keywords for the week.

Lecture 3: Ethnographic application: ka Canham Chapters 1 and 2

Lecture Resources:

Mwenda Ntarangwi, David Mills, Mustafa Babiker “Introduction: Histories of Training, Ethnographies of Practice” in African
Anthropologies: History, Critique and Practice (eds.) Ntarangwi, M. Mills, D. & Babiker, M.

Head, Bessie. 1990. “Village People” in Head, B. Tales of Tenderness and Power. Heinemann
International. Print.

Images from Blombos Cave Rock Art (73,000 years old)

Tutorials: No Tutorials

Week 2: Problems, Perspectives & Methods

Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
31 July – 4 August

In this week we explore anthropological history, methods, and practice. The lectures this week uncover insights
to this end from key readings like "The Nacirema Revisited" and "Pioneers of the Field."

Lecture 1: History, method, practice

Lecture 2: Three keywords for the week.

Lecture 3: Ethnographic application

Lecture Resources

Jeffrey D. Kahn. 2014. The Nacirema Revisited, 67 SMU L. REV. 807

Healy-Clancy, Meghan. 2018. "Pioneers of the Field: South Africa’s Women Anthropologists." Taylor &
Francis,. Print.

Tutorial Readings
https://xmind.app/blog/concept-map-tutorial/

https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/how-to/observation/use-ethnographic-methods-participant-
observation

Tutorial Requirements
Observation & Concept Map activity

Project groups formed

Week 3: Gender, Space & Time

Lecturer: Professor Susan Levine
 7 – 11 August
(Wed, Aug 9 - Public Holiday - Women’s Day)

This week we delve into the concept of gender as a key anthropological site of inquiry and examine how it
overlaps with notions of space, and time. By examining the intricate relationship between gender and temporality,
we foreground the importance of transdisciplinary conversations for coming to terms with new (and very old)
ways of producing knowledge about humanity in Africa and beyond.

Lecture Resources

Salo, Elaine. "Men, women, temporality and critical ethnography in Africa—the imperative for a transdisciplinary
conversation." Anthropology Southern Africa 33.3-4 (2010): 93-102.

Suggested reading:

Evans Pritchard, Edward (1939). ‘Time and Space’, pp. 193-201 M. Lock and J. Farquhar (eds). Beyond the
Body Proper: Reading the anthropology of material life. Durham: Duke University Press.

Delaney, Carol (2004). ‘All we have is Time’ Chapter 3 in Investigating Culture Oxford, Blackwell pp75-109

Tutorial 1 Readings
Ardener, Shirley (ed.). (1993). ‘Introduction’, Women and Space: ground rules and social maps. Oxford: Berg
Publishers

Tutorial 1 Requirements
Quiz 1 Prep - The Grill Activity

Project work
Ethnographic observations from campus

Using Concept Map to analyze observations

Week 4: Researching the Anthropocene: Introduction to multispecies ethnography

Lecturer: Dr. Nikiwe Solomon
14 – 18 August

This week introduces the concept of the Anthropocene, a term developed by geologists to describe the era in
which the effects of collective human action have become so significant that they have shifted the Earth’s various
spheres (i.e. atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere etc). This compels a rethinking of the conceptual
divide between nature and society, where our solutions to problems are as if we live outside of the Earth. This
therefore requires new and different approaches to research and formulation of different kinds of questions that
address the socio-enviro-political-technological problems of our time. We get to grips with the many ways in
which the anthropological approach and the mode of ethnographic enquiry can expand our understanding of
multi-species relationships and why they matter.

Lecture 1: Anthropology through ethnography: Studying relationships that make worlds

Lecture 2: Expanding Anthropology from human social relationships to multi-species relationships

Lecture 3: Multi-species Ethnography

Lecture Resources

Tsing, Anna. 2013. More-than-human sociality: A call for critical description. Anthropology and Nature. Ed.
Kirsten Hastrup. Routledge, 27-42. http://www.environmentalperformanceagency.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/06/tsingmore-than-human-sociality.pdf

Van Dooren, Thom. 2010. Vultures and Their People in India: Equity and Entanglement in a Time of Extinctions.
University of Hawai’I Press.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41479486.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A55cd232caae14dd5bab5f6408706f23f&ab_
segments=&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1
Tutorial 2 Readings

Beste, Jennifer, 'College Students’ Ethnographic Observations of Parties and Hookups', College Hookup Culture
and Christian Ethics: The Lives and Longings of Emerging Adults (New York, 2018; online edn, Oxford
Academic, 23 Nov. 2017), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190268503.003.0002, accessed 25 July 2023.

Tutorial 2 Requirements
Quiz 1 Prep - The Grill Activity

Project work
Ethnographic observations from campus

Using Concept Map to analyze observations

Week 5: Problematizing the Development Concept: A language issue

Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
21 – 25 August

This week, we critically examine the multifaceted nature of the Development concept, encompassing
its role in shaping politics and economics, determining capital ownership, and driving colonial
expansion. We consider diverse interpretations of and uses of the development concept. We think
about the key role of language in the construction of big ideas.

Lecture 1: Introduction to the Political economy of extractive industries

Lecture 2: 3 Keywords for the week

Lecture 3: Undevelopment

Lecture Resources

Escobar, Arturo. Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. STU-Student edition,
Princeton University Press, 1995. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7rtgw. Accessed 20 July 2023.

Kothari, Uma. "Critiquing ‘race’ and racism in development discourse and practice." Progress in development
studies 6.1 (2006): 1-7.

Tutorial 3 Readings
How to write literature reviews: https://libguides.sjsu.edu/c.php?g=230076&p=4424462

Tutorial 3 Requirements
Quiz 1 Prep

Project work
Literature Review+ applying theoretical concepts to project cite observations

Week 6: Consolidation + Class Quiz

Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
28 August – 1 September

No Lectures this week. Tutorial and Online resources will focus on Quiz preparation. Quiz
happens in lecture venue on Friday September 1st.

Tutorial 4 Requirements
Quiz 1 Prep
 Week 7: Mid-Semester Break – 4 – 8 September

Week 8: The Social Life of Numbers

Lecturer: Robin Thompson
11 – 15 September

Inspired by Appadurai's "The Social Life of Things," this section explores the ways in which numbers play
some part, often quite central, in almost all known cultures. Building on the tools and key concepts offered in the
course up till this point, we think through anthropological perspectives on numbers and sociality.

Lecture 1: TBA

Lecture 2: TBA

Lecture 3: TBA

Lecture Resources

Crump, Thomas. Introduction in The anthropology of numbers. No. 70. Cambridge University Press, 1992.

Chirume, Silvanos. "Number sayings, numerology and myths in Shona culture in Zimbabwe." The Journal of Pan
African Studies (Online) 12.3 (2018): 92.
://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol12no3/12.3-8-Chirume.pdf

Vilaça, Aparecida. (2018). The devil and the hidden life of numbers: Translations and transformations in
Amazonia: The Inaugural Claude Lévi-Strauss lecture. HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory. 8. 6-19.
10.1086/698303.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/698303

Tutorial 5 Readings
TBA

Tutorial 5 Requirements

Quiz 2 Prep

Project work
Podcast Training

Week 9: Music & Society

Lecturer: Robin Thompson
18 – 22 September
This week we explore the theme of the many ways in which music and music culture and industry shape and are
shaped by society. Through an ethnographic examination of segments of the South African music industry,
lectures pose questions about what it means to engage with music as a fundamental component of the human
experience.

Lecture 1: TBA

Lecture 2: TBA

Lecture 3: TBA

Lecture Resources
TBA
Tutorial 6 Readings
TBA

Tutorial 6 Requirements
TBA

Quiz 2 Prep

Project work
Podcast Training

Week 10: Running & Sociality

Lecturer: Kevin Dornbrack
25 – 29 September
(Mon, Sep 25 – Public Holiday)

This week explores the multifaceted implications of running as a social activity. Using the concept of
embodiment, you will be tasked with thinking, feeling, moving and writing to analyse how our bodies
take up space and interact with our surroundings. With running as a primary case study, lectures delve
into the stories, experiences, and imaginaries associated with this activity, as we examine its impact on
individuals and societies. The class will be challenged to consider the varying ways in which running
offers generative frameworks for thinking, from the concept of agency to challenging colonial modes of
oppression.

Lecture 1: Theories of embodiment. What is it and why is it useful?

Lecture 2: Embodiment in practice. Thinking (and feeling) on the move.

Lecture 3: Moving between hegemony and resistance - thinking politically about movement and sport.

Lecture Resources

Scheper-Hughes, N and M. Lock. 1987. The mindful body: A prolegomenon to future work in medical
anthropology. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 1: 6-41

Instagram profile - Deo Kato (@deoruns_381) is aiming to become the first person to run from Cape
Town to London, telling the history of Human Migration. He set off on July 24th (first day of this
semester), and will run over 9,000 miles to London, which he’s hoping to complete in 381 days. The
number 381 is significant because it is the number of days that African Americans in Alabama staged a
civil rights protest in 1955. Deo's message is similar to that of the protesters: to protest against racial
injustice and inequality within our society.
https://www.instagram.com/deoruns_381/

Tutorial 7 Readings
TBA

Tutorial 7 Requirements
Quiz 2 Prep

Project work
Outlining the Script

Week 11: The Social Life of Chemicals

Lecturer: Kevin Dornbrack
2 – 6 October

This week plays with scale, from the molecular to the global trade to social media, it zooms in on the
complex dynamics between substances like atrazine and the human body, unraveling their profound
effects and implications for our understanding of development and difference. Building on the
groundwork laid by Dr. Nikiwe Solomon on the concept of the Anthropocene, this week offers an
opportunity to rethink conventional perspectives on the intertwined relationships between chemicals
and society.

Lecture 1: What multinational companies do you have in your blood?

Lecture 2: Chemical infrastructure - the molecular is political

Lecture 3: The alt-right discovers a pesticide - Atrazine and the Gay Frog

Lecture Resources

Dickinson, A., 2018. Anatomic. Coach House Books. (read pages 1-2; 9-16)

Murphy, M., 2013. Distributed reproduction, chemical violence, and latency. Scholar and Feminist
Online, 11(3), pp.1-7.

Boast, H., 2022. Theorizing the Gay Frog. Environmental Humanities, 14(3), pp.661-679.

Tutorial 8 Readings
TBA

Tutorial 8 Requirements
Quiz 2 Prep

Project work
Final Touches

Week 12: Consolidation + Quiz 2

Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
9 – 13 October

No Lectures this week. Tutorial and Online resources will focus on Quiz preparation. Quiz
happens in lecture venue on Friday October 13th.

Tutorial Requirements
Quiz 2 Prep

Week 13: Final Project Prize Giving & Student Work Showcase
Lecturer: Dr. Marlon Swai
16 – 20 October

This week we wrap up the class and celebrate all the hard work put in this semester with a
showcase of student work and prize giving for the group project.

END OF COURSE
 Assessments

Task Submission Date Week Value

1. Ethnographic
Observation Friday, 11 August 2023 @23h55 3 15
Concept Map
Friday, 01 September 2023 @08h00
2. Quiz 1 6 20
(In class)

3. Group Project Friday, 06 October 2023 @23h55 11 35

Friday, 13 October 2023 @08h00

4. Quiz 2 12 25
(In class)
Opened: Wednesday, 18 October 12h00
5. Course Evaluation 13 5
Closed: Monday, 23 October 12h00
TOTAL 100%

NB: To pass the course, students must obtain 50%

Assessment 1: Ethnographic Observation & Development & Difference Concept Map (15%)
Due: Week 3 - 11/08/23

For this assignment, students will engage in ethnographic observation of a selected cultural context, community, or social
setting. The submission consists of a 500 word description of the scene and a concept map that attempts to make sense of
what they observed using the concepts of development and difference.

Rationale: This assignment targets the core skill of "engaging" as students actively immerse themselves in a real-world
context, applying an anthropological sensibility to observe and document cultural practices. It also reinforces the tools learned
in the course thus far for thinking critically and anthropologically about the conceptual terrain surrounding development and
difference. Creating a concept map encourages critical thinking, synthesizing information, and making connections, which are
essential skills for anthropologists.

Assessment 2: Quiz 1
Due: Week 6: 01/09/23

Both quizzes will be taken in lecture venues during the Friday lecture slot. Quiz 1 will consist of 4 short questions
that evaluate the student’s ability to apply critical thinking and use key concepts accurately and confidently.
Adequate tutorial time is allocated to preparing students to succeed at the quiz. Quizzes will be handwritten and
submitted at the end of the lecture period.

Assignment 3: Group Project - Ethnographic Podcast (35%)

Due: Week 11 - 6/10/233
The Group Project - Ethnographic Podcast is a collaborative assignment that encourages students to work
together in groups of three, combining their perspectives and experiences to offer a case study from one or more
of the group members' neighborhoods. The project aims to exemplify three interrelated core concepts from the
course through ethnographic research and analysis. Each group will create a podcast with a maximum duration
of 10 minutes, along with a 1-page summary of the group-work effort.

Process:

1. Group Formation: In the first tutorial (2nd week of the course), students will be assigned to groups of
three during tutorial sessions. The group members will discuss their neighborhoods and interests to
identify a suitable case study topic.
2. Case Study Selection: The group will collectively decide on a specific aspect or phenomenon in their
neighborhoods that aligns with and which they will demonstrate links between three core concepts from
the course.
3. Ethnographic Research: Each group member will conduct ethnographic research in their respective
neighborhoods to gather relevant data, observations, interviews, and cultural artifacts related to the
chosen case study.
4. Exemplifying Core Concepts: Based on the collected data, the group will analyze how the chosen case
study exemplifies and relates to the three interrelated core concepts from the course.
5. Podcast Creation: The group will collaborate to create a podcast or video presentation. The
presentation should be well-structured, engaging, and adhere to the 10-minute duration limit.
6. 1-Page Group-Work Summary and Evaluation: Along with the podcast or video submission, the group
will provide a 1-page summary that outlines their collaborative process, including how they divided tasks,
resolved conflicts, and supported each other throughout the project. Additionally, the group will evaluate
their overall group-work experience and discuss any lessons learned.

Core Concepts: The groups can choose any three interrelated core concepts from the course, such as
"Kinship," "Cultural Relativism," "Race," "Gender," "Ethnography," "Worldmaking," "Religion," "Lifeworlds,"
"Ethnocentrism," "Historicity," "Personhood," "Cultural practices," or "Anthropology of Imaginaries."

Rationale:

Group assignments foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills. It also provides an
opportunity for students to learn from each other's diverse perspectives and experiences. Conducting an
ethnographic case study in their neighborhoods encourages students to engage directly with cultural practices
and lifeworlds, promoting a deeper understanding of the chosen core concepts. The podcast or video format
challenges students to present their findings concisely and creatively, developing their communication and
presentation abilities.

By including a 1-page group-work summary and evaluation, students reflect on their collaborative efforts and
assess their group dynamics, facilitating personal growth and self-awareness. This evaluation also allows
instructors to understand the group dynamics better and address any issues that may have arisen during the
project.

Podcasting Anthropology can help anthropologists tell compelling stories, reach new audiences,
and, in general, do better ethnography. We will learn by doing and will work on developing audio reporting
skills that translate into the various situations anthropologists find themselves in, be it a research project, the
workplace, or just being a human being in this world. By listening, reflecting, and practical exercises, we will
cover pitching story ideas, selecting ‘characters,’ sharpening interviewing skills, and sound-rich writing for the
ear. You’ll notice that these are all basically audio versions of the steps you have to take to finish an essay
and eventually a thesis or dissertation, and we hope that these skills add value to that process.
* Extra tools and resources will be provided on Amathuba

Assessment 4: Quiz 2 Due:

Week 12 - 13/10/2023
Both quizzes will be taken in lecture venues during the Friday lecture slot. Quiz 2 will consist of 1 essay question
that evaluates the student’s ability to structure an essay, build an argument, engage critically with literature and
provide evidence for claims. Adequate tutorial time will be allocated to preparing students to succeed at the quiz.
Quizzes will be handwritten and submitted at the end of the lecture period.