Indiphile Hintsho

HATA3 Tutorial 2

12 March 2024

This essay explores the concepts of modernity in the global south as discussed by Mamphele
Ramphela, Rahul Mehrotra, and Homi Bhabha.

Although I was unable to attend the discussion with my tutorial group, my friend informed me
that it followed our typical process. We split up the readings, and each group (together covering
all or the whole reading) has an A1 page to illustrate their understanding of the text they read,
and after some time we go around sharing what we learned using posters to help communicate
our ideas.

I enjoy engaging with my peers, my tutor, and the readings. Dividing the work among ourselves
helps us progress through the readings efficiently. Although I find that my understanding of the
text feels incomplete after the tutorials, reading through the material myself resolves this issue.

Modernity encompasses the political, cultural, and social transformations that accompany
modernization.
Ideas found in "A Bed Called Home" by Mamphele Ramphela

Uneven Development: Modernity is not equally spread. While some areas see significant
technical improvement, others stay unchanged. This leads to unfair differences in society and
the economy in the South.

Leading to people leaving their families and traveling far distances to find work and make a living
for their families.

Urbanization: Rapid urbanization drives Southern modernity. This can cause

overcrowding in cities with poor infrastructure and services. To manage this influx and create
sustainable cities, solutions are needed.

Ideas found in "Debating Cultural Hybridity" by Homi Bhabha

Cultural hybridity refers to the mixing of different cultures, creating new and unique
identities.

Uneven Development: Modernity arrives in patches, creating a mix of traditional and

modern elements. Think skyscrapers next to bustling markets.

Ideas found in Simultaneous Modernity by Rahul Mehrotrah

Planned vs. Lived Experience: Modernity often sees grand, planned cities (static cities).
However, the reality for many is a more informal, ever-changing urban landscape driven by daily
needs (kinetic cities). (Worn path because it's a shorter distance than the desiccated paths.)

Modernity challenges traditional norms. Modernity shakes things up! It breaks down
the old system where powerful people had all the say in how cities were built. Now, less
powerful groups are finding their own ways to live in the city, and their energy and creativity are
forcing everyone to take notice.

These ideas explain things that happen when multiple cultures come into contact, giving
context to the current conditions in the South.

For example, I have always wondered how, on the main road in Obs, there is on one side of the
road a McDonald's and a KFC restaurant, and on the other side there is an informal settlement.
This can be explained by the concept of urbanization. “Rapid urbanization drives southern
modernity” and “Planned vs. Lived Experience: Modernity often sees grand, planned cities
(static cities)” helping us understand the problems we are having in the South right now, giving
us a better understanding of how to solve them, and preventing the same problems from
happening. Can you make fixes you can fix, please?
Bibliography

Bhabha, H. n.d. Debating cultural hybridity: Multicultural identities and the politics of anti-
racism. Bloomsbury Publishing. Available at from:
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=BP40EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Homi+B
habha,+2015,+Debating+Cultural+Hybridity&ots=luG_eX0gGV&sig=w6Td0HwaKvDPikhHZf5J1rr
Zcwc.

Mehrotra, R. 2010. Simultaneous Modernity. Available at from:

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780822390749-
017/pdf?licenseType=restricted.

Ramphele, M. 1993. A Bed Called Home. New Africa Books. Available at from:
http://books.google.ie/books?id=I4_kNb9CWtIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Mamphele+Ramphe
la,+1993,+A+Bed+Called+Home&hl=&cd