UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

SCHOOL OF AFRICAN AND GENDER STUDIES, ANTHROPOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS

ANTHROPOLOGY: COURSE CODE: _________AXL240S_________

ESSAY/PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE

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Student Name: Tunisha Coerecius

Student Number: _crctun001____________________ Due Date:

15/09/2023________________________

Essay/Project/Assignment: _symbols essay

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Essay/Project/Assignment Title

__the three wise monkey emojis and power dynamics at

play______________________________________

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___20/09/23____________

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Language is a symbolic system in and of itself.Emojisitself. Emojis have revolutionized our
expressions within text-based communication in the new digital age and have now traveled
across multiple social media platforms to mean different things. Emoji usage is influenced by
culture.Theculture. The symbolic representation of the monkey emoji will be examined in this
essay.Specifically focusing on the three monkey idioms that serve as a Japanese proverb "the
three wise monkeys." It is portrayed as the blind monkey ,mute and the deaf monkey.
My argument is that the monkey emoji in these three depictions has symbolic significance to
societal power relations.Irelations. I intend to demonstrate this by first investigating the
circumstances in which emojis originated. We will then go into the concept of symbols by using
Sherry B ortner's framework on key symbols. We will then examine the connection to the
monkey emoji and its probable symbolic meaning by examining the proverb with which it is
related.
Then I'll move on to the methodological and ethical phase, where I'll detail how I set up my
study within anthropological frameworks. Finally, I will analyze and summarize my data
gathering findings that support my claim.

Before proceeding, it is critical to investigate the context in which these emojis are portrayed
and provide definitions for a solid foundation to investigate the context of racial dynamics at
work with the use of monkey emojis.Emojisemojis. Emojis arose from emoticons, which were
"first based on a series of keyboard symbols, which were limited in their ability to express
nuances of emotion" (Riordan, 2017:554).Text-based communication has developed to emojis
as a result of this constraint.According to Riordan (2017), emojis are "commonly used, and
emojis can also be perceived as ideograms or symbolic representations of
concepts"(Riordan,2017:555).In this day and age of internet communication technology, the
use of emojis has taken on a role in producing meaning with visual help in our digital
communication. However, these meanings are sometimes missed. Since the language of these
emojis evolves with our new symbols and awareness of the working world around us, it
becomes easier for us to utilize them outside of their context, since they may be competing for
other forms of communication for each individual.
Following the framework provided by Sherry B Ortner ‘on key symbols’ , the monkey emoji can
be seen as an elaborating key symbol. In essence, Sherry Ortner refers to the 'elaborating'
symbols as 'as symbols valued for their contribution to the sorting out of experience' (Ortner,
1973:1341).From this we can begin to understandit can be understood that an elaborating
symbol as a concept that helps our understand our meaning of something. Key symbols are
accessible to varied interpretations in different cultures, allowing their meaning to become
layered depending on their manifestation. Elaborating symbols are effective heuristic
techniques. They are often associated with key scenarios.

Key scenarios are scenarios that are 'culturally prized since it formulates the culture's essential
links in practicable forms' (Ortner, 1973:1341). The employment of emojis when creating text is
a vital circumstance that the three wise monkeys are in. It is shown as a charming playful
monkey with his eyes, ears, and mouth covered. It is frequently employed to For others, the
monkey emoji in this context is perceived as a humorous expression of excitement , this is
possibly due to the fact that ‘besides their wise teaching they become so comical and
loveable’(Smith, 1993:146).However, I feel that it appears deeper when analyzing earlier
colonial histories.Agreeing with smith (1993)i also believe and ‘suspected some link between
the dawarinism controversy and and a ironic three wise men narrative,but , as they have always
done and what they might know they always keep to their own council ‘ (Smith ,2993:149)
However, I feel that it appears deeper when analyzing earlier colonial histories. When Africans
were considered as monkeys, primative in their nature and grasp of the universe, how is that
emoji indicated in context? Who gets to utilize it, and how do we receive it as we reflect on the
past? In our digital era communication, emojis have become a new based system of language
that brings in a visual component to reference something in the world. With this in mind, we
may begin opening up our lenses to see the world in a new light.

I believe that the monkey face emoji in its three representations also serves as a subtle
ideogram drawing back to power imbalances , such as darwinism and it has also appropriated
into different cultures. In todays society So much it has become a symbol that does not only is
an emoji , but also a commodity , an art statement , and a proverb that references the way that
we live our life.In my field notes i wrote an artistic expression of what this symbol could
embody and do .This is a symbol that shapeshifts like a chameleon . The chameleon is built with
the instinct to protect itself from prey and to be preyed upon . Much like the chameleon this
symbol has the ability to shapeshift through language , once this happens the meaning
becomes ambiguous .

Penny Sparrow made headlines in 2016 after she posted on Facebook, "reference to holiday
makers at the beach that she will in future refer to black South Africans as monkeys."
(Geldenhuys and Louw, 2020:2) Among the various emojis in the animal category, the three
monkey emoji stands out. It is the only emoji that follows a pattern of actions , and relates to a
japanese proverb. The monkey emoji refers to a Buddhist narrative about a wise monkey who
sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil.(Holvikivi: 5). The three wise monkey can be seen
as an elaborating symbol because ,The representation of the monkey originates from japanese
folklore “they represent a seventeenth century tale that tells of the three wise monkeys who
"hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil."(Todd, 1995:26) . Keeping this in mind, I'd like to
ask us to contemplate the fact that the three depiction of the monkey is the only emoji in the
animal category that also serves as a proverb in Japanese culture.

But it is not only based on black people alone . it is also a reference to white people. In the
same way hear no evil , speak no evil and see no evil applies to the lighthearted nature these
emojis are used in . The playfulness also signals to a greater power imbalance . It becomes a
signal to white people as well as by being white you are also subjected to indoctrination
imposed by dominant world orders This symbol carries significance.Globalisation and the
commercialization of new technology have made it easier to acquire these emojis, but it is easy
to ignore its fundamental message, which is a monkey who cannot talk losses his voice , a
monkey who blinds himself cannot see and a monkey who cannot hear cannot respond.
It is important for us to follow our anthropological frameworks .These regulations are intended
to protect both the anthropologist and the participants. 'Anthropologists should strive to
preserve the physical, social, and psychological well-being of individuals they research, as well
as to respect their rights, interests, sensitivities, and privacy,' according to the Ethical
Guidelines for Good Research Practice (Ethical Guidelines for Good Research Practice, 1999).
These criteria include the requirement that participants in the study be safeguarded and that
trust be honored. Taking steps to prevent causing damage or hurt. In addition, informed
consent can be obtained through discussion.

This part will concentrate on my methodological approach. When I originally thought about this
topic, I wanted to use all of the emojis. I realized this was too wide and overarching, so I went
to analyze the monkey's portrayal by recognizing the essential statement. Because emojis are
often utilized in the digital environment, I obtained information using digital ethnographic
approaches.This method includes participant observation, which was accomplished via an
image association methodology. This was accomplished using videocalls on the platforms
Whatsapp and Instagram. Data was collected over the course of two days. The data collection is
constrained by the assumption that the interviews were screen recorded. I used this strategy so
that I might retrieve more information later, however it did not save due to technological
limitations. I used Google Scholar to get digital publications and Pinterest to find photos for my
image association. These photos included a number of distinct representations of the sign. I
then related my analysis back to the use of the monkey emoji and the context in which it was
used.

In conclusion , Emojis changed the meaning our expressions within text-based

communication.The world is shaped by a culture of heirachies . the three wise monkey she
symbolic representation of the monkey emoji will be examined in this essay.Specifically
focusing on the three monkey idioms that serve as a Japanese proverb "the three wise
monkeys." It is portrayed as the blind monkey ,mute and the deaf monkey. I demonstrated this
by first investigating the circumstances in which emojis originate from . into the concept of
symbols by using Sherry B ortner's framework on key symbols.Then examined the connection
to the monkey emoji and its probable symbolic meaning by examining the proverb with which it
is related.
Then I'll move on to the methodological and ethical phase, where I'll detail how I set up my
study within anthropological frameworks. Finally, I will analyze and summarize my data
gathering findings that support my claim.
References

Association of Social Anthropologists of the Commonwealth, 1999. Ethical guidelines for good research
practice. Association of Social Anthropologists of the Commonwealth.

Holvikivi, J., New visual trends and language in Internet communication-emoji and beyond.

Todd, R., 1995. Multimedia and the three wise monkeys. Scan: The Journal for Educators, 14(1), pp.26-
32.

Riordan, M.A., 2017. Emojis as tools for emotion work: Communicating affect in text messages. Journal
of Language and Social Psychology, 36(5), pp.549-567.

Ortner, S.B., 1973. On key symbols 1. American anthropologist, 75(5), pp.1338-1346.

Smith, A.W., 1993. On the ambiguity of the three wise monkeys. Folklore, 104(1-2), pp.144-150.

Geldenhuys, J. and Kelly-Louw, M., 2020. Hate speech and racist slurs in the South African context:
Where to start?. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 23(1).