The Nacirema: Another Look
Written by Horace Miner, this essay of the people group Nacirema is an interesting look at their everyday functions. The tribe Miner describes is seemingly primal and uncivilized, and yet somewhat familiar. The entire account of these mysterious people describes unusual and strange behaviors and activities. The brief overview on the Nacirema is graphic from Miner’s point of view. When the meaning of the story becomes clear, the purpose for writing it becomes either humor or disdain.
In this article written by Miner, he describes the tribe of the Nacirema vividly and descriptively. The Nacirema are a tribe known for only twenty years. When they were discovered there was almost no information on them. They are a North American tribe that exists between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles (Miner). This area, with further investigation, is the area of the United States of America. The location alone causes the reader to be alert for Miner’s motives.
The Nacirema are unique followers of the market system, and live in a rich natural habitat. This primitive market system takes up much of the inhabitant’s time. However the people spend a large block of time in daily ritual activity. This tribe does not worship the soul like prominent religions but they worship the body. They believe the body is ugly and prone to injury and sickness. So to alleviate the problem they perform many rituals and ceremonies. In each home there is a ritual center where these actions take place. These centers are so important that all wealthier tribesmen have more than one. The shrines are located in the family home but the performance of ...
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...es, his point is well taken. If his purpose is a tongue in cheek look at our culture and ourselves, job well done. If his purpose is to criticize and discredit a successful culture, exception is taken.
If nothing else is gleaned from this article, when we look at the “Nacirema”, American spelled backwards, we learn to have a more forgiving attitude when viewing other cultures we are unfamiliar with. Rituals that appear barbaric, or even silly can and most probably have a logical purpose within that particular people group. This change in the prevailing American attitude will go far to mend the fences that have been broken and heal the bonds of cooperation all without the need of a “latipso” (hospital).
Works Cited
Miner, Horace. "Body Ritual among the Nacirema, American Anthropolgist 58:3,
June 1956. Rpt., <http://www.msu.edu~Ejdowell/miner.html>
... A few photos of Tenochtitlan and warriors headdresses, clubs and obsidian blades would increase the pleasure 10 fold. Also in places the author tends to divert to other Ameriindian cultures and use their ritual practices as examples. These comparisons can bring the ritual practices of a 500 year extant culture into modern day belief.
Rituals are held as a very important part of any society, including ours. They go back to ancient times or can be as simple as maintaining one’s hygiene. Non-western societies have rituals that may seem very foreign to us, but they have been engrained in their communities and are essential to their social structure. This interpretation will focus on the Great Pilgrimage, a ritual performed by Quechuan communities. We will be looking specifically at a community in the area of Sonqo.
The author Horace Miner’s article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” is a comment on the vanity that is present in the American culture. He focuses on a North American Group, which he considers Naciremas which is Americans backwards. Horace Miner demonstrates that attitudes or daily rituals have a convincing sway on numerous establishments in Nacirema society. The writer uses many metaphors to describe this vanity including his statement that “women” try to cover up their impurities by applying makeup in addition to getting surgeries and other things to fix what they think is wrong. However, in reality Miner uses this metaphor to show that the American culture is vain and always tries to fix its faults and mistakes. Basically, Miner uses the
There is absolutely no way I would ever want to be part of a culture like the Nacirema. I think we can learn a lot about devotion from this culture. They devote their lives to learning and living for what they believe which is very respectful in a lot of ways. However, the practices that require mutilation and torture are not things that I could ever be part of. No society should ever require their people to suffer in order to hold to their beliefs. It is interesting to study cultures so different from ours because it puts a lot of the freedoms we enjoy into perspective.
Eastman and Zitkala Ša reveal the truth regarding of their people’s culture and history. Their memoirs give readers an understanding of their government, religion, and customs. They show their people as respectable and hospitable beings. Furthermore, they reveal the deceptions and frauds which Native Americans have suffered. They dispel misconceptions and prejudices regarding Native Americans and demonstrate that their people are deserving of the white’s sympathy, justice, and respect.
The most interesting aspect I found in Miner’s article was his ability to make Nacirema people appeal so foreign, but yet be so obvious. Miner noted that the Nacirema are a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles (503). Miner makes it sound like this society is miles away from civilization. However, at the same time he also states that this society is in North America. Miner’s tone is so unique throughout the article it almost sounds mythical. For instance, Miner mentions how a man’s only hope is to avert the ugliness of a human body only be powerful influences of rituals and ceremonies (503).
In the article, Body Ritual among the Nacirema, by Horace M. Miner, some of these same problems are faced.
Sexualization of women is taught to the public from an early age through the media. This is not a new phenomena, however. As Roberts and Zurbriggen (2012) address, the problem exponentially compounds over time, as evolving mass communication technology creates more opportunities for the press to teach sexualization. New technology is not entirely negative though, as it allows the public to more easily engage in discussions regarding the expression of
The sexualization of girls is a growing and alarming trend in today’s society. The report we read brought up solid points and I feel the biggest factor is not media but parents. With parents today being much more open and accepting of their child’s choices in wardrobes, leisure activities and role models, it provides room for younger immature girls to mimic older mature women. The article brought up an example of a direct contribution such as entering young children into beauty pageants and even plastic surgery, but the process start much earlier (Zurbriggen, Collins, Lamb, Roberts, Tolman, Ward & Blake, 2010). The growing number of young parents and the multitude of easily accessible media mediums, mainly social media, provide influence that was once left to family and neighboring surroundings. We are in an instant sharing environment where people are now using social media as excuses for impromptu photo-shoots.
Sakarya, S., Eckman, M. & Hyllegard, K. H. (2007). Market Selection for International Expansion - Assessing Opportunities in Emerging Markets. International Marketing Review, 24(2), 208-238.
Horace Miner wrote the article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema”, in which he described and detailed the various body rituals practiced among the Nacirema culture. Horace starts the article by explaining that anthropologists encounter all types of cultural and ritualistic extremities, but the Nacirema body rituals are among some of the most extreme observed. The Nacirema are a “North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles” (Miner, 1956). Miner also describes the Nacirema people as having rich history and a rich natural environment.
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“The media may be especially important for young people as they are developing their own sexual beliefs and patterns of behavior and as parents and schools remain reluctant to discuss sexual topics (p.26)”.
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