Body ritual among the Nacirema is a cultural anthropology article written by Horace Miner in 1956. The Nacirema are a North American group characterized by their highly ritualized approach to personal hygiene and health. The rituals performed by the Nacirema are both strange and extreme, and their beliefs about the human body and its functions are markedly different from those of other cultures.
One of the most striking aspects of Nacirema culture is their focus on the human body. The Nacirema have a number of rituals and practices related to the care and adornment of the body, and they place a great deal of importance on physical appearance. For example, the Nacirema believe that the head is the most important part of the body, and they perform a number of rituals to cleanse and beautify the head. These rituals include the use of a variety of oils and creams, as well as the application of a range of potions and ointments.
Another notable aspect of Nacirema culture is their emphasis on dental hygiene. The Nacirema perform a number of rituals related to the care of their teeth, including the use of a variety of dental implements and the performance of elaborate oral hygiene rituals. The Nacirema also place great importance on the appearance of their teeth, and they will often go to great lengths to ensure that their teeth are white and straight.
The Nacirema also have a number of beliefs and practices related to the treatment of illness and disease. They believe that the human body is prone to a range of ailments and afflictions, and they have developed a number of rituals and practices designed to prevent or cure these conditions. These rituals include the use of a variety of herbs and potions, as well as the performance of elaborate cleansing and purification rituals.
Overall, the body ritual among the Nacirema is a fascinating aspect of their culture. It is characterized by a number of strange and extreme practices, and it reflects the Nacirema's unique beliefs about the human body and its functions. Despite the strangeness of these rituals, they are an important part of Nacirema culture, and they play a central role in the lives of the people who practice them.
Summary Of Body Ritual Among The Nacirema Free Essay Example
Many of their traditions provide a healthy balance of body and mind. It accentuates how Americans want everything instantly without putting any real work or effort into it. Miller, Barbara 2010 Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World 2nd edition Boston: Pearson. Living Anthropologically means documenting history, interconnection, and power during a time of global transformation. The anthropologist has become so familiar with the diversity of ways in which different people behave in similar situations that he is not apt to be surprised by even the most exotic customs. If the reader takes the Nacirema culture at face value, disregarding context, the behaviors regarding physical appearance and illness may seem extreme and perplexing.
The Nacirema: Pathological Or Different?
The holy waters are secured from the Water Temple of the community, where the priests conduct elaborate ceremonies to make the liquid ritually pure. Poking Fun through Satire Miner presents the Nacirema as a singularly focused people, mocking their focus on and extreme behavior toward their bodies. While the natives are very vague on this point, we can only assume that the idea in retaining all the old magical materials is that their presence in the charm-box, before which the body rituals are conducted, will in some way protect the worshipper. The daily body ritual performed by everyone includes a mouth-rite. George Murdock proposes that if a custom hasn't been observed, it's likely present in an undiscovered tribe. This can create a lot of pressure and stress, but it also drives people to constantly strive for self-improvement.
Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Plot Summary
Mothers are particularly suspected of putting a curse on children while teaching them the secret body rituals. This writing is understood only by the medicine men and by the herbalists who, for another gift, provide the required charm. Despite the fact that these people are so punctilious about care of the mouth, this rite involves a practice which strikes the uninitiated stranger as revolting. When pregnant, women dress so as to hide their condition. These stories have several ideas, themes and lessons attached to them such as the necessity for cultural diffusion in order to get a larger perspective on life, as well as seeking out participant observation to learn about the cultures around them and the importance of having a holistic perspective in order to understand a person, culture or even an animal as having a biased, close minded, preconceived idea can be dire misinterpreted perspectives of a culture.
“Body Ritual among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner
The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. For example, wearing makeup, perfectly white straight teeth, BMI, hairstyle, and the fashion. . The counter-magic of the witch-doctor is unusual in its lack of ritual. Nacirema have a proud and prosperous history, both domestically and internationally. Homes have shrines made of stone for these customs, and those with more money may even have many shrines.
Analysis Of Horace Miner's “Body Ritual Among The Nacirema”
From time to time the medicine men come to their clients and jab magically treated needles into their flesh. While the natives are very vague on this point, we can only assume that the idea in retaining all the old magical materials is that their presence in the charm-box, before which the body rituals are conducted, will in some way protect the worshipper. If there age no naturally occurring holes in the teeth, large sections of one or more teeth are gouged out so that the supernatural substance can be applied. Other important rituals include the use of magical potions and charms, the performance of sacrifices, and the making of offerings to the spirits. It is worthwhile to explore the beliefs and backgrounds of the Nacirema, a group of people who are fascinating and distinct. They also believe that a strong relationship exists between oral and moral characteristics.
