Nacirema Essay

“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” Summary In the essay “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”, anthropologist Horace Miner depicts a group of people known as the “Nacirema”, but is referring to Americans, whose cultural beliefs are deeply rooted in the perspective that the human body is prune to sickness and disfiguration. Consequently, a substantial part of their lives is spent on unusual rituals and customs to improve conditions of the body that are filled with magical components. Moreover, Miner uses

"Body Ritual among the Nacirema" is an article by Horace Miner that depicts a group of tribespeople known as the Nacirema, but is referring to Americans, whose cultural beliefs are firmly implanted in the idea that the human body is prone to illness and disfigurement. Miner establishes how the attitudes about the body has a ubiquitous influence on Nacirema society. Accordingly, they spend a significant part of their day in strange ritual activities to refine and elevate conditions of the body by

Sony A. Harris SOCI-1301-63011 2/9/2017 Title: Body Rituals among the Nacirema The author here has mentioned “Shrine”, which in fact, is not a temple or any religious place but rather it is a bathroom and the ritual performed in the shrine are the daily activities that we do in the bathroom. The author has focused on the chest or a box that is built in the wall of the shrine. It refers to the cabinet and the charms and the magical potions in the chest are the medicines. The medicine men and the

Abbigail Vanderwater Satirical Devices In the article “Body Rituals among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner, the author uses this piece to describe American rituals in a different perspective. For example he uses this “tribe” called Nacirema which is just American spelled backwards, also uses the word “Notgnihsaw”.. Washington which is described as a cultural hero who is known for two great feats of strength. This piece uses three types of satirical devices: Invective, irony, and satire. Invective

Ritual among the Nacirema, the author, Horace Miner, discusses the various types of strange rituals the tribe of Nacirema performs. The main reason for these rituals is that these people believe that the natural human body is unattractive according to their established standards. The article is solely focused on the rituals and traditions that the Nacirema go through on a daily basis. Their primary focus is centered around appearances and health instead of their economy. The Nacirema believe that by

In the article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” talks about how society is obsessed with their physical appearance. However, I don't agree with that because there are many people who have a hold on many other things such as materialistic things. People today think having everything in life is the way to live happy and better than others. Material wealth is not only based on having money and goods, it can also be valuable/meaningful things people have in their possession as well as having a large

'Body Ritual among the Nacirema' is an article by Horace Miner. In this article, Miner describes the way a particular tribe behaves. He talks of how the tribe performs strange rituals to very extreme levels. It becomes quite interesting when the reader notes that it is the American society he is talking about. He disguises 'the Nacirema' as American people. He also disguises the bathroom as a cleaning shrine, the medicine chest as the major device in the shrine and the hair on a stick as a toothbrush

The article, “Body Ritual among the Nacirema”, written by Horace Miner is an anthropological and sociological study of the Nacirema culture. Who are the Nacirema and where do they originate? The Nacirema have many strong beliefs and rituals. This is shown by the Author’s interpretation of the Nacirema‘s beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies? Since the article was written in the 1950’s, is it possible their culture has changed in the present or is it dated? Horace Miner’s article takes the emic and etic

Among the Nacirema In Horace Miner’s article, “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”, he talks about a tribe and describes their odd behavior. He tells about how the tribe performs these strange daily rituals and how their peculiarity is extreme, but in fact he is actually speaking of Americans as a whole (Miner). Miner uses this style of writing to more effectively prove his point: that Americans are ethnocentric. Miner does an exceptional job in disguising the Nacirema as Americans

The author’s purpose in writing this article was not to show the “Nacirema” as an example of how extreme human behavior can become, but how an outside perspective can affect your perception of an alien culture. If one were to look at the “Nacirema’s” cultural behaviors regarding physical appearance and health without any insight or knowledge of the specific beliefs or values of that culture, they might seem bizarre and even incomprehensible. By showing behaviors and “rituals” performed by this unknown