Analysis Of Body Ritual Among Nacirema

In the article “Body Ritual Among Nacirema” by Horace Miner, the basics of the article mentions how other cultures view American culture as strange. Miner directly makes it feel like the article was written by an outsider. Such as viewing American everyday rituals like brushing one’s teeth and cutting facial hair. Miner also replaces American with Nacirema, which is the reverse spelling of American. Analyzing these practices of Nacirema culture further, this paper shall explain: what practices appear strange to an outsider, how does the article illustrate ethnocentrism and cultural relativity, what problems may occur in accurately observing other cultures and lastly how might others interrupt these practices. Many of the practices that Miner

Medicine had a purpose of curing those maladies for many with similar ills. But to an outsider pulling out these magical packets is not something done in their culture or rather not seen as necessary. These charms and magical potions are given to the people by medicine men, or rather doctors, psychiatrists, and pharmacists. Another strange practice to someone who is an outsider, who doesn’t or may not believe in doctors or one’s who cure the ills. To an outsider, doctors may not even be seen as needed depending on their culture. But to Nacirema, these medicine men are very important and are always in more need. There’s also strange practices involving people called “holy-mouth men” digging in the mouths of another person. Due to the Nacirema culture having a pathological horror and fascination with the mouth. And because they’re superstitious that the mouth has an influence on social relationships. Miner is talking about dentists as being renamed “holy-mouth men” and says a private mouth-rite is seen once or twice a year because people are punctilious about care of the mouth. The care of the mouth differs from culture to

In spite of that, it is only partially because each culture does things differently. Such as the body rituals in the article appear strange to other because of the way our society does them and even values the body more than some other cultures. However, for example, each culture celebrates different holidays differently due to culture or religious views. Furthermore, each culture around the world celebrates Christmas in different and various ways. Such as the food at the dinner table, the tale of ‘Santa’, the presents may also vary as well, and even the way everything is done is also done in different ways globally during Christmas. Even New Years can be another example of how other cultures interrupt and celebrate a certain holiday. The way people of different cultures may view this article not understanding what anything means. Either because the words are challenging to read because some may be illiterate. Or maybe because the have no clue about any of what the rituals are and really believe that the practices of Nacirema are as terrifying as Miner makes them