Miner’s account of the Nacirema—American spelled backwards—was instead a pointed criticism of anthropologists’ tendency to hype up the perceived weirdness of other cultures . His aim, as i09 puts it, was to show that “everything that’s normal to us seems weird to someone else.”
What is the point of the nacirema article?
“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” is important because it demonstrates the problem of representation in ethnography. The purpose of article is to raise the question of how can we study a different culture from the outside and how can we understand our own culture from within .
What was the purpose of Nacirema?
The main belief of the Nacirema appears to be that the human body is ugly and that the only way to prevent it from growing weak and diseased is to practice powerful rituals devoted to this purpose. Every household has one or more shrines devoted to this goal.
What made it hard to identify who the nacirema are?
The word Nacirema is the word american spelled backwards. It is a term used in sociology to describe the behaviors and cultures of american people. What made it hard to identify who they are? Their cultural believes were complicated and poorly understood by many.
Why is Nacirema American spelled backwards?
Miner’s account of the Nacirema—American spelled backwards—was instead a pointed criticism of anthropologists’ tendency to hype up the perceived weirdness of other cultures . His aim, as i09 puts it, was to show that “everything that’s normal to us seems weird to someone else.”
What can we learn from the nacirema?
Observations that deliver insight that help transform products and services require objectivity, removal of bias, curiosity, and an understanding of context . The ‘Body Ritual Among the Nacirema’ is an academic article from 1956 describing the rituals of a ‘North American group’ .
What does the story about the nacirema teach us?
Nacirema is American spelled backwards. ... Horace Miner uses a unique approach to help us (Americans) realize different things about our culture . This story is trying to get us to look at our own culture from the outside sine we are always thinking we are normal but other cultures are very strange.
Why is the mouth so important to the nacirema?
2. The Most important values of the Nacirema are to give to their shrines, and to see holy-mouth-mens atleast twice a year, despite the pain that it brings. The mouth is so important to these people, because their mouth apparently has a supernatural influence on social relationships .
What really is the Latipso?
The latipso – in every community, there is a temple called the latipso where the Naciremas believe they will be healed . ... Intercourse – this is a very taboo subject in the Nacirema culture. It is a scheduled event, and, sometimes, magical materials are even used to prevent pregnancy.
Is Nacirema civilized?
Nacirema culture is a very civilized culture . The way they do, their things portray a very civilized society whose patients go to the hospitals to be treated by the special health professionals such as doctors, dentists, psychologists, and nurses. They also use clean treated water and detergents in daily cleanness.
Does the nacirema tribe still exist?
The Nacirema don’t exist and they are in fact American culture (Nacirema in reverse). ... Miner’s “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” demonstrates the subject of cultural relativism and the argument that societies must be understood from their own context in order to be properly interpreted.
What is the ancient secret language Nacirema?
Doctors. Ancient Code/Secret Language. Refers to the Joke that a doctor’s handwriting is illegible , particularly on prescriptions. Herbalist.
What is the basic focus of Nacirema society?
Nacirema culture is devoted to economic pursuits and ritual activity. The focus of this activity is the human body, the appearance and health of which are major concerns for the people. Many of the Nacirema’s traditions are based on preserving bodily health and youth.
What are some Nacirema values?
The most important values of the Nacirema are teeth, breast, and appearance . Members of the society exemplify their wealth and power by how many shrines they have.
What benefit might we derive from studying the nacirema way of life?
What benefit(s) might we derive from studying the Nacirema way of life? We may see some of our own rituals in the study of the Nacirema . It may come to our understanding how nonsensical it is of us to go to the dentist to fix something that will always return.
What do the nacirema say about mouth rituals?
Below the medicine men are the “holy-mouth-men. ” (P 112) they believe that if the mouth rituals weren’t performed their teeth would fall out and their gums would bleed. Peole seek out the holy-mouth-men once ot twice a year. the holy-mouth-men has a variety of augers, owls, probes, and prods.
