Body Ritual Among The Nacirema Summary
Body Ritual in Nacirema
When I started reading Miner’s “Body Rituals among the Nacirema” I wasn’t really ‘reading’ it. By the end of the first page, it “hit me” and I had to start reading it over again. Realizing the essay was speaking of Americans gave me a whole different perspective. I found some of it quite amusing as well as enlightening. My feeling is that the author intended the reader to see our own ethnocentrism and question our own acts towards others with whom we are not familiar.
Much of the article depicts the “Nacirema” people as pathological and obsessive in their rituals. Hoarding potions and creams, whether they are old or useful, rituals to fix imperfections of the body by “medicine men” of different types. Telling their problems to listeners instead of sharing with their families. Is this to make themselves happier, or to justify their actions? It seems that the Nacirema have lost the site of being individuals and must strive to be like all others. People are …show more content…
It describes “faith” being put into items and ceremonial treatments that may either help or hurt them. Changing of body appearances drastically to gain acceptance, instead of being content with life. We are the most advanced in healthcare and have found cures or treatments for so many diseases, yet we show little appreciation to the men and women that strive to make our lives better by ruining our health. We expect more and give less to each other on a daily basis. Helping others is nearly non-existent as we are so concerned that they may receive more than us, or that our money is giving them a better life than how our life is. But this is what our country was built on. Encouraging the poor, uncared for, to come and experience our freedoms and wonderful life. The less naïve I become about our world, the more I understand why others are critical of Americans
When I started reading Miner’s “Body Rituals among the Nacirema” I wasn’t really ‘reading’ it. By the end of the first page, it “hit me” and I had to start reading it over again. Realizing the essay was speaking of Americans gave me a whole different perspective. I found some of it quite amusing as well as enlightening. My feeling is that the author intended the reader to see our own ethnocentrism and question our own acts towards others with whom we are not familiar.
Much of the article depicts the “Nacirema” people as pathological and obsessive in their rituals. Hoarding potions and creams, whether they are old or useful, rituals to fix imperfections of the body by “medicine men” of different types. Telling their problems to listeners instead of sharing with their families. Is this to make themselves happier, or to justify their actions? It seems that the Nacirema have lost the site of being individuals and must strive to be like all others. People are …show more content…
It describes “faith” being put into items and ceremonial treatments that may either help or hurt them. Changing of body appearances drastically to gain acceptance, instead of being content with life. We are the most advanced in healthcare and have found cures or treatments for so many diseases, yet we show little appreciation to the men and women that strive to make our lives better by ruining our health. We expect more and give less to each other on a daily basis. Helping others is nearly non-existent as we are so concerned that they may receive more than us, or that our money is giving them a better life than how our life is. But this is what our country was built on. Encouraging the poor, uncared for, to come and experience our freedoms and wonderful life. The less naïve I become about our world, the more I understand why others are critical of Americans