The funalmental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Incarcerated in such a body, mn's only hope is to avert these characteristics through the use of the powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. (Miner 471)
This is true of the American culture, constantly trying to correct what is already perfectly fine, such as the use of unnecessary plastic surgery. Minor's essay is in part a powerful criticism focused on the ridiculous occurrences that take place in an average Americans life.
Miner's essay also deals with the importance of the perspective of someone studying another culture. Miner describing the bathroom as the shrine' is perfect for his purposes: "The