What is the main idea of Body Ritual among the Nacirema?
The fundamental belief of the Nacirema is that the body is ugly and prone to weakness. Therefore, man uses ritual and ceremony to avert his vulnerability. Homes have shrines made of stone for these customs, and those with more money may even have many shrines.
What is the focus of the nacirema rituals and where do they carry them out?
The subject of these ceremonies is the human body. The Nacirema are extremely concerned about the health and appearance of their bodies. They believe that certain rituals and ceremonies must be practiced to maintain and improve the condition of their bodies.
What does nacirema stand for?
Nacirema (“American” spelled backwards) is a term used in anthropology and sociology in relation to aspects of the behavior and society of citizens of the United States of America.
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 point do you think miner was trying to make about ethnocentrism?
Horace Miner used Ethnocentrism because he called the tribe barbaric and inhumane when describing the way they performed the rituals. In order to be able to understand a different culture and their ways there must be no judging and an open mind must be kept.
What does Body Ritual among the Nacirema teach us about ethnocentrism and cultural relativism?
Horace Miner’s somewhat satirical piece “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” is an entertaining social commentary about ethnocentrism. By evoking this mode of thinking, Miner attempts to make us unwittingly use our cultural prejudices against our own societal mores. …
How does Body Ritual among the Nacirema help you understand historical context?
Answer Expert Verified. It helps you understand how culture is a relative thing and the historical context is important in evaluating both our and other people’s cultures. From the paper you can learn to not judge other people’s cultures based on your own culture.
What role does the listener play in nacirema culture?
The listener treats people simply by listening to their talk of themselves. Towards the end of “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” Miner adds a few more characteristics of the tribe like “ritual fasts to make fat people thin and ceremonial feasts to make thin people fat” and a fixation with women breast size.