Body Ritual among the Nacirema - Research Paper Example

The concept of cutting down seems to be Washington and Horace Miner spelled the city backwards to enhance interest to the story. The story then continues to talk on how American people have privileges on medications that heals people. In brief, in his thought the author illustrated the subject obsession where American lives evolve self-image. No wonder, they spend much time doing morning preparation and buying many medications for every sickness. Following this, this essay seeks to discuss about body ritual among the Nacirema and in doing will relate to Horace Miner article.

In Miner’s article, “Body Rituals among the Nacirema” he highlights strange rituals by American people. In great content, the article explores much on cultural anthropology and it is an eye opening to how ethnocentric a culture can be. The author outlines how the American culture entails a developed market economy with rich natural habitat. Although people spend much time on economic pursuits, the fruits of this labour and most of time spent involve ritual activities. In this case, rituals revolve body, appearance, and health that act as the dominant concern Americans.

As mentioned, people care so much about improving their health, looking good, and being free from any illness. Although such concern is not bad, its outcome is associated with traditional states underlying self-gain and culture solidarity. Fundamentally, the belief is based on the fact that the human body has a natural tendency to illness and debility. With this in mind, man’s hope is to forestall these characteristics through rituals as well as ceremony. No wonder, every household comprises of one or extra memorial place devoted to the ritual.

As argued in the article, most houses are constructed from daub, wattle, and shrines rooms of the wealthy constructed with stones. In depth, the article discusses about the author’s concern on cultural relativism. As indicated, cultural relativism is accepted in the modern anthropology and the author shows how all cultures are of the equal value of their rights. He presents his ideas in such a way he considers America culture as not wrong or good but stands in the ground of neutral perspective.

Borne in mind truth is not an objective, there are no objective standards applying to every cultures. Miner (2009) highlights unique American beliefs such as culture solidarity but avoids passing judgement on the society. In doing, he uses a different name that does not exist “Nacirema” to discuss his views that readers could not judge its American culture. Still, he discusses about Washington with different words “notngishwa” so that one cannot judge about what he is talking about. From this, the author clearly understands about cultural relativism where anthropologists account all cultures as equal and a legitimate expression of the society.

The author can present his thoughts at ease without conflicting any society’s beliefs. No one can pass judgment on him as he does not exactly indicate which culture he is talking about. However, after analysing the article one can affirm that the author is talking about American culture and the Washington concept of cutting trees. The main argument of this reading is to create a platform where readers understand that there are numerous cultures and each is different on its own. The culture presented has different beliefs from others and behave differently.

Nacirema believes that if they fail to perform rituals their mouth may fall out and consequence to rejection from their loved ones. This makes understands how the culture differ from others as this culture behave differently and respect their