Exploring Cultural Norms in a Ritual Place - Essay Example

Exploring Cultural Norms inside a Ritual Place Introduction This paper attempts to investigate and understand norms and material culture in the X College campus. As an alien sociologist, the author was given an opportunity to explore the different areas of the campus without being detected. The mission of the sociologist was to explore, investigate, understand and analyze the norms, material culture inside the campus. In the following parts, Nacirema-related basic information has been provided. It is followed by norms, material culture, and overall purpose before the conclusion. Nacirema was a supposed tribe of people living in North America. Nacirema can be defined as the satire of every day American life. Linton highlighted the rituals of the Nacirema (326). These rituals, among Nacirema, are presenting some astonishing practices of the human behavior (Murdock 71). However, Miner claims that little is known about the origin of the Nacirema (503). Discussion of Norms The sociologist observed that children coming to shrines or temples where they sat calmly and listened to the words of a person like a medicine man. Although the medicine man did not have any scripture but the medicine man kept uttering some words. While describing his thoughts, the medicine man used to paint something on a black wall on which the medicine man was writing something. The children did not speak in the shrine but they keenly listened to the medicine man. Moreover, it was like a family entering into the shrine in an obedient manner. Additionally, the sociologist observed that the medicine man ordered the children to come one by one and express or say something. It was a different language for the sociologist to understand. In addition, the medicine man was writing particular ideas. These ideas were not understood by any other person except those sitting inside the shrine. The children sitting inside the shrine were writing down the ideas written by the medicine man. However, the sociologist observed that the sayings and orders of the medicine man were not violated but they were followed by the children sitting in the shrine. Additionally, after entering into the certain type of structures, the sociologist saw that the children were washing their hands; they were performing an activity like ablution of the mouth. Although it was not like a mouth-rite activity but the children performed it. Some children used a combination of hog hairs along with magical powders into the mouth and subsequently they moved the bundle in a particular gesture. Additionally, the sociologist observed that the children performed bathing in the secrecy of the household shrine. The children did not bow in front of the medicine men. The sociologist observed that the children were not giving considerable respect to the medicine men but they did talk carefully. With this activity, they showed some sort of respect and accepted the supremacy of the medicine men. Although some children did left the shrine without taking into account the presence of the medicine men, but it was allowed that the children would not be stopped if they wanted to leave the shrine. The sociologist observed that the medicine man did exhibit strong behaviors and attitude to the children who were not giving due attention to the rites. This situation indicated that the medicine man did not want the children to lose their attention but they should concentrate on the rites. Additionally, the medicine man might have thought that if the children lose their concentration, they would not be able to apply the rites to their routine activities. Discussion of Material Culture All tangible objects are known as material culture. It was like a house of powerful individual who owned numerous shrines in the house. In which, many believers or worshippers particularly children attended ceremonies like worships. The children wore particular but one similarly painted dress on their body. In the shrines, certain rites were only shared and discussed with the children during the period. The children had a particular rapport attached with the shrines. The main reason behind this rapport was that the entire house and shrines did not differ in their structure but they remained the same in their outlook and structure. It seemed that the house was built with stones and not with the wooden structure. Additionally, the house walls were higher in size. Aggregately, the entire house had bigger walls which distinguished it from the rest of the surroundings. Moreover, the entire house was painted with one type of painting. The sociologist observed that the children looked happy and they were constantly interacting with each other. As the house was painted with one color, this depicted and enabled the children to feel that they are part of the house and regardless of their caste, color, creed and socio-economic strengths, they are inbuilt part of the house. They did not hesitate to talk and chat with the members worshipping in other shrines built in the house. Instead, they offered different activities inside the house particularly on the grass. The sociologist was convinced that it was the power of the house and the shrines inside the house that had created a strong bond among the members of the house. As a result, no discontent or strong negative words were heard by the sociologist while visiting the college campus. Overall Purpose The overall purpose of place was related to worship and good behaviors. In which, the children were taught good manners along with good behaviors. They were ordered to develop a routine structure in which they could follow certain type of rites. Additionally, the children were asked to strictly follow certain orders. Additionally, they were asked to carefully listen to the medicine men and their thoughts about particular set of rites. The house was also developed to collectively worship on a particular type of ethos and the related practices. There were many reasons enabled the sociologist to reach at this conclusion. First, the children were carefully listening to the words of the medicine men and they remained silent while listening to the medicine men. Additionally, they exhibited good behaviors and freely interacted with other members inside the house. Conclusion The sociologist observed the house with many shrines or temples; in which the children sat calmly and listened to the words of the medicine men. The medicine man ordered the children to come one by one and express or say some words. The entire worshipping process observed a different language which the sociologist did not understand. The observer saw that the children used a collection of hog hairs along with magical powders into the mouth and they moved the bundle in a particular gesture. The walls of the house were higher and they were painted with one color of painting. Based on this combination, the students covered their body by wearing a particular color dress. Works Cited Linton, Ralph. The Study of Man. New York: D. Appleton-Century Co. 1936. Print. Miner, Horace. “Body Ritual among the Nacirema.” American Anthropologist, 58.3 (1956): 503-507. Print. Murdock, George P. Social Structure. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1949. Print. Read More