Questions: Discussion 12: Body Ritual Among the Nacerima (Horace Miner) In case you didn't catch it, this article is a parody that pokes fun of Western anthropologists who describe foreign cultures. The "Nacirema" (read it backwards) are more familiar than you think. So, what was the author really trying to do here, and how does he mask this familiar culture of ours in ways that make it sound foreign and mystical?

Horace Miner's article "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" is a satirical piece that critiques the way anthropologists often describe cultures that are unfamiliar to them. By presenting American culture as if it were a strange and exotic society, Miner highlights the biases and assumptions that can color anthropological descriptions.

1. Purpose of the Article: The primary aim of Miner's article is to encourage readers to reflect on how cultural practices can be perceived as strange or irrational when described from an outsider's perspective. By using the term "Nacirema" (which is "American" spelled backward), Miner cleverly disguises the familiar culture of the United States, making it seem foreign and mystical.

2. Techniques Used: Miner employs several techniques to mask the familiar culture:

   • Exotic Language: He uses elaborate and formal language to describe everyday activities, such as brushing teeth or visiting the dentist, making them sound like complex rituals.
   • Anthropological Jargon: Miner uses terms and a tone typical of anthropological studies, which often describe other cultures in a detached and sometimes condescending manner.
   • Focus on the Mundane: By focusing on ordinary activities and presenting them as rituals, Miner exposes how cultural practices can be misunderstood or misrepresented.

3. Examples:

   • The "holy-mouth-men" are actually dentists, and the "latipso" is a hospital. By describing these in mystical terms, Miner makes readers question their own cultural practices.
   • The "shrine rooms" with "charm-boxes" refer to bathrooms with medicine cabinets, again highlighting how ordinary aspects of life can be exoticized.

4. Broader Implications: Miner's work encourages readers to consider the subjectivity involved in cultural analysis. It suggests that all cultures have practices that might seem irrational or bizarre to outsiders, and it calls for a more empathetic and nuanced understanding of cultural differences.

In conclusion, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural relativism and the need to approach cultural studies with an open mind, free from ethnocentric bias. By turning the lens on American culture, Miner effectively demonstrates how easily familiar practices can be distorted when viewed through a particular interpretive framework.