Body Rituals Among the Nacirema

     I have read this passage before in my Anthropology class 100, and it was very amusing to learn that this is actually describing us; Americans.

     "The more powerful individuals in the society have several shrines in their houses..." is saying that the more wealthier people have a lot of bathrooms in their homes (which is true).
     "The focal point of the shrine is a box or chest which is built into the wall. In this chest are kept the many charms and magical potions without which no native believes he could live." This is addressing the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
     "Medicine men", are doctors and the "medicine men" don't see you without being rewarded with a "substancial gift", or money/insurance.
     "Herbalists", are the pharmacists and to receive your presciption you need to pay them too.
     "Holy-mouthed men", are dentists. "Listener" is a therapist. "Women bake their heads in small ovens for about an hour", are women who go to the hair salon and sit under hair dryers to dry their hair. "The are rituals to make fat people thin and ceremonial feasts to make thin people fat", this is dieting.


I really like this piece because when put it into this perspective and these words, you actually think about how silly our culture, as Americans, is. When I first read it I ha to reread it a couple of times because I felt like I could relate too much to the the Nacirema people. Until I read again and I realized that it was us! It was me! I had sat and baked my head for about an hour before and I can't go to the "medican man" unless I have insurance or money to be seen and diagnosed. I think that the purpose of this passage to put into perspective how silly the things that we believe is so important really are. We believe in too much when in reality, things are really simple.