Nacirema (anthropology term)
Nacirema is a term used in anthropology to satirically describe American society, originating from Horace Mitchell Miner's 1956 paper, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema." The term itself is "American" spelled backwards and serves as a critique of how cultural practices can appear strange or extreme when viewed from an outsider's perspective. In the essay, Miner illustrates various rituals of the Nacirema, such as elaborate oral hygiene habits and body modification practices, which reflect the intense standards of physical appearance prevalent in American culture. The description of these practices highlights the importance of understanding cultural context, as what may seem bizarre without context can be quite ordinary within a culture. The Nacirema serve as a reminder to anthropologists and readers alike to approach unfamiliar cultures with an open mind and to seek out mundane explanations for actions that initially appear peculiar. This satirical exploration has had lasting implications, influencing both anthropological thought and broader discussions about cultural practices in contemporary society. The Nacirema concept is now often used in literature and education to teach critical thinking about cultural norms and perspectives.
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Nacirema (anthropology term)
The term Nacirema refers to a satirical description of American society that originated in an anthropological paper written by Horace Mitchell Miner in 1956. The paper examines the common practices and beliefs of American society of the 1950s from the perspective of an anthropologist who lacked the context for many cultural or medical practices. For this reason, the behaviors of the Nacirema people are portrayed in a strange, exotic manner. The paper encourages anthropologists to search for mundane reasons for seemingly strange practices, and to search cultural context to explain those actions. In light of how odd American culture can seem to be when described in such a way as Miner does, the satirical paper also encourages general readers to withhold judgement of other cultures that may seem to demonstrate strange or inexplicable practices.
Overview
Anthropology is the broad study of humanity. Anthropologists compile the history and cultures of people throughout the world. This includes the methods by which cultures communicate with one another, the behaviors different cultures exhibit, and the means by which different cultures have adapted to their environments. Through compiling and examining this information, anthropologists hope to attain a greater understanding of humanity.
Because anthropology is such a large field, it is common for anthropologists to study how different aspects of a culture interact with one another. For example, they may study the language of a culture, and that language might influence a culture’s everyday practices. They might then study the rituals, ceremonies, and other important aspects of a culture’s everyday life, noting how these practices might have influenced the development of their language, or how the language might have influenced the development of those practices.
Another important aspect of anthropology is the comparison of cultures. As detailed knowledge of different groups of people is collected, anthropologists can study how the similarities and differences between groups of people. They may discover how different aspects of cultures, such as environments, histories, or languages, have shaped the way people think, feel, and act.
Nacirema is a satirical term used in anthropology. It was first used by Horace Mitchell Miner in his paper “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema,” which was published in American Anthropologist in June 1956. In this essay, Miner discusses the cultural practices of the Nacirema, a mythical group of people that live between the territories of many native peoples. The paper describes the Nacirema holding themselves to an extremely high physical standard, routinely torturing themselves in special locations in order to force their bodies to adopt extreme shapes. It also discusses the Nacirema engaging in a “mouth ritual” several times per day, engaging in daily ritual purification, and visiting medicine men and women to obtain important objects that they consume.
Throughout the course of this paper, it becomes apparent that the word Nacirema is “American” spelled backwards, and that the paper satirizes modern American living from an outside perspective. The “mouth ritual” refers to the common habit of brushing one’s teeth, the “medicine men” are medical doctors, and all the seemingly exotic practices of the Nacirema are common habits described from an outsider’s perspective. It notes that when viewed from the outside, many aspects of a culture can appear strange, dangerous, extreme, or fantastical. Such a view encourages anthropologists to look for mundane explanations for behavior that appears strange or exotic. It shows that without the important context of beliefs and cultural practices, even the most mundane or necessary tasks can appear extreme or arcane. The paper also served as a satirical and critical examination of the American society of the 1950s and beyond, as many practices described by Miner have been practiced in present-day America.
Miner's Nacerima eventually stemmed beyond the realm of anthropology and is used in modern American literature classes to teach description and satire.
Bibliography
“Growing Up Among the Nacirema.” Art of Being Human, 2021, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-artofbeinghuman/chapter/growing-up-among-the-nacirema/. Accessed 13 May 2021.
Kahn, Jeffrey. “The Nacirema Revisited.” SMU, 2014, scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=smulr. Accessed 13 May 2021.
Miner, Horace. “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.” American Anthropologist, 1956, www.sfu.ca/~palys/Miner-1956-BodyRitualAmongTheNacirema.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2021.
“Nacirema Thinking.” Living Anthropologically, 2020, www.livinganthropologically.com/nacirema-rituals-horace-miner/. Accessed 13 May 2021.
Nuwer, Rachel. “The Line Between Weirdness and Normalcy Depends Entirely on Your Point of View.” Smithsonian, 6 Feb. 2014, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1956-anthropologist-satirically-dubbed-america-land-pervasive-aversion-natural-body-180949657/. Accessed 13 May 2021.
Thompson, Neil B. “The Mysterious Fall of the Nacirema.” Western Washington University, faculty.wwu.edu/oussele/331/The%20Mysterious%20Fall%20of%20the%20Nacirema.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2021.
“What Is Anthropology?” American Anthropological Association, 2021, www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2150. Accessed 13 May 2021.
“Who Are the Nacrirema?” AFUSA, 2021, www.afsusa.org/educators/lesson-plans/who-are-the-nacirema/. Accessed 13 May 2021.