What is the main point of Body Ritual Among the Nacirema?
The main belief of the Nacirema appears to be that the human body is ugly and that the only way to prevent it from growing weak and diseased is to practice powerful rituals devoted to this purpose. Every household has one or more shrines devoted to this goal.
What is the Body Ritual Among the Nacirema summary?
“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner (1956) is an ethnological account of the Nacirema, a tribe located in North America. According to Miner, the Nacirema culture presents a highly developed market economy but with a main focus on ritual activity which focuses on the human body and its appearance of health.
What are some of the body rituals of the Nacirema peoples?
It was reported to me that the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical pastes, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures. In addition to the private mouth-rite, the people seek out a holy-mouth-man once or twice a year.
What is a mouth rite?
The daily body ritual performed by everyone includes a mouth-rite. This rite involves a practice which strikes the stranger as revolting. The ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures.
What benefit might we derive from studying the Nacirema way of life?
What benefit(s) might we derive from studying the Nacirema way of life? We may see some of our own rituals in the study of the Nacirema. It may come to our understanding how nonsensical it is of us to go to the dentist to fix something that will always return.
What really is the Latipso?
The latipso – in every community, there is a temple called the latipso where the Naciremas believe they will be healed. Intercourse – this is a very taboo subject in the Nacirema culture. It is a scheduled event, and, sometimes, magical materials are even used to prevent pregnancy.
Where are the Nacirema body rituals?
In everyday life the Nacirema avoids exposure of his body and its natural functions. Bathing and excretory acts are performed only in the secrecy of the household shrine, where they are ritualized as part of the body-rites.
What is mouth-rite?
What is mouth rite?
What are the rules of the Nacirema?
The supplicant entering the temple is first stripped of all his or her clothes. In every-day life the Nacirema avoids exposure of his body and its natural functions. Bathing and excretory acts are performed only in the secrecy of the household shrine, where they are ritualized as part of the body-rites.
What is Nacirema culture?
Nacirema culture is characterized by a highly developed market economy which has evolved in a rich natural habitat. While much of the people’s time is devoted to economic pursuits, a large part of the fruits of these labors and a considerable portion of the day are spent in ritual activity.
What is the Nacirema ritual 505?
MINER] Nacirema Ritual 505 these objects in the exorcism of the evils of the mouth involves almost unbe- lievable ritual torture of the client. The holy-mouth-man opens the client’s mouth and, using the above mentioned tools, enlarges any holes which decay may have created in the teeth. Magical materials are put into these holes.
Are the Nacirema an example of extreme human behavior?
In this light, the magical beliefs and practices of the Nacirema present such unusual aspects that it seems desirable to describe them as an example of the extremes to which human behavior can go.