Body Ritual Among the Nacrima Essay

Body ritual among the Nacirema 

            After reading the required reading "Body Ritual among the Nacrirema" I was surprised and yet disgusted that people actually went through such extremes measures to preserve and care for their bodies. The Nacirema tribe is described by anthropologist Horace Miner, as an old primitive tribe residing in North  America with savage and barbaric Practices and rituals. Minor gives plenty of examples that would make the Nacirema tribe seem over obsessive and even animalistic. Minor describes the Nacrirema tribe as performing a special body ritual called the "mouth rite" which is basically the gruesome pulling of teeth, only to put " a special medicine" inside so that it cold fill holes in their mouths. Another example the author describes, is the ritual of certain medicine men who have a temple. These medicine men cure the sick, and is assisted by their "permanent group of maidens who move sedately about temple chambers in a distinctive costume and hairdress".
        As my reading progresses I almost begin to laugh at the traditions and rituals that the Nacrirema tribe has places on themselves, until I notice one thing. Nacrirema is American spelled backwards. Once this  is noticed, everything begins to make sense. " The Body Ritual Among the Nacrirema" is a parody of the American culture. It has always been known that the American culture has placed such a high value on themselves to look good, and Minor did a very good job at describing the life of an average Nacirema (American). He goes in dept of the traditions that are kept in an American household. Minor mentions a room that every Nacirema has that holds a shrine. The shrine is accompanied by a toilet in which every Nacirema enter and lower their heads when they are on it.  By this description  it is clear that Minor is talking about the average American bathroom. He also mentions that Americans are always going to the dentist to receive the "mouth rite"also known as a...