The articles show that this community participated in extreme cultural practices, which, according to the author Miner (1956) marked the outside boundaries of what people would tolerate. The Nacirema group is recognized as belonging to the field of cultural anthropology through the analysis of publications; this is because they carried out practices such as piercing the flesh with sharp objects and scraping and rupturing the face or legs. Moreover, biological anthropology is also demonstrated in the articles, which outline how humans developed and adapted to various surroundings. It is outlined in the articles as the group participated in body rites traditions that were accepted by the entire population. They would engage in painful and destructive rituals to keep the body in good condition and free from diseases.
Articles are written to highlight the issue of studying another culture from the outside and how to comprehend one’s own culture. By reading the articles, I can understand other people’s behaviors and respect their beliefs more. It will help empower my relations with individuals from different ethnics group, thus creating good relationships. Therefore, the pieces illustrate cultural relativism by arguing that there is no one neutral vantage point from which to judge civilizations. Moreover, society should be understood and interpreted from the locals’ viewpoint. As a result of Miner’s paper, we might question ourselves as anthropologists on how we ought to approach researching a specific community.
Applying the articles to social life experiences makes a difference in stopping all the main factors of earth’s death. The individuals altered the waterways and landscapes from the reading. It eventually led to the group’s downfall as they had caused much damage to the earth through activities such as pollution. Thus for a better living world, humans should incorporate engaging in activities such as planting trees to improve the environment.
The Nacirema were fascinating people, prone to strange customs. The Nacirema people’s adherence to the “holy-mouth-men,” which I found intriguing, is the culture’s most unique feature (Miller, 1956). The Nacirema believe that if they do not see the holy-mouth men, their gums will bleed, and their teeth will become less healthy, rendering those social outcasts in their communities (Neil, 1972). Given the strict standards for appearance, what sets them apart is the condition of their gums.
References
Miner, H. (1956). Body Ritual among the Nacirema. American Anthropologist, 58(3), 503–507. Web.
Neil, B., T. (1972). The mysterious fall of the Nacirema. Web.