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Body Ritual Among The Nacirema Rhetorical Analysis

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Many customs can be depicted as unusual if observed by someone outside of the traditional society. Within the United States many cultural practices found in other regions are considered peculiar. American culture boasts traditions and customs that can be considered idiosyncratic by other societies. In "Body Rituals Among the Nacirema," Horace Miner effectively conveys his message through the use of irony and sarcasm. The essay, written in the form of an anthropological study, critiques the cultural practices of American society by presenting them as the strange and bizarre rituals of a mysterious tribe called the Nacirema. The following quotes demonstrate how Miner uses language and literary techniques to convey his message."The fundamental belief of the Nacirema is that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendencies are towards evil." (Miner, 1956) This quote highlights the absurdity of the Nacirema's beliefs and reflects the negative attitudes that many people in American society have towards …show more content…

Miner uses exaggerated language to make a statement about the excessive lengths that people in American society will go to in order to maintain their appearance. Horace says "the daily mouth-rite is performed in front of a special bench, in which the practitioner sits, with a bowl of sacred water at hand, and examines every part of his mouth in a highly ritualized manner." This quote underscores the level of detail and formality with which the Nacirema approach their body rituals, and highlights the absurdity of these practices. Through these quotes and the use of description and satire, Miner effectively conveys his message to the reader about the dangers of cultural relativism and the importance of taking a critical view of one's own cultural beliefs and

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In Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, Horace Miner develops a weird, quirky society called the Nacirema that is made up of natives who go about their day doing odd rituals and tasks. The purpose of the story was to have people judge other cultures less harshly by making them step back and think about what they were perceiving. Additionally, Miner calls attention to how similar cultures are from region to region without even knowing. Sociologists from the perspectives of functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interaction would interpret Nacirema society differently and in a unique way. Throughout the story Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, many ideas that align with the three theoretical perspectives are blatantly displayed by the Nacirema natives.

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The Nacirema’s are said to be a tribe located between Canada and Mexico. With very exotic beliefs and customs, the Nacirema’s are viewed as vein and selfish. They focus on an obsession and a hatred of the human body. If you have not already figured it out, Nacirema is American spelled backwards. In the essay Body Ritual among the Nacirema, Horace Miner explains American culture and customs which he finds to be very exotic and unusual.

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