Horace Miner's story of the “Nacirema“ is a distinguish and valued article by many. As one reads it for the first time, they are likely confused at the story and perhaps even fascinated with the intricacies of this culture. However, when looking back very carefully, we see that this anthropological study is one based on American (Nacirema backwards) culture and practices. Miner uses this writing to above all show how bizarre our cultural practice can be from an outsiders perspective. When we look at any culture's practices, we must look within the context of their culture, meaning their location, resources available, religious beliefs etc. When we are able to look at these things, we are more understanding of what they do. For example, Miner describes a cultural practice about the mouth. “Were it not for the rituals of the mouth, they believe that their teeth would fall out, their gums bleed, their jaws shrink, their friends desert them, and their lovers reject them,” (Miner). Of course what Miner is referring to is that many American's brush and floss their teeth everyday to keep them from rotting, falling out and to also keep them white. From an outsiders perspective, as Miner as written, this ritual could seem as going overboard and “depend upon the pervasive aversion to the natural body and its functions,” (Miner). On the other hand, looking contextually at all these practices we can see that we do these things to be clean, healthy and to look healthy, because those are things that are important in our culture.
Another example of this type of cultural context being used in a real anthropological study is in assisted suicide and death hastening practices around the world. To American's, we see assisted suicide as very complicated because of the ethical dilemma present. We usually see this type of behavior as cruel or unnecessary. However, we can look at any nonindustrial culture, and see that these types of practices are normal and seen as necessary. Anthony Glascock looks at the context of killing or abused people in these cultures. He finds that these are in :areas of harsh climates...[and]lack systems of social stratification,” are usually non-sedentary and do not have health technology that we have to sustain life (67 Glascock). In this context, their practices are acceptable.
Furthermore, by looking at the context, it helps to see the similarities and differences in comparing our cultures. Miner says, “If all of the logically possible combinations of behavior have not been found somewhere in the world, he is apt to suspect that they must be present in some yet undescribed tribe,” (Miner). It is important that besides looking at a culture holistically, anthropologist's main goal is to look for the exotic in the familiar, as well as, the familiar in the exotic.
Glascock, Anthony P. (1997). When Killing is Acceptable: The Moral Dilemma surrounding Assisted Suicide in America and Other Soceities. The Cultural Context of Aging (Second ed., pp. 56 -70). Westport: Bergin and Garvey.
I'm so excited about your take on cultural context! I was totally taken with Horace's take on the "Nacirema" and didn't even understand it was Americans he spoke of. I was shocked, and was mildly disgusted; especially with the act of sacred excrement, and Miner's use of the words, "sadistic," and "masochistic." When the "Nacirema" is finally switched to "American" and I can see the how it relates back to us, I am shocked to think if this is how others see us. When reading of other cultures, I often try to stay neutral, just to see how it relates to culture, but how do we stay neutral if it's a piece about us? How are we supposed to reflect on Miner's piece? Can we be amused? Or proud? I related how Miner admits women are probed, and the women with hyper-mammary glands can live on handsome sums just by traveling to other villages to Sarah Baartman. Is it unethical that we, as a whole people (including Americans, French, Xhosan, everyone), are so interested in the human body; we observe and PROBE and pay to see what is not normative? Speaking of ethics, I was really interested to see that you brought up the ideas of assisted suicide, and the elderly. I work at a nursing home, and it's horrible. You can see the residents choking on nothing, if not their own saliva; it takes them hours to eat three bites of a grilled cheese sandwich. What are the questions we ask? Should we have a checklist, and when it's finished, is that when a person has been checked to die? How long do you let them live? If they've lost their minds, how can they tell you they're in pain? Should we let them act like this? Should we let them continue living, even though they have no idea they are living? This is a tremendously tough topic to approach, and I don't have an answer at all for this.
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