Body ritual among the Nacirema

     The essay is about the cures and body rituals that "Nacirema" tribes practice. Their rituals are somewhat similar to the modern humans'. They have a pathological fear in the mouth and they regard cleaning the mouth as a significant activity during a day. Like them, modern people check their mouth at least two times a year. The Nacirema tribes have similar social structures with modern society and the priests and doctors are alike. The only but the most significant difference was that Nacirema culture seemed barbaric compared to the other civilization. Their image was people of poor, third-world country with almost no public orders and insanitary environment. Since the writer elaborates details about Nacirema society by using some negative and distorted description such as 'barbaric', 'cruel'. The author's negative view toward the Nacirema society result readers to imagine a biased image about their society.  However, the essay is a satire which actually portrays modern society, specifically America. Author's distorted perspective is actually a sarcasm that critiques modern people. Most people think that they are morally upright and do not have any prejudice toward other civilization. People act to be tolerant but actually they aren't, including myself. The author intends to show that readers have  Cultural absolutism in their unconsciousness.

           

My images about Naciremans

               

     

     Readers can find out that the essay is about American society by different clues. "Nacirema" is the backward of "America". Also, Naciremans are North American group living between Mexico and Canadian Cree. This is the location of America. Furthermore, the Nacirema nation was founded by hero called Notgnihsaw, which is George Washington of the United States. The author additionally mentions stories about Washington that he threw wampum across the river and chopped down cherry blossom tree. Nacirema have Pa-To-Mac river which is also in the U.S. From these descriptions, readers can easily realize that the essay is about American society. However, not noticing these clues, readers might regard this society as just a barbaric, uncivilized culture. The essay shows cultural absolutism inside unconsciousness.

     Cultural absolutism causes majority of frictions and important problems of modern world. It is an attitude evaluating other culture's value from one perspective. In this modern world, there is a socially common notion that is created by some major power countries. Majority of the socially common notion is made based with their culture and values, and they dominate other countries. With the standard and rules that few made, the world assesses other unique cultures. People regard right or wrong with the narrow minded thoughts. People mistreat and exclude other culture with the prejudice.

     To begin with, people cannot understand other cultures and be 100% tolerant to others. Every society has its distinct culture and it should be honored. Each culture is a basis that forms the social structure and the people’s lives. People have they have their own standards and values that they naturally learned and share with other social members. When other foreigners have different point of view or standards, people cannot understand their logic. For instance, there was a France singer who blamed Korea’s tradition of eating dogs. She portrayed this tradition as barbarism and even tried to boycott Korean football team from the World cup to prevent Korean culture from consuming edible dogs. Her comments were pretty offensive to not only Korean society but also other dog-eating cultures including China, Switzerland, US (sausage was originated from dog meat). This is due to narrow thinking and lack of tolerance.

In addition, fixed image of other cultures causes prejudice. From the surface things that they observed from other culture, they comprehend and treat them differently. To illustrate, by the external things people see about foreign cultures, they make up images about them and regard the image as truth. For example, in the essay, writer depicts that the magical practitioners cure the illness of sick people. Nacireman people had to give presents to the 'doctors' so that they can cure their illness. Every time they needed a cure, they had to give material things or not, they can't fix their illness. From this passage, Nacireman people seem cold-hearted. However, modern society is more cruel and cold and it's hard to live without money. This is the stereotype which causes cultural absolutism.

     It is hard for people to get rid of cultural absolutism. Difference is a natural thing and human cannot change this. However, when people try their best to eliminate stereotypes, frictions and problems will be lessened. The best way is to learn about other countries. Learning about other cultures and their history will enable people to understand other countries. This is because learning history and culture is learning about other's values, rituals and their standards.  It enables people to become tolerant and have an open mind toward other cultures. So, people can approach other cultures better.

     The essay "Body ritual among the Nacirema" is a story of American society. However, the Nacirema society seemed poor-living, uncivilized, barbaric only just because they were tribes and they live distinct life compared to the modern society. Culture absolutism is caused by misunderstanding of other life and stereotypes. It is difficult to eliminate it, but learning about other culture would increase the understanding of other cultures.