Applying Core Terms to the Nacirema

Introduction

Begin this assignment by reading "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Download Body Ritual Among the Nacirema," a satirical anthropological essay written by Horace Miner. Miner’s essay examines the rituals and customs of a fictional culture called the Nacirema. Through Miner’s seemingly objective descriptions, the essay provides a satirical critique of the ways in which anthropologists may present and interpret unfamiliar cultural practices.


Assignment Instructions:

Your goal in this assignment is to respond to the following questions and/or statements and identify how cultural practices can seem unusual, or even irrational, when viewed through an outsider’s lens.


What is your initial reaction to Miner’s essay?

What elements of Nacirema culture can you identify? Do they seem familiar or different from your own cultural practices?

Identify 2 cultural critiques from the article that demonstrate ethnocentrism.

How might the perspective of the essay differ by employing cultural relativism and holism?

What have you learned about applying cultural relativism, holism, and ethnocentrism in anthropologic studies that you can apply to your daily life and your nursing career? If not, why not?

Your response should be 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced, of approximately 500-750 words.


MS Word is the only acceptable document for credit. PDF and all other formats submitted will not be graded and will result in a 0 grade.


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Rubric

Week 1 Assignment Rubric: Applying Core Terms to the Nacirema