Nacirema Culture Analysis

Describe your impressions of the culture as you read the story. Did you identify culturally specific meaningful activities, language, and nonverbal behavior? What was your reaction to learning the meaning of the name Nacirema? Even before Dr. Bailey’s post, I connected the community of the Nacirema to that of the Sawi people in Don Richardson’s book. My initial impression of both cultures was the same, shock. However, I was more astonished by the Nacirema people because of their "ties" to America. The Sawi people were in an isolated foreign country with no governmental oversight. The Nacirema, however, is not some foreign outlandish culture, they are essentially the American culture told from a dramatic viewpoint. There …show more content…
This is partly because their economy is based on the fruits of their natural habitat and partly because their nation “originated [from] a cultural hero, Notgnihsaw” (Nacirema Ritual, pg. 503). Another aspect of their language shows the importance of the medicine men in the culture. An “ancient and secret language” is used by the medicine men and herbalists (Nacriema Ritual, pg. 504). They use this power and elitism to exploit those who believe and count on the medicine men’s ability and …show more content…
In general, how would you expect people in this culture to relate to you? There exist, though not obvious, similarities between the Nacirema people and America because they are, though difficult to believe, the same culture. Both cultures depend on a “highly developed market economy” and base their societal rankings and power on wealth (Nacirema Ritual, pg. 505). The Nacirema people also worship the women who are prettier than average and admire beauty, like that of the American people. These similarities in societies are enough to start building rapport. On a deeper analytical level, the integral cultural aspects of the Nacirema are the same as American’s even now. Their medicine men are our doctors, therapists, pharmacists, and every other medical professional that America depends on now more than ever before. The charm box the Nacirema’s worshiped daily is basically our medicine cabinets which we also, as a nation, see on a regular basis and seek medications to heal us but leave medications there to sit and expire. The ritual with the cleaning of the mouth is essentially us brushing our teeth. Our American everyday actions have been described as religious and cultural rituals of the Nacirema’s. The Nacirema nation also got their beginnings from their hero, Notgnihsaw. Interestingly enough this is another neologism, spelling