Body Ritual among the Body Ritual among the Nacirema Nacirema (Horace Milner, Anthropologist) (Horace Milner, Anthropologist) 1. What are your impressions of this culture? (use adjectives to describe) 2. Highlight or underline three examples of this culture that caught your attention. 3. Did you feel the author made value judgments or was it impartial in its description of another culture? Highlight or underline one example to support your answer. 4. What are some reasons why this culture may have had so many body rituals? 5. Would you choose to live in a culture like the Nacirema? Why? Why not?
Transcript
Body Ritual among the Body Ritual among the Nacirema Nacirema (Horace Milner, Anthropologist)(Horace Milner, Anthropologist)
1. What are your impressions of this culture? (use adjectives to describe)
2. Highlight or underline three examples of this culture that caught your attention.
3. Did you feel the author made value judgments or was it impartial in its description of another culture? Highlight or underline one example to support your answer.
4. What are some reasons why this culture may have had so many body rituals?
5. Would you choose to live in a culture like the Nacirema? Why? Why not?
Material CultureMaterial Culture SkyscrapersSkyscrapers ComputersComputers Cell phonesCell phones CarsCars TVsTVs
Non-material CultureNon-material Culture BeliefsBeliefs RulesRules CustomsCustoms Family systemFamily system Capitalist economyCapitalist economy
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Group of people that live in a Group of people that live in a defined territory and participate defined territory and participate in a common culturein a common culture
What makes up your cultural personality?What makes up your cultural personality?
The pen is mightier than… The pen is mightier than… Better safe than…Better safe than…
Don’t bite the hand that…Don’t bite the hand that… No news is…No news is…
A penny saved is a…A penny saved is a… Children should be seen and not…Children should be seen and not… Better late…Better late…
Culture is learned through…Culture is learned through…SYMBOLSSYMBOLS
Physical objects, sounds, smells, tastes, wordsPhysical objects, sounds, smells, tastes, words words are a symbol for an objectwords are a symbol for an object ApplauseApplause
Concert in US = positiveConcert in US = positive Athlete in Latin America = negativeAthlete in Latin America = negative
Language frees us of time and placeLanguage frees us of time and place Allows future generations to access the same materialAllows future generations to access the same material
Cultural TransmissionCultural Transmission Passing of culture from generation to Passing of culture from generation to
generationgeneration
Symbols that guide realitySymbols that guide reality The more important the The more important the
idea/concept/physical object the more words idea/concept/physical object the more words we have to represent itwe have to represent it US: snow = few wordsUS: snow = few words
Inuit (Eskimo): snow = more than twentyInuit (Eskimo): snow = more than twenty
Your perception of the world differs/alters as Your perception of the world differs/alters as you learn new languageyou learn new language
List all the words you use for “clothes”? “food”? “car”?
AccoutrementAccoutrement ApparelApparel CostumeCostume DressDress DudsDuds EnsembleEnsemble FrockFrock GarbGarb GarmentsGarments GearGear Hand me downsHand me downs OutfitOutfit RagsRags RegaliaRegalia Sunday BestSunday Best ThreadsThreads WardrobeWardrobe
Body language and gestures are not Body language and gestures are not always universal. Based on our always universal. Based on our
reading of “What’s A-OK in the U.S.A is reading of “What’s A-OK in the U.S.A is Lewd and Worthless Beyond” what Lewd and Worthless Beyond” what happens when the gestures we use happens when the gestures we use here in the United States don’t cross here in the United States don’t cross
over our borders?over our borders?
Answer the following:Answer the following:1.1. What is the gesture?What is the gesture?2.2. What does it mean here in the US?What does it mean here in the US?3.3. What is its meaning in at least one other What is its meaning in at least one other
country mentioned in the article?country mentioned in the article?
1.1. NormNorm
2.2. Physical ObjectPhysical Object
3.3. LanguageLanguage
4.4. SymbolSymbol
5.5. ValueValue
A.A. Broad ideas about what Broad ideas about what most people in a society most people in a society consider desirableconsider desirable
B.B. Rules defining a specific Rules defining a specific behaviorbehavior
E.E. Frees us from place and Frees us from place and timetime
Components ofComponents of NormsNorms
Rules defining behavior in a specific situationRules defining behavior in a specific situation Taught through the use of sanctions (rewards and punishments)Taught through the use of sanctions (rewards and punishments)
Standing in line for concert ticketsStanding in line for concert tickets Applaud for a guest speakerApplaud for a guest speaker Laws against stealingLaws against stealing
Unaware that we are guided by norms, until they are brokenUnaware that we are guided by norms, until they are broken Cutting in line for concert ticketsCutting in line for concert tickets
ValuesValues Broad ideas about what most people in a society/group consider Broad ideas about what most people in a society/group consider
desirabledesirable Do not dictate a specific behaviorDo not dictate a specific behavior
BeliefsBeliefs Ideas about realityIdeas about reality Can be true or falseCan be true or false
Germans believed if they put a poster of Hitler on their walls, it would Germans believed if they put a poster of Hitler on their walls, it would prevent the walls from crumbling during bombing (false)prevent the walls from crumbling during bombing (false)
No intelligent life exists on Mars (true – based on scientific evidence)No intelligent life exists on Mars (true – based on scientific evidence) Behavior is based at some level on our beliefsBehavior is based at some level on our beliefs
Physical objectsPhysical objects Material cultureMaterial culture How we relate to physical objectsHow we relate to physical objects
Types of Types of
FolkwaysFolkways
MoresMores TaboosTaboos
LawsLaws
Norms that lack Norms that lack moral significancemoral significance Not considered vital to Not considered vital to groupgroup welfare welfare Disapproval for breaking a folkway is not Disapproval for breaking a folkway is not
costlycostly Sleeping on the floor vs. in a bedSleeping on the floor vs. in a bed Talking on a cell phone in the moviesTalking on a cell phone in the movies Smoking in public places (folkway turned Smoking in public places (folkway turned lawlaw as as
norms changed)norms changed)
Norms with Norms with GREATGREAT moral significancemoral significance Vital to well being of society; therefore, Vital to well being of society; therefore,
conformityconformity is a social requirement is a social requirement Cheating on a testCheating on a test Do not cry “fire” in a public placeDo not cry “fire” in a public place Pay back borrowed moneyPay back borrowed money
Remember…Remember… A A folkwayfolkway is more of a preference than a is more of a preference than a
requirementrequirement How does your family eat dinner? (At the How does your family eat dinner? (At the
table, in front of the tv, together, on-your-table, in front of the tv, together, on-your-own, eat out, daily discussion)own, eat out, daily discussion)
What are the folkways of the cafeteria?What are the folkways of the cafeteria? ANDAND
A A moremore is more of a requirement than a is more of a requirement than a preferencepreference
MOREMORE
Most serious mores are Most serious mores are TABOOSTABOOS Violation demands punishment by groupViolation demands punishment by group
Not laws, but Not laws, but unacceptableunacceptable Many relate to sexual behaviorsMany relate to sexual behaviors
IncestIncest CannibalismCannibalism
Formally Formally defineddefined and and enforcedenforced by officials by officials Consciously created and enforcedConsciously created and enforced Guided by mores – as culture changes so Guided by mores – as culture changes so
do the laws (ie. smoking ban in public do the laws (ie. smoking ban in public places) places)
Essential for society’s Essential for society’s well beingwell being Running a red lightRunning a red light MurderMurder
p.86 silly laws chartp84 pictures, what is being followed or broken?
Rewards/Punishments that Rewards/Punishments that encourage people to follow normsencourage people to follow norms
By a certain age we conform to By a certain age we conform to norms, etc. without threat of norms, etc. without threat of sanctionssanctions Believe specific behavior is appropriateBelieve specific behavior is appropriate Avoid guilty feelingsAvoid guilty feelings Fear social disapprovalFear social disapproval
FormalFormal Applied only by officialsApplied only by officials (judges, teachers) (judges, teachers)
Reward – Congressional Medal of HonorReward – Congressional Medal of Honor Punishment – Hockey player’s loss of eligibility after hitting Punishment – Hockey player’s loss of eligibility after hitting
another player in the face (requiring more than 20 stitches)another player in the face (requiring more than 20 stitches)
InformalInformal Applied by most members of a groupApplied by most members of a group
Reward – thanking someone for their helpReward – thanking someone for their help Punishment – staring at someone for talking while Punishment – staring at someone for talking while
someone else is talkingsomeone else is talking
Broad ideas about what most people in a Broad ideas about what most people in a society/group consider desirablesociety/group consider desirable
NormsNorms are based on them – even societies with are based on them – even societies with different norms can have similar values!different norms can have similar values!
EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:
Norms:Norms: Free Speech Free Speech Norms:Norms: Medical Care Medical Care Free EnterpriseFree Enterprise Education Education
Duggar Family (US)Duggar Family (US) – 19 kids and counting! – 19 kids and counting!
One Child One Child PolicyPolicy
(China)(China)
Ideas about realityIdeas about realityCan be Can be TRUETRUE or or FALSEFALSE
WWII Germans – Poster of Hitler on wall would WWII Germans – Poster of Hitler on wall would prevent it from crumblingprevent it from crumbling
No intelligent life on Mars – Scientifically provenNo intelligent life on Mars – Scientifically proven
Behavior is based at some level on beliefs Behavior is based at some level on beliefs regardless of whether or not they are true!regardless of whether or not they are true!
Help us to assign cultural meaning to Help us to assign cultural meaning to physical objects (material culture)physical objects (material culture)
Not defined by physical characteristicsNot defined by physical characteristics
Rather defined by our beliefs, norms, & valuesRather defined by our beliefs, norms, & values
-Out of service trolley: restaurant-Out of service trolley: restaurant
- More “secular” instruments in church- More “secular” instruments in church
- The CLAW- The CLAW
Have your group select a Have your group select a physical object (material physical object (material culture) from the box. culture) from the box.
Explain its cultural Explain its cultural significance. Over time, has significance. Over time, has
its meaning changed? its meaning changed? ExplainExplain
Simply because we have Simply because we have cultural guidelines…cultural guidelines…
Cultural guidelines publicly embraced by Cultural guidelines publicly embraced by society – society – “how we should behave”“how we should behave”
High set of standards that most people aim forHigh set of standards that most people aim for
Help to detect deviant behavior – Help to detect deviant behavior – (Sanctions!)(Sanctions!)
Society’s actual behavior! – “how we Society’s actual behavior! – “how we actually behave”actually behave”
IDEAL vs. REALIDEAL vs. REALEXAMPLESEXAMPLES
IDEAL CULTURE = IDEAL CULTURE = HONESTYHONESTY
REAL CULTURE =REAL CULTURE = student cheat on tests, student cheat on tests, people violate tax lawspeople violate tax laws
EXTREMESEXTREMES like murder, rape, etc. are part like murder, rape, etc. are part of of NEITHERNEITHER culture because they violate culture because they violate
both!both!
Let’s Practice…Let’s Practice…
Cultural Components WorksheetCultural Components Worksheet
does change does change over timeover time
Grandparents may not have gone to collegeGrandparents may not have gone to college
As teenagers, your parents did not email or As teenagers, your parents did not email or text friends (communication)text friends (communication)
Interracial dating (still not very common but Interracial dating (still not very common but much more widely practiced)much more widely practiced)
does change over timedoes change over time
3 REASONS3 REASONS1) Discovery – process of finding something that1) Discovery – process of finding something that
already existsalready existsEXAMPLE: Athletic ability of women – alwaysEXAMPLE: Athletic ability of women – always
existed but recently acknowledgedexisted but recently acknowledged2) Invention – creation of something new2) Invention – creation of something new
Once people learn a culture we become Once people learn a culture we become strongly committed to it, can’t think strongly committed to it, can’t think of/imagine any other way to liveof/imagine any other way to live
When people judge others based on our When people judge others based on our own cultural standards =own cultural standards =I can’t imagine my life without my trusty cell
phone!
However, differences do exist in society However, differences do exist in society because of various social categoriesbecause of various social categories
Social categories – groups that share a social Social categories – groups that share a social characteristic (age, gender, religion, etc.)characteristic (age, gender, religion, etc.)
SubcultureSubculture
- Part of a larger culture/society but differs in- Part of a larger culture/society but differs in
an important respectan important respect
EXAMPLES: Chinatown – Chinese immigrants EXAMPLES: Chinatown – Chinese immigrants pass down their native culture while also pass down their native culture while also being affected by American culturebeing affected by American culture
……Youth…musicians…jocks and athletes…Youth…musicians…jocks and athletes…
CountercultureCounterculture A subculture that is consciously opposed to A subculture that is consciously opposed to
certain central beliefs/attitudes of the larger certain central beliefs/attitudes of the larger cultureculture
Motorcycle gangs, KKK, drug groups, goth, Motorcycle gangs, KKK, drug groups, goth, punkpunk
OPENING ACTIVITYOPENING ACTIVITY
Think of an example of real and ideal Think of an example of real and ideal culture at Council Rock North.culture at Council Rock North.
Should the aspect of ideal culture be Should the aspect of ideal culture be abandoned?abandoned?
Why or why not?Why or why not?
Across ALL cultures there exists over ____Across ALL cultures there exists over ____common cultural traits – common cultural traits –
Essential to the survival of cultures!!!Essential to the survival of cultures!!!Biological needsBiological needs – Because food is necessary,– Because food is necessary,
cooking must be donecooking must be done
Physical needsPhysical needs – Because protection is necessary for – Because protection is necessary for
survival, shelter must be createdsurvival, shelter must be created
