I believe anthropology could contribute to finding a solution for the education of diverse students in public schools. I say this because every day I go to class I notice someone of a different ethnic, race and background. Because anthropologists have a background in getting to know and trying to better understand cultures I believe they would be a great asset to public schools. They would know how to better understand each individuals needs personally and privately. They understand that every person needs need to be met and that not everyone can adapt to the same way of learning or style of teaching.
While sitting in class I often notice foreign exchange students from places such as china that have their little computer translator things in class because they are unable to understand out language. I am not saying that our schools need to speak Chinese just to make it easier for students, but I believe that anthropologists would be able to make this situation better for them because they would be able to look in to their culture and better understand them and where they are from.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Extra Credit 3
The movie Slumdog Millionaire changed the way I think about other people, the world I live in, myself, my nation, my culture and my religion. Though it was no directed towards any of those things, the difference from the way I live compared to their makes me reflect on my own life.
In this movie, a young man constantly reflects on tragic stories in his life in order to answer questions on a game show similar to the United States ‘who wants to be a millionaire.’ This movie was filled with pain, hardship, and triumph and made me thank my lucky stars for the life I am able to live. It showed the hardships people of India are feeling and living everyday and what the people in the slums have to go through.
It made me look at the world I live in and be thankful for one, but also made me wish we were/could help 3rd world countries in ways that we are not already. It made me look at myself and realize I shouldn’t be mad that I couldn’t buy a pair of new pants today because the boy in the film probably had to wear the same clothes for days and didn’t complain. It made me look at my nation and reflect on why we are able to live such a good life compared to the people in the film. It made me ask myself why were are giving so many opportunities to better our lives when the only way he could better his was by competing in a game show.
I don’t know anything about India’s past or why they live the way they do. But could it have anything to do with what we talked about for our last blog. And that the fact that economic development has taken over is it taking away from their health and taking away ways in which they would be able to better their own lives?
In this movie, a young man constantly reflects on tragic stories in his life in order to answer questions on a game show similar to the United States ‘who wants to be a millionaire.’ This movie was filled with pain, hardship, and triumph and made me thank my lucky stars for the life I am able to live. It showed the hardships people of India are feeling and living everyday and what the people in the slums have to go through.
It made me look at the world I live in and be thankful for one, but also made me wish we were/could help 3rd world countries in ways that we are not already. It made me look at myself and realize I shouldn’t be mad that I couldn’t buy a pair of new pants today because the boy in the film probably had to wear the same clothes for days and didn’t complain. It made me look at my nation and reflect on why we are able to live such a good life compared to the people in the film. It made me ask myself why were are giving so many opportunities to better our lives when the only way he could better his was by competing in a game show.
I don’t know anything about India’s past or why they live the way they do. But could it have anything to do with what we talked about for our last blog. And that the fact that economic development has taken over is it taking away from their health and taking away ways in which they would be able to better their own lives?
Week 12
Im not sure if im totally on the right track ... so here goes.
Based on the film black gold and the case studies in chapters 13, 17 and 38 I believe the relationship between environmental sustainability, economic development and human health are that without all three of them changes you are trying to make are not going to work. I really am not sure what I am trying to say, but I think you can’t increase human health if you don’t better economic development and environmental sustainability.
In the case study chapter 38 “Medical Anthropology: Improving Nutrition in Malawi” they wanted to see if regular goat milk in a Childs diet would help with malnutrition. In order for this study to work and in order for human health to actually increase they first needed to find goats that could survive the Malawi environment and goats that could produce milk with adequate nutrition. After the succeeded in this task, they then needed to make sure the women would be able to take care of these cows. What I am trying to say is that if the anthropologist did not make sure the goat could live in the environment and produce adequate milk then human health would not increase. Without adequate health how would your economy develop? All three must have a relationship together in order to work.
Pretty much the same thing was talked about in chapter 17, “Malawi Versus the World Bank,” but in a different way. It was explained that when the world bank and IMF “began attributing problems in the economy to government subsidy policies, particularly with regard to commercial fertilizer” the people of Malawi were unable to keep adequate health. All types of subsides and price controls on all agricultural inputs and products were removed. This caused the people of Malawi to not be able to grow their crops causing the economic development and environmental sustainability to drop, along with their health.
Once again, the case study chapter 13 “forest development the Indian way” is very comparative with the other two case studies mentioned above. In this case study, the environmental sustainability is affected by economic development. In this case, because bulldozers, tractors and buildings took over the forest the environmental sustainability is being threatened. “By destroying the forest resources surrounding the Guaraní villages of the region, colonos set in motion a process that destroyed the native culture and society.” Because their land had been threatened and they could therefore no longer produce yerba mate leaves for sale and therefore were forces to plant cash crops, further destroying the forest. “the loss of game and poor crop yields exacerbated health problems.” Because their community’s economic development rose, their community was threatened causing a change of lifestyle and a introduction to disease.
The movie Black Gold, also shows the same results as these case studies. Because of the way the world market works the coffee growers are being screwed over. Coffee is the second most active traded in the market, and when the market is down they cannot sell coffee for very much. They sell their coffee for 12 cents where as we sell it for 230 dollars. What seems fair about that? While we are using them to see coffee in our country, they are becoming more dependent on emergency aid than ever before.
Applied anthropologists could assist in making sure these goals were brought about in the right way. Take chapter 38 for example, without the anthropologist making sure everything was understood in a correct manner and that no one would be affected in a harsh way the results would not have been as positive as they were.
I am not sure if I believe cultural survival is possible with economic development because when reading the case studies from conflict and conformity when economic development occurs, health problems also occur.
Based on the film black gold and the case studies in chapters 13, 17 and 38 I believe the relationship between environmental sustainability, economic development and human health are that without all three of them changes you are trying to make are not going to work. I really am not sure what I am trying to say, but I think you can’t increase human health if you don’t better economic development and environmental sustainability.
In the case study chapter 38 “Medical Anthropology: Improving Nutrition in Malawi” they wanted to see if regular goat milk in a Childs diet would help with malnutrition. In order for this study to work and in order for human health to actually increase they first needed to find goats that could survive the Malawi environment and goats that could produce milk with adequate nutrition. After the succeeded in this task, they then needed to make sure the women would be able to take care of these cows. What I am trying to say is that if the anthropologist did not make sure the goat could live in the environment and produce adequate milk then human health would not increase. Without adequate health how would your economy develop? All three must have a relationship together in order to work.
Pretty much the same thing was talked about in chapter 17, “Malawi Versus the World Bank,” but in a different way. It was explained that when the world bank and IMF “began attributing problems in the economy to government subsidy policies, particularly with regard to commercial fertilizer” the people of Malawi were unable to keep adequate health. All types of subsides and price controls on all agricultural inputs and products were removed. This caused the people of Malawi to not be able to grow their crops causing the economic development and environmental sustainability to drop, along with their health.
Once again, the case study chapter 13 “forest development the Indian way” is very comparative with the other two case studies mentioned above. In this case study, the environmental sustainability is affected by economic development. In this case, because bulldozers, tractors and buildings took over the forest the environmental sustainability is being threatened. “By destroying the forest resources surrounding the Guaraní villages of the region, colonos set in motion a process that destroyed the native culture and society.” Because their land had been threatened and they could therefore no longer produce yerba mate leaves for sale and therefore were forces to plant cash crops, further destroying the forest. “the loss of game and poor crop yields exacerbated health problems.” Because their community’s economic development rose, their community was threatened causing a change of lifestyle and a introduction to disease.
The movie Black Gold, also shows the same results as these case studies. Because of the way the world market works the coffee growers are being screwed over. Coffee is the second most active traded in the market, and when the market is down they cannot sell coffee for very much. They sell their coffee for 12 cents where as we sell it for 230 dollars. What seems fair about that? While we are using them to see coffee in our country, they are becoming more dependent on emergency aid than ever before.
Applied anthropologists could assist in making sure these goals were brought about in the right way. Take chapter 38 for example, without the anthropologist making sure everything was understood in a correct manner and that no one would be affected in a harsh way the results would not have been as positive as they were.
I am not sure if I believe cultural survival is possible with economic development because when reading the case studies from conflict and conformity when economic development occurs, health problems also occur.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Dancing
To be honest, I am not totally sure how I felt during the video. I liked seeing everyone do the same dance in different cities, countries and cultures. It was really interesting to see everyone join together in so many different places to dance in a similar way. I have no idea why the Dancing project resonated with so many people around the world because to be honest I have never heard of it before. But I will admit, if I saw matt dancing in the middle of PLU I would be right there with him, I would be one of the people joining him, because it would make me happy.
Everyone expresses themselves in many different ways. Many of these ways include art. Drawing, writing, dancing, singing … whatever you consider art to be. I believe that art is a human universal and everyone can express their selves through it. Dancing is a form of expression that everyone can relate to in some way. If you made, angry, sad, happy, excited, I say you should dance about it and let your feelings out.
Everyone expresses themselves in many different ways. Many of these ways include art. Drawing, writing, dancing, singing … whatever you consider art to be. I believe that art is a human universal and everyone can express their selves through it. Dancing is a form of expression that everyone can relate to in some way. If you made, angry, sad, happy, excited, I say you should dance about it and let your feelings out.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Marriage and Family =]
In all honesty, I believe a big part of the purpose of marriage for me is security. I of course am going to marry someone I do truly love and care for, but at the same time there are many other factors. Though the Masai women lead very different lives than I, I feel as if they also marry for security. Right now in the time of my life, moving out on my own is scary. I am currently looking for security in my life. What is normal to me in terms of a family is definitely everything but one man marrying one woman. The way the Masai families live is not what I would consider “normal” because of the society I live and have been brought up in. It seems as if the Masais purpose in life is work. That is all they seem to do. In contrast with that my family’s life has more value than just working and marrying multiple women. It seemed as if everything about the diversity in how people view sexuality, marriage and family surprised me.
The purpose of marriage for me, what is normal to me in terms of a family and my families purpose in life are all somewhat similar to the Masai and the Chinese, but also very different. First of all, like the conflict and conformity ready stated, i could never imagine having an arranged marriage. I see myself seeking the one I love, not my parents such as the Indians do. I do understand their reasoning for this … to a certain point. For example a part of the reason they have arranged marriage is because it gives their families security, that is one of the particular things I think is important in a marriage. Though many of these women have to leave their parents to marry and start a new family, the Chinese go back to see their family once a year. If they have to leave their family because of the way they live, it makes it a little better knowing they are able to see their family, unlike the masai women. Once they marry they start a whole new family in a different area than their own.
Everyone lives their lives differently and looks at marriage and family in different ways. Though I believe the way we live is the best, how do I really know. I only believe the way we marry and the way we spend time with our family is the right way because it is the way I was brought up. I believe that the Masai, Indians and Chinese all believe the way they live their life is the right way also, because of their culture.
The purpose of marriage for me, what is normal to me in terms of a family and my families purpose in life are all somewhat similar to the Masai and the Chinese, but also very different. First of all, like the conflict and conformity ready stated, i could never imagine having an arranged marriage. I see myself seeking the one I love, not my parents such as the Indians do. I do understand their reasoning for this … to a certain point. For example a part of the reason they have arranged marriage is because it gives their families security, that is one of the particular things I think is important in a marriage. Though many of these women have to leave their parents to marry and start a new family, the Chinese go back to see their family once a year. If they have to leave their family because of the way they live, it makes it a little better knowing they are able to see their family, unlike the masai women. Once they marry they start a whole new family in a different area than their own.
Everyone lives their lives differently and looks at marriage and family in different ways. Though I believe the way we live is the best, how do I really know. I only believe the way we marry and the way we spend time with our family is the right way because it is the way I was brought up. I believe that the Masai, Indians and Chinese all believe the way they live their life is the right way also, because of their culture.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Gender
My experience of gender in our society is much different from that of the Masai. In the American society today women are a lot more independent and take care of themselves. The Masai women go through a lot to become who they are. If I had to live the Masai way I don’t know if I would ever feel loved. It floors me to know that a man has multiple wives and they are useful to him because when it rains and the village gets mucky they have to clear it out and they are responsible for building a house, milking the cows and doing the chores. In our society today that seems to be unacceptable. Yes women do tend to do most of the cleaning and what not but the roles of man and wife are equal.
I think the value in having genders is the fact that first of all we need to reproduce. Without a man and a woman we would not be able to produce the upcoming generations. I feel as if women are expected to do a lot around the house while men are expected to work. Take Oprah for example she did a episode on polygamist communities. The children of this community said that they don’t want to play or have fun. To them work is fun, they are tough that play is not ok. This is a prime example of the challenges this two-gender system presents to people and society. Because we have a man and a woman certain things are only expected from each. I’m not saying polygamy is everywhere but Oprah definitely shows it is evident. I do think that gender is changing in the united states. If you look at the way families live today compared to 50 years ago there are many differences in the way life is lived. Gender is still very evident in our society but it is not as big of a deal anymore. It used to be that women had to stay at home with children and cook while the man works and does nothing at home. In society today that is not the case, women have become much more independent.
Whether something should be done in cultures where there is gender inequality is questionable. I’m saying this because in some cases the way people live works for them. I guess when looking at the Masai the way they live is ok with them. The women are fine with being in a marriage with multiple wives and taking care of the chores. They didn’t ever say it wasn’t what they wanted. To us Americans it looks messed up but to them it is the way live is supposed to be lived.
I think the value in having genders is the fact that first of all we need to reproduce. Without a man and a woman we would not be able to produce the upcoming generations. I feel as if women are expected to do a lot around the house while men are expected to work. Take Oprah for example she did a episode on polygamist communities. The children of this community said that they don’t want to play or have fun. To them work is fun, they are tough that play is not ok. This is a prime example of the challenges this two-gender system presents to people and society. Because we have a man and a woman certain things are only expected from each. I’m not saying polygamy is everywhere but Oprah definitely shows it is evident. I do think that gender is changing in the united states. If you look at the way families live today compared to 50 years ago there are many differences in the way life is lived. Gender is still very evident in our society but it is not as big of a deal anymore. It used to be that women had to stay at home with children and cook while the man works and does nothing at home. In society today that is not the case, women have become much more independent.
Whether something should be done in cultures where there is gender inequality is questionable. I’m saying this because in some cases the way people live works for them. I guess when looking at the Masai the way they live is ok with them. The women are fine with being in a marriage with multiple wives and taking care of the chores. They didn’t ever say it wasn’t what they wanted. To us Americans it looks messed up but to them it is the way live is supposed to be lived.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
United States
Reflecting on the unique history of the United States I was a bit surprised. Putting a little honesty in this blog, reading about historic events jumbles up my mind a little bit. It hasn’t always been my strong suit so here we go. After reading the two Conflict and Conformity case studies for the week the United States was influenced by non-state societies in it’s founding in a very important way. Our leader was not sure in how to centralize the government and the colonies without ruling over then in a monarch way. The Indian Chief came forward and told our leader the way in which he ruled and the way in which the Iroquois were governed. From this the United States adopted the system of governmental election and practice.
We go in to countries for example why we are in the Middle East right now. We are trying to spread democracy and it works for us really well, it gives us freedom and rights. However other cultures aren’t run in a way that is set up to live in a democratic society. We embraced it because it was new and something different and more fair than the monarchy we left in England when we came here, but we shouldn’t force it on other societies. If we better understand other cultures and their political systems we can better foreign policy. If you take the Middle East for example, we are over there right now trying to set up a government that reflects ours to a tee. We need to look at the way in which the Iroquois helped us and use that to help the Middle East. The Iroquois didn’t come in here and tell us how we have to run our colonies, they told us how they ran theirs and gave us ideas. Ideas we can take and tweak to better fit us.
We go in to countries for example why we are in the Middle East right now. We are trying to spread democracy and it works for us really well, it gives us freedom and rights. However other cultures aren’t run in a way that is set up to live in a democratic society. We embraced it because it was new and something different and more fair than the monarchy we left in England when we came here, but we shouldn’t force it on other societies. If we better understand other cultures and their political systems we can better foreign policy. If you take the Middle East for example, we are over there right now trying to set up a government that reflects ours to a tee. We need to look at the way in which the Iroquois helped us and use that to help the Middle East. The Iroquois didn’t come in here and tell us how we have to run our colonies, they told us how they ran theirs and gave us ideas. Ideas we can take and tweak to better fit us.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Global Market Economy
It is crazy to think that 50 percent of the world is living in total poverty. A big part of this problem has to do with the way our economy and government runs. In the video on “stuff” a big part of the discussion was on how extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal affect our earth. Dumping trash in a different country may save the united stated from suffering from toxic chemicals and a change in our environment – for a little while – if makes life for others in different countries difficult. They live in poverty because the toxic chemicals from trash are ruining their communities and ways of life.
Helping the 50 percent of the world living in total poverty is a hard problem to tackle. One of the most basic ways I can think of to help them is to “go green.” I didn’t know much about going green until I came to pacific Lutheran university and they are all for recycling and taking care of our environment. If we tried to go green it would take away some of the toxics and the affects they are having on everyone’s lives.
Instead of putting money towards trying to get people to buybuybuy and shopshopshop we need to educate them on what is available and affordable in the market. What if safe for them to buy and live off of according to their lifestyle. Our global market economy is messed up. Each phase extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal effects our lives in some way. In a way that is not good for us. Things we can do to change this is for one not put chemicals in to production. If you put chemicals in things we are bringing them in our homes and basically welcoming them in to our lives. As if was said in the video human breast milk has the most toxic chemicals found in anything. We need to save forests, clean production and take back our government.
Helping the 50 percent of the world living in total poverty is a hard problem to tackle. One of the most basic ways I can think of to help them is to “go green.” I didn’t know much about going green until I came to pacific Lutheran university and they are all for recycling and taking care of our environment. If we tried to go green it would take away some of the toxics and the affects they are having on everyone’s lives.
Instead of putting money towards trying to get people to buybuybuy and shopshopshop we need to educate them on what is available and affordable in the market. What if safe for them to buy and live off of according to their lifestyle. Our global market economy is messed up. Each phase extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal effects our lives in some way. In a way that is not good for us. Things we can do to change this is for one not put chemicals in to production. If you put chemicals in things we are bringing them in our homes and basically welcoming them in to our lives. As if was said in the video human breast milk has the most toxic chemicals found in anything. We need to save forests, clean production and take back our government.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Ongka's Big Moka
In the movie Ongka’s Big Moka they made a living much different from the way we do in America today. In today’s American society you must go to a respected business, fill out an application, and go through interview process in order to make a living and receive an income. In the small society such as the society portrayed in Ongka’s Big Moka make a living by “the gift of pigs.” To them pigs are “the only worth-while thing.” In our society you are often popular because of your worth, and the items in which you have. This seemed to also be the case in Ongka’s Big Moka. When you own multiple pigs, and give one away in a public show it gives one popularity and fame. This is how one makes a living in their society. When they give a pig away years later it will be repaid to them. Ongka will receive more pigs in return. It is tradition for them to give and receive pigs.
A plus side to their way of living is that a pig means more to them than money. In their tribe ‘cash’ means nothings. As of this moment they use pigs as money for example, they are payment for death after fighting. When there was a war among villages, giving another village a pig would make up for killing so many of the enemies tribe. Giving them a pig would make peace.
When looking at the economic system I feel as if it is going to be hard for their society to live they way they are for much longer. It was said that they have coffee crops; from this they get money (Australian cash). As of right now they aren’t using that because they don’t need it, but because our world is becoming more and more modernized and other countries are becoming aware of their Australian cash things are sure to change. Other than that their society is doing well without becoming accustomed with modernization.
A plus side to their way of living is that a pig means more to them than money. In their tribe ‘cash’ means nothings. As of this moment they use pigs as money for example, they are payment for death after fighting. When there was a war among villages, giving another village a pig would make up for killing so many of the enemies tribe. Giving them a pig would make peace.
When looking at the economic system I feel as if it is going to be hard for their society to live they way they are for much longer. It was said that they have coffee crops; from this they get money (Australian cash). As of right now they aren’t using that because they don’t need it, but because our world is becoming more and more modernized and other countries are becoming aware of their Australian cash things are sure to change. Other than that their society is doing well without becoming accustomed with modernization.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Who Am I?
My roots dig deep in to the soft soil. They run for hundreds of feet because sense I was young my parents, family and friends have inscribed in what is right and wrong. As I have gotten older I have not only followed what they have taught me, such as believing in God, treating people with respect and how to use manners but I have recently started to find my own way. I have begun to realize what I truly believe in and what my core values really are. My core values now include believing I can achieve all that I can if I put my mind to it and being there for anyone when they need help. One of my core values is not being selfish, I believe in helping people to the best of my ability because not everything is about me.
My trunk is as thick and tall as a five-hundred year old tree. Everything I do and every way I act expresses who I am. I treat everyone with respect and get to know them before I judge. I help anyone and everyone when needed. A big part of my behavior is my job. When at home I work with little kids, I help them learn and helping them grown in to beautiful (inside) adolescence. While going to school I work at the Harstad Front Desk, being cheerful and smiling at every person that walks by. I try to treat everyone the way I would like to be treated. I love to be adventurous though sometimes my innocence peaks out and I get scared. Though I like to go out and be social I tend to be a home body. I need my space because I am an emotional person, probably because I take everyone else’s problems in to my own hands. I am very careful about the way I behave because I know one wrong move and I could disappoint myself and the people around me.
As for my branches, I would like to believe they are thick, strong and long in length. It is sometimes hard to think about your social labels … what if some of them are not good? I would like to believe that I am a leader, that people would follow me if I told them I could show them the way. I would like to believe I am a trustworthy person, someone you can always come to. A social label I will admit to is stuck up. I don’t believe I am, but I feel as if sometimes people label me as that. I am confident, loud, and happy and sometimes that is perceived as being better than other people though that is far from what I am.
I believe my values and actions are greatly connected to my social labels. What I believe in and the actions I take make me who I am and hopefully make others in the social world perceive me that way.
Then, consider the question “Who Are My People”? Write a short poem (yes, get creative) about who you feel your people are. (Yes, this can mean ethnicity. No, it doesn’t have to mean ethnicity.)
“Who are my people?”
My people,
Are the ones you glance at when you walk by.
They are the ones laughing,
They are the ones making life fun.
My people
Are the ones making life an adventure.
Always finding something new to do.
My people,
Are happy.
My people,
Are Sad.
My people,
Are exciting.
My people,
Feel a whirl wind of emotions.
My people,
Are loving and caring.
They look at this world,
And want to make it a better place.
My people,
Make the best of new situations.
And are accepting change.
My trunk is as thick and tall as a five-hundred year old tree. Everything I do and every way I act expresses who I am. I treat everyone with respect and get to know them before I judge. I help anyone and everyone when needed. A big part of my behavior is my job. When at home I work with little kids, I help them learn and helping them grown in to beautiful (inside) adolescence. While going to school I work at the Harstad Front Desk, being cheerful and smiling at every person that walks by. I try to treat everyone the way I would like to be treated. I love to be adventurous though sometimes my innocence peaks out and I get scared. Though I like to go out and be social I tend to be a home body. I need my space because I am an emotional person, probably because I take everyone else’s problems in to my own hands. I am very careful about the way I behave because I know one wrong move and I could disappoint myself and the people around me.
As for my branches, I would like to believe they are thick, strong and long in length. It is sometimes hard to think about your social labels … what if some of them are not good? I would like to believe that I am a leader, that people would follow me if I told them I could show them the way. I would like to believe I am a trustworthy person, someone you can always come to. A social label I will admit to is stuck up. I don’t believe I am, but I feel as if sometimes people label me as that. I am confident, loud, and happy and sometimes that is perceived as being better than other people though that is far from what I am.
I believe my values and actions are greatly connected to my social labels. What I believe in and the actions I take make me who I am and hopefully make others in the social world perceive me that way.
Then, consider the question “Who Are My People”? Write a short poem (yes, get creative) about who you feel your people are. (Yes, this can mean ethnicity. No, it doesn’t have to mean ethnicity.)
“Who are my people?”
My people,
Are the ones you glance at when you walk by.
They are the ones laughing,
They are the ones making life fun.
My people
Are the ones making life an adventure.
Always finding something new to do.
My people,
Are happy.
My people,
Are Sad.
My people,
Are exciting.
My people,
Feel a whirl wind of emotions.
My people,
Are loving and caring.
They look at this world,
And want to make it a better place.
My people,
Make the best of new situations.
And are accepting change.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
DISCUSSION: THE NACIREMA
Many things struck me as foreign and unusual about the Nacirema. I would have to say their culture and customs struck me more as different rather than familiar. The rituals they performed caught me off guard and didn’t seem practical. The story of the Nacirema states that some of the “ceremonies are so harsh that it is phenomenal that a fair portion of the really sick natives who enter the temple ever recover.” It also states that that it seems as if they have developed sadistic tendencies. If I wasn’t trying to understand their culture but instead was critiquing it would consider this to be preposterous and wonder why anyone would want to be hurt in order to keep good health. Something that seemed to strike me as familiar was stated on page 335, it said the focus of the ritual activity “is the human body, the appearance and health of which loom as a dominant concern in the ethos of the people.” I see this as being familiar because if you could perform a ritual in which you thought was going to help the well being of others, wouldn’t you? At the same time people in our culture do not seem to act this way. Americans don’t tend to care about their well being nearly as much, instead they want to eat big Macs and then go to the doctor and expect a cure for high blood pressure.
When using the emic approach looking at the Naciremas behavior makes more sense within its cultural context. They believe that “the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease.” For them committing these rituals is their way of keeping these characteristics from becoming a part of them. Though their rituals seem violent and miserable they are a cure to their unwanted characteristics. On the other hand, when you compare the Naciremas characteristics and behavior to general, middle class America you find very few similarities. Though the Naciremas rituals seem absurd compared to the simplistic way Americans do things, they are in ways done for the same reasons we go to the doctor. Though as discussed the Nacirema have many differences from us as we can see there are also similarities.
When looking at the impact of how we choose to describe a culture and the way in which our assumptions come across this article taught me a lot. While reading this article I often noticed the author’s voice and opinion coming off of the page more than the voice of the Nacirema. The author portrayed these rituals in which are performed as unreal or almost ridiculous in a way. I would have liked to know if they believe going through these rituals … followed with pain and ‘torture’ was truly worth it. As I read I felt as if the author was trying to bribe my thoughts and bribe me to believe the way he does.
When using the emic approach looking at the Naciremas behavior makes more sense within its cultural context. They believe that “the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease.” For them committing these rituals is their way of keeping these characteristics from becoming a part of them. Though their rituals seem violent and miserable they are a cure to their unwanted characteristics. On the other hand, when you compare the Naciremas characteristics and behavior to general, middle class America you find very few similarities. Though the Naciremas rituals seem absurd compared to the simplistic way Americans do things, they are in ways done for the same reasons we go to the doctor. Though as discussed the Nacirema have many differences from us as we can see there are also similarities.
When looking at the impact of how we choose to describe a culture and the way in which our assumptions come across this article taught me a lot. While reading this article I often noticed the author’s voice and opinion coming off of the page more than the voice of the Nacirema. The author portrayed these rituals in which are performed as unreal or almost ridiculous in a way. I would have liked to know if they believe going through these rituals … followed with pain and ‘torture’ was truly worth it. As I read I felt as if the author was trying to bribe my thoughts and bribe me to believe the way he does.
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