We read Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, Horace Miner’s classic piece on American culture written to show anthropologists the importance of an insider perspective as well as the effect that the words we choose to describe other cultures can unnecessarily exoticize them. For this exercise, you will write about another aspect of American culture in the same manner as Miner used to write about American body ritual.
(For example, Groundhog Day or football or celebrity culture–but be creative, and choose any aspect of American culture other than body ritual!)
1) Write about any aspect of American culture (e.g. any ritual, sport, belief, or practice).
2) Your answer should be one paragraph long, and no longer than one page.
3) Write in the language style of “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” (scientific jargon, big words describing an ostensibly exotic culture).
4) Put the aspect of American culture you write about at the bottom—sometimes it’s difficult to guess.