ANTH 202 Chapter Notes -Medicine Man, Nacirema, Developed Market
8 Jul 2014
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Document Summary
Magical believes and practices of the nacirema present such unusual aspects that it seems desirable to describe them as an example of the extremes to which human behaviour can go. Nacirema: north american group living in territory betw. Culture characterized by highly developed market economy. Ritual activity with focus on human body (appearance and health dominant concern) Fundamental belief is that human body is ugly with natural tendency to debilitate and disease. Man"s only hope is to avert this through powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. Poorer families imitate rich by applying pottery plaques to shrine walls. Natives retaining old magical materials in charm-box is perhaps symbolic of protection of the worshipper. Member of family bows head before charmbox, mingles holy water on font of box, followed by ablution. Nacirema have pathological horror/fascination with mouth the condition of which is believed to have supernatural influence on all social relationships.
