body ritual among the nacirema Nacirema 人身体仪式 人类学.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 7 Assignment： 1.Read the text; 2.Consult the dictionary to find out the meanings of all the new words; 3.Try to understand the body ritual of the Nacirema, esp. the details as suggested by the expressions in heavy black黑体; Reflect on your interpretation by resorting to bottom-up and top-down processing. Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Horace Miner The anthropologist has come so familiar with the diversity of ways in which different peoples behave in similar situations that he is not apt to be surprised by even the most exotic customs. In fact, if all of the logically possible combinations of behavior have not been found somewhere in the world, he is apt to suspect that they must be present in some undescribed tribe. This point has in fact, been expressed with respect to clan organization by Murdock. In this light, the magical beliefs 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 behavior can go. Professor Linton first brought the ritual of the Nacirema to the attention of anthropologists twenty years ago, but the culture of this people is still very poorly understood. They are a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumara of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of their origin, although tradition states that they came from the east. Nacirema culture is characterized by a highly developed market economy which has evolved in a rich natural habitat. While much of the people’s time devoted to economic pursuits, a large part of the fruits of these labors and a considerable portion of the day are spent in ritual activity. The focus of this activity is the human body, the appearance and health of which loom as a dominant concern in the ethos of the people. While such a concern is certainly not unusual, its ceremonial aspects and associated philosophy are unique. The fundamental