In June 1956, Horace Miner published an article called "Body Rituals of the Nacirema"" in American Anthropologists. This article discussed of a culture of people in between Mexico and Canada, the United States. When looking closely at the article you see that Nacirema is simply American spelled backwards, because this article is a satirical piece, being very critical of the United States. It peers into the everyday life of the North Americans. Miner discusses ways that the Nacirema attempts to keep away disease and disability; and for the most part he is disclosing what the Nacirema appear to be doing habitually. Horace Miner uses his Sociological Imagination, to portray that diversity isn't about normality but instead the beliefs inside of a culture. .
Every culture has its social norms, or an adapted behavior shared by a culture or group. In this article Horace Miner discusses the habits we have adapted to. Miner states that "Each Nacirema family shares a family shrine as part of their practice to maintain the state of their bodies. In the shrine, there is a built-in chest of "many charms and magical potions."" Miner is talking about the bathroom in this part of the article, and the chest of magic is the mirror with all of our medicines we believe to heal us. In our modern culture we have become very dependent on our prescribed and over the counter medications. We use them for the littlest bruises or bumps, but in other regions and countries many are lucky to get medicine even on their death bed. Miner then goes on to tell about a "holy-mouth-man"" we visit regularly to keep our teeth in great health.
Horace miner then states that "There is an imposing temple" (laptiso) where the very sick go."" In this statement miner is discussing the hospital, which we attend when we are very ill. Then he states "The Nacirema also have a "listener ". He or she helps exorcise devils from the heads of those who have been bewitched by letting their patient talk of the difficulties he or she has faced.
