Summary
Summary Social Anthropology
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- North-West University (NWU)
This document summarizes the readings provided each week for social anthropology. It includes explanations and definitions.
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SANL 122 notes:Week 2:
1. Min er , H or ace. 1956. "B ody Ritual Am on g the Nacir em a"
Sum m ar y of the Ar ticle:
Horace Miner’s article "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" uses satire to describe the
bizarre and unfamiliar customs of a group called the Nacirema. As the reader
progresses, it becomes clear that "Nacirema" is "American" spelled backward, and
Miner is critiquing American cultural practices by portraying them as strange rituals.
Main Poin t:
The author aims to show how anthropologists sometimes exoticize other cultures by
depicting their practices in unfamiliar ways. Miner uses this approach to make
American customs—like brushing teeth or visiting the doctor—sound strange and
ritualistic. The overall message is about the bias and perception of other cultures as
"weird" when viewed from an outside perspective.
In ter locutor s:
There are no specific interlocutors in this piece since it's a satirical essay, but the
author is in dialogue with anthropologists and the general public. Miner critiques the
way anthropologists describe "foreign" societies and encourages readers to reflect on
how our own culture could seem strange to others.
Con cepts an d Ideas:
Ethn ocen tr ism : Judging another culture by the standards of one's own.
Miner challenges readers to reflect on how this affects their understanding of
other cultures.
Rituals: Everyday activities are portrayed as sacred and ritualistic, such as
brushing teeth (which is described as "mouth-rite") or visiting the dentist
("holy-mouth-man").
Meth odology:
Miner uses a satirical, anthropological lens to describe common American practices.
The evidence is the exaggerated portrayal of ordinary habits as though they were part
of an exotic culture. No specific scientific methods or research are presented.
K ey Quote:
“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.”
Relation to Other Readin gs an d Lectur es:
1
,The article might relate to discussions in class about cultur al r elativism —the idea
that we should understand other cultures on their terms, rather than judging them
by our own standards. It ties into the theme of how anthropologists study and
represent other societies.
Eff ectiven ess:
The author is very effective in making his point. By cleverly reversing the perspective
and showing American customs as strange, Miner forces readers to rethink their
biases about other cultures.
Ar gum en t:
Miner argues that cultural practices, when described from an outsider's point of
view, can seem unusual or even absurd. The article critiques the tendency to judge
other societies by their "exotic" customs while ignoring the rituals within one’s own
culture.
Addition al In for m ation :
Satir e is the primary tool Miner uses. He is not just describing customs but
mocking the way anthropologists of the time often portrayed non-Western
societies.
The text is often used as an introduction to anthropology to challenge
students’ assumptions about "strange" practices.
2. Er iksen , T.H . an d Nielsen , F.S., 2013. "Pr oto An thr opology" in A
H istory of An th ropology
Sum m ar y of the Chapter :
In "Proto Anthropology," Eriksen and Nielsen explore the early beginnings of
anthropology as a discipline. The chapter looks at how people have always been
curious about other cultures and societies, but anthropology as a systematic field of
study did not exist until the late 19th century. They examine how early travellers,
missionaries, and philosophers set the stage for what would eventually become
anthropology.
Main Poin t:
The authors argue that while anthropology as a formal discipline is recent, the
human curiosity about other cultures is ancient. They show that anthropology
evolved from earlier traditions of travel writing, philosophical inquiries, and colonial
encounters.
In ter locutor s:
2
, Ear ly philosopher s an d tr aveller s: These figures form the foundation of
proto-anthropology, providing early descriptions of foreign societies.
Moder n an thr opologists: The authors are in conversation with them,
showing how their work is built on earlier observations and writings.
Con ver sation Takin g Place:
The dialogue in this chapter is between the present and the past. The authors are
showing how modern anthropology is linked to older forms of knowledge, like the
writings of Herodotus or the travel journals of explorers. They discuss how early
descriptions of other societies were often biased by ethnocentrism.
Con cepts an d Ideas:
Pr oto-An thr opology: The early, informal study of cultures before
anthropology became a scientific discipline.
Ethn ocen tr ism : The tendency to view one's own culture as superior, which
early travellers and writers often did.
Colon ialism : The role colonial expansion played in shaping Western
knowledge about other cultures.
Meth odology:
The authors use histor ical an alysis to trace the roots of anthropology. They look at
travelogues, missionary writings, and philosophical texts to show how these early
sources influenced the development of the field. They also discuss what these early
writers got wrong, such as their biased or inaccurate descriptions of non-Western
societies.
K ey Quote:
“The ethnocentric bias was a constant companion of early descriptions of
other cultures, as travellers tended to compare everything they saw to the
familiar standards of their own societies.”
Relation to Other Readin gs an d Lectur es:
This chapter might connect with discussions of the histor y of an thr opology in
your course. It relates to the development of ethnographic methods and the shift
from biased descriptions to more objective observations in modern anthropology.
Eff ectiven ess:
3
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