The Elusive Nacirema Tribe Essay Example for Free

The Elusive Nacirema Tribe Essay In the everyday life of the perceived â€Å"normal† individual, rituals and rites performed by individuals as part of a different culture might seem harsh, cruel or even barbaric. After my first read of Body Ritual among the Nacirema, that is how I perceived their daily way of life. They believe in magic potions, seeking pain from the â€Å"holy – mouth – men† a couple of times a year, and the men and women perform acts that seem to contradict one another by trying to obtain abnormal body shapes, and then the men cut their face daily and the women â€Å"bake their heads in small ovens for about an hour†. What I discovered when reading this article again was that the author, Sir Horatio Galbraith, put a spin on words in many different ways, but this article just goes to show that what may seem normal to you could be portrayed as a terrible way to conduct daily life to others. In this article, Galbraith made mention about the Nacirema people being incarcerated into ugly and disease ridden bodies, and they make extreme efforts to â€Å"avert these characteristics through the use of the powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. He also noted that these people make visits to receive excruciatingly painful procedure they consider an â€Å"exorcism of the evils† from a magical practitioner best known as the â€Å"holy-mouth-men†. At first glance, both of these points the author has made make it seem as though these people are very rigid and harsh with their decisions in life. It seems almost like they make an effort to induce pain on themselves to achieve a culturally acceptable appearance. However after analyzing and relating these acts to my own way of life, I noted several similarities. In society today, the majority of people strive to look better than they currently do by dieting, working out and by making sure their mouth and teeth look their very best. These are just a few examples among many other efforts that are made by people to look better than they normally do, or at least get close to or above the normal standard. The â€Å"holy-mouth-men† is a clear reference to the dentist. Galbraith noted that the Nacirema people visit this man once or twice a year which falls into the normal visit frequency today’s society exhibits. The rituals and rites performed by the people of the Nacirema tribe were diversely separated between men and women. A specific ritual only performed by the men â€Å"involves scraping and lacerating the surface of the face with a sharp instrument. † The description of this practice will lead the unknowing reader to derive this as an act of barbarity, however after trying to find a connection between this description and something that occurs during the daily life of the men in today’s society, I discovered that this is nothing more than an embellished description of a man shaving his face daily with what else; a razor! This type of twist and embellishment on words is what hindered me from figuring out what the real purpose of this article was in the first place. Galbraith makes reference to a ritual performed four times during on lunar month, only by women. His comment regarding this act by the women was â€Å"what they lack in frequency is made up in barbarity. † The ritual performed by the women was described as baking their heads in small ovens for about an hour. Of course this type of act sounds horrific when worded this way, but again I tried to make a connection. When women in today’s society get their hair colored or have a permanent curl put in their hair, they have to sit under the dryer on the chairs that line the walls of the hair salon. I have sat under one of these chairs myself, and I cannot imagine that it is even anywhere near the same extreme of baking your head for an hour in a small oven. I believe one point the author was trying to make was that not only are these people obsessed with their appearance and overall health, but they are more obsessed with being to control and change it as they see fit. Galbraith also seemed as though he was trying to make note of the fact that they want to look better than the average, but in doing so, they want to keep it a secret as if the surrounding members of their society will not discover that they are not naturally made that way. Ethnocentrically, these types of practices seem strange and it seems as though these people are trying too hard; however, from a culturally relative point of view every individual has the right to practice whatever rites and rituals they deem fit and proper, as long as they do not fall on the wrong side of the legal law that resides over their area. As part of this assignment, I am supposed to list how I would react if placed in this culture; however I believe I am already living and functioning in this culture. Galbraith did not just make a play on words when describing the normal acts of the day to day individual, he also made a play on words when he named this tribe Nacirema; spelled backwards it spells American. I have gone through this article time and time again and have successfully identified everything he mentioned in the article as a connection with the American people. The only difference is that Galbraith went to extremes when describing the â€Å"rituals and rites† as to mislead the reader, but in a way everything he said was accurate in context. I enjoyed reading and analyzing this article once I made the connection. In some ways it was an eye opener, and other parts made me laugh.

Charlotte Temple By Susanna Rowson English Literature Essay

Charlotte Temple By Susanna Rowson English Literature Essay Charlotte represents an average girl and how society was building them to be, very insecure and weak; not prepared for the real life and the dangers lurking beneath those pleasures. Therefore, it is very easy to bamboozle and seduce these young ladies. The term seducing in this content is defined as tempting not necessarily used in a sexual manner but more of a convincing strategy used to do something they would not do on their own. When Mademoiselle La Rue asked Charlotte to go with her to a summerhouse belonging to a gentlemen she met at church, who had asked her to bring some of the ladies with her, she mentioned the gentlemen as a relation, and spoke in such high terms of the elegance of his gardens, the sprightliness of his conversations, and the liberality with which he ever entertained his guest, that Charlotte thought only of the pleasure she would enjoy in this visit (pg.58). Charlotte was not a girl of bad intentions. As a matter of fact, most of the time she even regretted going because she was astonished at the freedom Mademoiselle La Rue had allowed them to have and how free the conversation was. In return, this all made her feel uneasy, guilty, thoughtful, and wishing she was back at the safety of her chamber. In this story seduction plays a huge role, the thought of fitting into societys expectations and achieving your role as a house wife was all that matter to these young ladies; which made it very easy to convince them that a certain path is the correct without having to provide many explanations. For many however, the reality was that, In affairs of love a young heart is never in more danger than when attempted by a handsome young soldier (pg. 59). A soldier with many empty promises, a man that is dressed nicely and says a couple of good words to her to make her feel she is in love and believe he is all she needs. He would make her believe in abandoning everything she knows, her family, friends, and virtue; to follow someone who perhaps has n o idea how to be a gentleman and treat a lady like she should be treated, who simply has no idea what life is about himself. All of this just to fit in with what everyone expects of a women. Mainly in the case of a soldier, an active member of the military, which in any case can be sent to defend their country, and in many cases pay the ultimate sacrifice. In one of the many attempts to stop this tragedy from happening throughout the book, Montravilles father says that a soldier has no business thinking of a wife until he has achieved a rank high enough that he would not have to fear losing his life or not having enough money to support himself and his family. At this time in America, everything the women did was supposed to revolve around the men. Women were educated to please, to educate their young boys, to take care of the men when they were grown, to advise and console them, to surrender everything they had; these were the duties of women, and this is what was taught to them from their infancy. Making it all they knew of life and this is all they wanted. At the party in the summerhouse, Montraville gave Charlotte a letter; explaining all of his feelings and how he desired only to be with her. Charlotte knew that reading the letter was a bad idea since her mother had always mentioned to her that if she were to receive a letter from a young man, she should not read it without given it to her mother first. At which, all Mademoiselle La Rue said was, Lord bless you, my dear girl! Have you a mind to be leading strings all your life time. Prithee open the letter, read it, and judge for yourself; if you shew it your mother the consequence wi ll be you will be taken from school, and a strict guard kept over you, so you will stand no chance of ever seeing the smart young officer again (pg. 62). La Rue then continues lighting the fire by telling her how Montraville is going to war in America and how she will not alleviate him by permitting him to think that she would remember him when absent, and pray for his safety. The thought of adventure, love, and one day being a wife; were enough to make this words sound like words of wisdom and being the turning point of her life. As Charlotte read the letter, Mademoiselle eyed her with a malignant pleasure knowing that she had accomplished her goal in convincing Charlotte. She saw that the contents of the letter had awakened new emotions in the young and innocent girl, and before they parted it was determined that Charlotte was going to meet Montraville the next evening. If young women at this age were more exposed to reality and had more freedom to discover things themselves; they would have had a better understanding of life in general. However, being acknowledged as nothing more than a housewife, they were secluded from normal everyday experiences that would have taught them many lessons. For example, casual dating was not allowed and it made you look like a trashy woman. On the contrary, they had to wait for the one man that would tell them how beautiful they were and get married. In most cases, the women would barely know the history behind this man with whom they were going to spend the rest of their lives. This must have sent various sensations which agitated the womans mind. In Charlottes case it did, the book states that, Several times did she almost resolve to go to her governess, shew her the letter, and be guided by her advice: but Charlotte had taken one step in the ways of imprudence, and when that is once done there are always innumera ble obstacles to prevent the erring person returning to the path of rectitudeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (pg. 69). If Charlotte would have gone to her governess or even had experience a similar situation in the past, she wouldnt have been so desperate or confused about her decision. Charlotte would question herself, pondering if she was being ungrateful for what Mademoiselle was doing for her. Nowadays things are very different. In sixth grade young girls all over the country are having their first boyfriends or have already had a boyfriend. Not looking for marriage or any type of serious commitment but just learning from experience to prepare them for what life is like. As many say, Making mistakes just means you are learning faster. Charlotte Temple was not as fortunate as nowadays women are. Her first letter concluded with her making a horrible decision, leading to her death. Like all women during that era Charlotte, was a victim of society and their expectations. Of everyones beliefs, that women were just beautiful and did not have a saying or could do anything other than being a wife. She was a victim of tradition, being taught to be nice to her husband, cook, raise the kids, and take care of the house. Moreover, she was a victim of her so called friends, who gave her what she believed was great advice then turned around and left her with nothing but poverty, loneliness, and a baby. The reality is that she never really had any real support; from the very beginning she was being misinformed and deceived. Just like many of the other women, in search of happiness, love, and acceptance; left everything they had and gained nothing in return.

Patients Rights Essay -- patients’ bill of rights

The practice of medicine in the 1960s saw a change in the doctor-patient relationship that ultimately cultivated the patients’ rights movement. Individuals sought to become proactive in the healthcare and the healing process of their bodies. Because the medical practice was evolving rapidly in technology and specialized care, patients’ healthcare and rights became a major concern that needed to be addressed. In 1973 the American Hospital Association published a patients’ bill of rights that provided the patient with most advantageous healthcare available. This bill of rights required all accredited hospitals to accept this standard moving forward (Patients' Rights, 2004). The American Medical Association (AMA) developed a Code of Medical Ethics which includes: the patient has a right to obtain and discuss health information related to benefits, risks, and costs of treatment alternatives; patient’s can make decisions pertaining to healthcare suggested by the physician; the patient has the right to courtesy, respect, dignity, and attention to healthcare needs in a timely manner; and the patient has a right to confidentially, continuity, and adequate health care. (emedicinehealth, 2011). Communicating openly and honestly between the patient and doctor will allow both parties to make decisions to properly take care of needs. Patients’ have the right to know all details related to the service or treatment that will be provided and the right to refuse any such service or treatment before it happens. This informed consent will communicate exact procedure details, pain intensity and or disability period encountered, risk involvement, and any alternative methods of treatment and its risks. A patient will receive a concurrence... ...egrity of protected health information. Works Cited emedicinehealth. (2011). Retrieved February 23, 2011, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script Fiore, K. (2011) HIPAA Violation Costs Cignet Millions. Retrieved March 15, 2011 from http://www/medpagetoday.com/tbprint.cfm?tbid=25036 Patients' Rights. (2000). Retrieved February 23, 2011, from The Royal Society of Medicine Health Encyclopedia: http://lirnproxy.museglobal.com Patients' Rights. (2004). Retrieved February 2011, 23, from New Harvard Guide to Women' Health, The. http://lirnproxy.museglobal.com Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2011, January). Retrieved March 03, 2011, from PrivacyRights.org: http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2011). Retrieved February 23, 2011, from hhs.gov: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa

Mirror for Man - Understanding the Definition of Culture :: Mirror for Man Essays

Mirror for Man: Understanding the Definition of Culture In Clyde Kluckhohn's passage, adapted from his book, Mirror for Man, we are given an illumination of anthropology on the concept of culture. He explains that culture is not only derived by "the way we are brought up," but also personal past experiences and the biological properties of the people concerned. As humans we have learned to adapt to our own personal surroundings and have conditioned ourselves and our life styles to revolve around such surroundings by the most comfortable means possible. As Kluckhohn describes, the technical term of culture has a broader meaning to the anthropologist than the "humble cooking pot", and the "people of culture." He implies that the anthropologist needs to be concerned with all aspects and biological conditions involved that have shaped a society. Humans can be easily understood just by studying their surroundings, and as Kluckhohn has stated, "they can also be easily predicted by knowing a people's design for living." Kluckhohn describes, that as Americans, we strive for our own personal individuality and appearance; but yet as Americans, or for that matter any nationality, we still basically follow the same given patterns throughout the day. We have conditioned ourselves to such an extent, that our personal routines are done unconsciously. As a society, though, we reflect that given pattern, and when comparing it to another society, we are able to see how the cultures are individual and unique from one another. Such uniqueness is what Kluckhohn is refering to; the American plural wives belief of Siberia compared to the single wife in America, the cultural training and mannerism of the Chinese, and the eating mannerisms of a wife in Arizona. Basically, all of these cultures live under the same laws of nature, and are equiped with the same biological tools. Their uniqueness arises from the individual conditions that their surroundings offer, and their means by which of adapting to them. Having lived in London last year, for my junior year, I am able to relate to the viewpoints of Kluckhohn; as I traveled to many places dripping with their own uniqueness and culture. In London, I experienced the afternoon tea break and although not conforming to it, the societies acceptance of bathing only a few times a week. In Holland, I depended on bicycles as my main source of transportation for miles around, and viewed the old windmills and thatched roofs that are so typical in the country.

Creedence Clearwater and the Vietnam War :: Music Musical History Essays

For those of us born at the end of the Vietnam War, much of the music from that time period can remain hidden unless we make a point of seeking it out. Radio is replete with â€Å"classic rock† format stations, but like all other forms of mass media, listeners are relegated to a passive role, with little means of changing play lists that more-often-than-not overstate the effect of the British Invasion to the detriment of American rockers. For every Led Zeppelin garnering large amounts of airplay, there is a Creedence Clearwater Revival that is overlooked. The problem with British rockers from the era of the Vietnam War is one of credibility: any British musician (such as John Lennon) who tried to protest the Vietnam War sounded contrived at best. How could a British group object to a war in which they had no direct stake? These attempts at protest by foreign bands against the Vietnam War have the appearance of an orchestrated effort to â€Å"get on the bandwagon† and se ll albums by using the charged feelings of the citizenry toward an unpopular military action. While this is a cynical view, it is one that nevertheless deserves consideration. To the persistent individual, though, there is a body of music in existence that merits regard. It is powerful music written by the youth of America, youngsters who did have a stake in the Vietnam War. There can be little question about the origins of the power which American protest music conveyed: those who wrote such music lived each day with the real knowledge that they were losing friends in, and could possibly be forced themselves to go to, Vietnam. One such group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, made its contribution to this genre near the end of the Vietnam War. CCR sprang up in the San Francisco Bay area, the product of a music scene that was rife with talent. Creedence, however, never particularly sounded like that scene; indeed, the early efforts of the band caused many to question the group’s origin, believing that the foursome was a product of the â€Å"bayou regions of Louisiana†1 The musicians who made up the band - John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford - had been working on their style since the late 1950s under several different monikers. Primarily responsible for the Creedence sound was John Fogerty, the major creative force in the band, with vocals that â€Å"were to Creedence what Jim Morrison’s were to the Doors,†2 and a musical approach Fogerty himself described as a swamp thing:

On Course Journal Entry

Dick Gregory, The Memoir of Dick Gregory by. Dick Gregory, Slavery by Another Name by. Douglas A. Blackman, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by. Alex Haley, and Stolen Legacy just to name a few. I also watched documentaries; Hidden Colors 1-3 and Dark Girls. I also studied a couple museums, the most recent being the one in contribute of Martin Luther King and Accelerator Scott King in Atlanta. I talked amongst other individuals who were interested in the topic, as well. B. What do you do to learn the Information or skills needed to learn this? I read more than anything else.I was so intrigued by what I was reading and how it all was so connected to modern day society I just continued to read and make notes mostly. C. What did else do you do to learn this? I spoke to other people who were also interested In the topic and we all shared our new found knowledge to expand the wisdom we were digesting. I looked at some African pictures and old news articles. I also, consumed Information off the Internet. The more I learn the more I realize there is so much connected to present day activities. So, I still to this day study this topic. D.How often do you engage in learning this? I honestly engaged in this study every day. I have a whole collection of books pertaining to the subject, sometimes I think so many books so little time. E. When you engaged in learning this, how long did you usually spend? My studies were constant. I'm talking at least 6 to 7 hours out of the day usually. That was before school started of course, now it's more so 2 to 3 hours every other day. F. What feedback did you use to determine how well you learned this? When I enlightenment. They were quite fascinated with my learning in such short period of time.Some people didn't believe me, but those are the closed minded individuals who are content with what they were taught in the American education system about their ancestors Just being nothing more than slaves. G. How did you feel when you engaged in learning this? At first I was filled with anger and disappointment. Then, I found balance in it as I do in everything. Know I'm actually glad that they chose us. I feel so alive, empowered, conscious, and mindful now, the list can go on and on. Just so many emotions! So many volumes of life have taken over me that I have a totally new found perception.H. What are the rewards for learning this? There are an astonishing deal of rewards in regard to this lesson, including knowledge of self being my number 1 gain. I got closer to myself and my spirituality, discovered my destiny in the mist of it all by coming into visualization of what I want to do with my life. I can go on in a great abundance on what this topic has taught me and brought forth into my life. I can truly say I am grateful for the experience and I wish to enlighten others so they come into realization of who they are and what they mean to America. Part 3.By reading and writing about learning, I have relearned that if you want to know and/ or understand something it takes hard work and dedication. I will use this knowledge to maximize my learning in college by taking great pride in my work. When I stepped on the campus of Eastern Florida College to enroll I knew I was ready and by any means necessary I will stay motivated. I wish to understand everything that is being taught to me. I am a very active learner so a lot is already hitting home. I now when things do decide to get tough I will seek greater explanation of the topic.I was informed there are tutors. There are plenty of methods I can take to absorb information. My most dominant styles of learning are logical learning; I prefer using logic, reasoning, and systems. And Solitary(interpersonal) self-study learning. I also like sound such as aural learning sometimes to remember certain things. These are styles I use when I am working on school lessons. There are other styles I prefer when it comes to labor or something else. I enjoy writing t hings down a lot. I see theirs is a lot of work in college.I'm not sure if it's due to the classes being 8 weeks or f it's always like this, but it seems it can get a little intense if you're not organized or focused. I have a schedule around my lesson and I still find the time to get all of my work done with no distractions. So, honestly when it comes to learning I think it depends on the individual and how bad they want their education. I know what I am her for, I am willing to take every calculated step in order for me to absorb the information. And again, I am not interested in taking in information Just to take a test. I'm not here to regurgitate information!I'm trying to fully understand everything Hess teachers are supposed to be teaching me. â€Å"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world†. It sure didn't surprise me when we were asked, if we won the lottery would we still be interested in coming to college? Students were more interested in the illusion of having money. Fortunately, I am not motivated by money. I wish to make a difference in the world that's my motivation. Making a better society for my son and the other generations to come. I have great desire to touch every life around me, like Vive been doing since birth.

Knowledge and Understanding of “the Human Seasons” Essay

The poem â€Å"The Human Seasons† is a poem by John Keats is a poem John Keats wrote to a friend in a letter. â€Å"The Human Seasons† is a fourteen line English sonnet with twelve lines in the beginning followed by two final lines at the end. The poem has rhymes however the whole poem is neither uniform nor consistent throughout. The first four lines rhyme in an ABAB pattern. The second rhyme can be found between line six and eight. The Third rhyme can be found between nine and eleven and the final rhyme is in the last two lines, line thirteen and fourteen. All these rhymes are different, however they do share one thing in common the rhyming pairs all have one line in between to separate them. Another pattern that can be found in the poem is an iambic pattern. In pattern flows with the human blood flow making it easy to read. These patterns construct the bases that show the amount of thought John Keats put into the poem to express himself. The speaker we assume is John Keats himself since this poem was used in a letter to a friend from John Keats. The intended audience is the recipient of the letter, but now the poem is shared to all. In the poem John Keats is comparing the two different natural process, the four seasons of a natural year and the stages of human life. The season become metaphors for the various feelings and thoughts humans experience in the various phases of one’s life. The tone is serious as John Keats is expressing his thought on the topics of the natural human process. This serious tone can be felt from the diction since the John Keats choses to use formal language to write this poem. â€Å"The Human Season† is an example of John Keats ability to put a lot of thought in a fourteen line poem. The patterns and thoughts expressed in the poem are densely compressed but not too much that makes it hard on the reader to understand the topics and the expression of the speaker. One can really appreciate this with the careful analysis to see how much work John Keats puts into a short fourteen lines.