Danisa Alvarez
Panther ID: 1945827
July 15, 2011
Rhetorical Analysis
In his article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema,” Miner successfully persuades his audience that the nature of American’s fixation with the body’s physical appearance and well-being is ridiculous by using a didactic tone and removed diction. He is able to achieve this by allowing his audience to form a third person point of view of this “tribe” before they are able to realize mid-way through the article that these people with bizarre customs and rituals being described are actually modern-day Americans.
Miner’s use of didactic tone makes him sound like an educated scholar which in turn gives him credibility. For example, Miner begins his article by saying, “The anthropologist has become so familiar with the diversity of ways in which different people behave in similar situations that he is not apt to be surprised by even the most exotic customs (Miner 503-507).” This opening statement creates a sense of superiority and sets a tone of academia. Miner then states, “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 behaviors can go (Miner 503-507).” Once again, here we see how Miners’ scholarly tone is able to exhibit a sense of authority which makes his readers feel superior to the “tribe.” By using a didactic tone, Miner creates an illusion that the people being discussed are indeed some sort of tribe. Half-way through the article the audience realizes that Miner’s tone is in fact quite ironic given that Nacirema is actually American spelled backwards.
Removed diction is another technique Miner uses in order to create an impression of detachment between the reader and the “tribe.” Miner describes this “tribe” as a “North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles (Miner 503-507).” Upon reading such an “anthropologic” description of a location, the reader does not realize that the “territory” between Canada and Mexico is the United States. By throwing in “Cree” and “Tarahumare,” Miner creates a distraction and the reader does not realize that the “tribe” are Americans. Another example of Miner’s removed diction is found in his descriptions of the Nacirema’s “rituals.” He writes how the people “insert a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures (Miner 503-507).” Here he is actually describing the American’s way of brushing their teeth. By describing the toothbrush as a “bundle of hog hairs” he makes the Nacirema seem almost barbaric. He also uses other terminology such as “latipso” which is actually a hospital, “holy-mouth-men” which are dentists, and “medicine men” which are doctors (Miner 503-507). Miner’s choice of diction further implicates the American’s ridiculous and obsessive nature with the body.
Through his use of rhetorical techniques such as didactic tone and removed diction, Miner effectively gets his message across. Miner’s article contains a subliminal message of not judging others and appreciating the diversities of cultures. He really puts things into perspective and makes American’s realize that they should not be so obsessive about the physical aspects of life and instead be the educated people they see themselves as.
REFERENCES
Miner, Horace. "Body Ritual among the Nacirema."American Anthropologist 58.3 (1956): 503-507.
