Why does the case study of the "Nacirema" become so obvious after we have discussed it as a class? Why do 90% of the people who read the case study for the first time miss the meaning? What does that say about the importance of developing an active sociological imagination?
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Most people in my class did not seem to notice that "Nacirema" is American spelled backwards. Also, upon reading the paper, it seems like a real case study. It was hard to draw paralells between the wording used in the case study and the way things actually are in American culture. Once this was pointed out to me, it became clear that the tooth guy described was a dentist, and that the temple for the sick was in fact a hospital, among other things.
The case study of "Nacirema" became so obvious after we discussed it in class because, after we found out the "Nacirema" is American spelt backwards it made more sense. After finding that out I knew that the holy-mouth-man was a dentist. I think 90% of the people who read the case study for the first time miss the meaning because, they over interpret the information. I think that the importance of developing an active sociological imagination is an important ability to have.
The "Nacirema" case study became more obvious once it was discussed in class because most people didn't have any idea that was American spelled backwards. After the article was discussed we were able to better understand the lanugage that was used and we were able to better connect with some of the topics that were discussed. For example the shrines being the medecine cabinents, the temples where people had to get undressed where hospitals and, the part that I really found interesting was the part when it said something about women baking their heads in ovens.
after we talked about it in class i felt realy dumb first off nacirema is just american spelled backwards and all the different terms when you realy think about it made sence. the reason most people miss the meaning of the artical because they think about it like its another cutlure in a far away land even though it says exactly where it is because they said they use magic and spells to help with ailments. it is important to have an open socialogical imagination because it will help you pick up on subtle hints alot faster and it will make you less ingnorant of the world around you.
Since I happened to be absent the day that this reading was assigned I didnt get the pleasure of reading it before the class discussion and figuring it out for myself. Knowing that the "nacirema's" were really americans the paper gives off a different view. I read the paper twice once trying to understand it the same way everyone else did, without knowing that the naciremas were americans. Then I read it again to understand it while knowing that they were americans.
The first time I read it I thought the way they described people was humerous and related to our lifes as americans but if you did not get the connection sometimes it was hard understand that.
The second time I read it I thought it was interesting that the author decribed us as people whose "time is devoted to economic pursuits." This is very true because americans lives revolve around their jobs and school. Not by finding happiness or having fun and enjoying life. There should be a happy medium between the 2 but it seems to me that we forget that we even have social lives once we are out of college and move into the real world. We just get drowned into the world of work and money. Thats all that matters to us. The day money makes everyone truly happy will be amazing. That day will never come.
After discussing the "Nacirema" case in class, i could not believe how obvious most of the things in the reading were. I complelty believed that they were some random tribe, which kind of shocks me. I think most people complelty miss the real meaning because they aren't told to think "outside the box" so they are just reading it for what it is, not really grasping any concept or other meanings. This shows the importance of developing an active sociological imagination because it proves that things aren't always what they seem and sometimes you have to see them in a different light.
I think the reason we do not understand that the Nacirema are us, is that we are so used to our own vocabulary that when someone uses different words to describe the same things, it seems foreign to us. While we are all individuals, we tend to talk and think a lot alike. Therefore, when someone uses different words and emotions to talk about something we immediately jump to conclusions. Having discussed the case study, our minds begin to associate the different text with what we commonly associate it with. For example, when we first read about the ritual of women putting their heads in ovens, it seemed masochistic, but in reality the women are just drying their hair and indulging in their vanity. This shows that developing an active sociological imagination is important because without it we are limited in our perceptions. We only see what is right in front of us. We unconsciously ignore the intangible relationships around us. By gaining a sociological imagination we will be on our way to better understanding why people do the things they do, and what effect these actions have on the rest of society.
People overlook the Nacirema case study because of the way it is presented. In a way the article mocked how Americans are so obsessed with their physical features. When I had read it the first time I was disgusted with what was said about some of the rituals. When you know that they are talking about Americans you are forced to realize how misconstrued some of our ideas of beliefs are. The drug world, more so now, rules companies and doctors. Side effects vary from headaches to death, and Americans allow these substances to fill up their cabinets. I think that the Nacirema article is a warning to people, not to be judgmental and don’t overindulge your sociological imagination. Get your facts straight before you make any type of conclusion.
When I came back to the class after reading the Nacirema article I surprised to know that Nacirema is American spelt backwards, I was more surprised that I didn’t notice that it was spelt backward. After I found this out the article made more sense it almost seemed obvious and I felt I should not have missed it. I think that 90% of people, like myself who read this case study miss the meaning because they go with their fist thought. When the article was put on my desk I thought that we were going to read about a tribe and as I was reading the article I was still thinking this was a tribe never considering another view. If people predict something before they investigate they will only see what they think there going to see.
Hi, Fist time blogger. Well no that that out of the way.
Ther "Nacriema" article was a complete shock that it was our sociaty. I thought that was reading this with an open mind. You know, don't press my own view on others, reapected other oppinons an so no but...wow. I completly missed it. This any supports my number one quote "If you immediatly know the candle light is fire, than the meal was cooked along time ago."
So that it, I hope that there is not too many spelling errors but thats jus me,bye.
The case of "Nacirema" became so obvious after we discussed it in class because a lot of people who read it the first time did not open their minds; and they read it just for what it was. Going through the meanings of everything opened up everyone's eyes to the importance of sociological imagination. This says that with a sociological imagination and an open mind you can see the true meaning of things instead of over seeing what it really meant. It also shows that things aren't really how they are seen and with sociological imagination you see them in a different way.
I have to admit that I was one of the people who read the case study and thought, "These people are insane, whoever they are." However after giving it some thought, I realized I do things that the Nacirema do which led me to conclude that we are the Nacirema. I believe that the case study was as if someone took a look at average people and spiced up the wording of their daily activities. In my opinion, people are so busy with their lives, that they don't seem to notice the world around them. Let's admit it, who honestly thinks about how their decisions will effect the world? Personally, I think about the effect it will have on my family or friends, but not the world as a whole. I also feel that it is important to look at things from different angles. Sometimes things can be really obvious, but one can easily over think it. Just as many people did with this case study.rabinm
So, i know this was a super long time ago, and i know that i wont be getting points for this blog, but i really enjoyed this case study and thought it was extremely interesting.
i was one of the people who actually did realize that we were the nacirema people. it took me a while though. at first, i was thinking "these people are crazy for drilling holes in other peoples mouths" and things like that. then i realized, that's what dentists do. it just isnt often referred to in that manner. i think a lot of people are thrown off by the fact that the study made it sound like this was some ancient or foreign society. it's easy to throw people off that way. that's one of the reasons that a sociological imagination is so important. observation is one of the greatist skills you can have. purely observe things. that's what you had to do in this case study. everyone wants to think that it's going to be something extremely complicated when the answer was really right in front of their noses. so, in this case, observational skills were important in finding out the answer to the case study.
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