Nacermia

Top Five Papers

Spring 2008

Young Nacirema
Simone Mullinax

            Once the Nacirema reach young adulthood they are sent away from their family units. This ceremony is called “the cutting of the string;” and separates the young Nacirema from their established community. Described as an “empowerment of the mind” it allows the young to perform their parts in each community. It is a vital component to their lives and is a deciding factor in their future successes.

            The Nacirema are sent to “pocket” communities; while here, they live together in small huts stacked on top of one another and packed very closely. Some huts hold room for two or maybe even four young adults. It is here that the young Nacirema learn to share shrines, belongings and other various information.  The shrines are something of a marvel; there may be as many as twenty young in one shrine each performing different rituals and learning new rituals from one another. While living in these stacked huts the Nacirema learn to fend for themselves: hunting in large convention halls, staking seats in great rooms to listen to older Nacirema tell stories and battling over their beliefs. The convention halls are the most unusual development in the pocket community. The food is displayed on large tables all throughout the hall, the Nacirema must gather their desired helping and carry it with them from table to table, often times there are large lines at better tables and the Nacirema must quickly fish this food out with silver tools while dodging the clear coverings of the table. If they cannot perform these tasks quickly and efficiently, the young will not eat.

            While this behavior seems to be common to all young Nacirema, there is something unusual about a smaller group in the pocket community. This group divides themselves into smaller tribes organized by sex. Each tribe defines themselves by symbol representations. These symbols are to be kept secret and are worshipped very highly within each tribe. Each symbol has designated colors; the tribes dress themselves in these colors, sometimes even painting their faces and bodies. In some communities the tribes live together in one large hut; here, they assemble and perform secret rituals that involve frequent chanting. Each tribe has its own language which is passed through the generations, it is said that these secret languages will help the young Nacirema later in life. Ever so often all the tribes will assemble together and compete for the top title, they will yell and perform strange movements with one another. Once one tribe has won the top title they will all return to their huts and plan for the next gathering. Sometimes tribes will collect and dress in unusual costumes, although the various tribes do not seem to get along with one another, at these gatherings they laugh and cheer one another on as they perform awkward activities that deny any privacy.

            These activities seem to be perfectly acceptable due to the lack of adult Nacirema in the pocket communities. It is believed that this freedom allows the young to develop and become responsible. However, a lack of adults creates an increase in bugs in the community. Young Nacirema tend to leave things behind, when using the shrine they do not acknowledge all the appropriate rituals and because they travel in herds there is a constant struggle for medicine men and potions, but more importantly, papers that these men produce. Unfortunately, the young Nacirema do not carry enough bartering tools to acquire their various needs and therefore submit themselves to extraneous experiments and assessments in exchange for small amounts of metal. This behavior is especially prevalent in the winter months.

            Some will train to be medicine men, some will train to be story tellers and others will not finish training. These pocket communities offer a variety of activities and dangers to the young Nacirema but it is a vital component of their lives and future successes.

 Nacerima

Lindsay Joyce

In the American culture, there is a certain ritual performed by many people in the beginning of their lives.  At about the age of 18, most children are kicked out of their dwelling places by their parents.  It seems as though their parents are sick of them being at home so they make their kids go to a strange place to live the next part of their lives.  They are sent to live in very tall buildings full of other people their same age.  There are usually two to four people who share the same area of the building.  They are forced to put all of their things into this big box in the wall of their room. Some of the items are put on these twisted pieces of wire and seem to be displayed in a uniform way, while other items are crinkled in a certain pattern and stacked above the hanging items.  They are kept there until they are needed.  These young people also have a big black box that sits in the room and makes lots of bright shapes and really loud sounds.  They sit in front of this thing for hours and stare motionlessly at the front.  It seems as if these kids need to be mesmerized by these flashing images at least two hours every evening in order to fall asleep. 

There is also another small box in their rooms; except this one makes cold air.  These people put certain items in this box and then eat them a few days later.  The box must have an effect on the food making it better for their bodies.  At different times every morning a loud repeating noise goes off in each room.  The students pound the top of this small rectangle and it magically stops.  But in a few minutes the loud beeping noise starts sounding again.  They repeat this routine about five times before they can officially open their eyes.  It is disruptive to the sleep cycle, but I think they believe it helps the brain prepare for sunlight before the day begins.  After this beeping routine is completed, the young people always go to this room in the middle of the building that has lots of little squares all over the walls and floors.  In this room are tall dividers that separate these white chairs.  The people go behind the dividers and sit on the white chairs for a few moments before they head over to the water area.  Here there is some sort of magical valve that can be turned to force water to spray out of the walls.  The kids stand under the water, rub a stick all over their bodies, and then stand under the water again.  They believe it erases all of the bad omens from the previous day.  They then rub their entire bodies with a large furry rectangle before putting the items from the box in their room on their bodies.  All of these items have holes for their head to go through and holes for both of their arms.  They are colorful things that seem to keep their skin from being effected by the sun.  For some reason, most of the girls involved in this process seem to wear this certain furry foot covering on the cold days.  If they wear these certain covers they get to talk to other girls on campus, but if they wear different covers they do not seems to get along with other people as well.  The foot covers must be seen as magical and make the girls act nicer.  The girls also smear colorful liquids on their faces that make their skin look pretend, and then they wipe a pink powdery substance on their cheeks.  It makes the girls look like baby dolls. 

After they go through this long process they all walk to a different building where an older person yells at them for almost an hour.  These kids just sit there quietly and never talk back.  They believe that listening to the same person for a certain amount of time every day will make them wiser.  They mark signs with a dark needle like tool on a thin fibrous material so they can remember what the person was yelling at them.  They repeat this procedure every day for at least 4 years because the parents believe the practice will give their kids a way to get more green rectangles throughout their lives.  They worship the green rectangles and carry these thin gods around in their leg covers to make sure they are not lost.  The ultimate goal of sending the kids away is so they can get more green.

“Muddy-Water” Houses

William Gibson

            It is an all but daily event that most Nacirema wake in the morning and travel to a place of employment or learning.  Sometimes adults take their children to learn while they go off to work.  For many adults it is a daily ritual to visit the “muddy-water” house while in transit.

            The “muddy-water” house in any of its thousands of forms and names can be found in large quantities throughout Nacirema communities.  It can be a dark, foreboding place geared towards a very niche crowd or a bright, well-lit place perfect for the average Nacirema.  Traders and scholars are very attracted to these places. It is there that they usually discuss agreements and contracts, philosophy, religion, discoveries, and sometimes when younger Nacirema are not around the taboo.

            No matter which of the Nacirema are found in the establishment  or what it looks like on the inside the ritual bartering is almost always the same.  The inside of the house is focused around a counter behind which “muddy-water” men and women perform their craft.  Nacirema form lines, going from the counter to the entrance at the busiest times of the day, while they await their turn.  In line they glare over a list of potions and additives displayed behind the counter.  During the wait it is common for one to shift from side-to-side, or stair at small magical items and trinkets.  This is at most times and indication of frustration and impatience, but some would argue these patrons are anxious for their next fix.  “Muddy-water” itself is said to be laced with drugs that keep the Nacirema in a sociable state with others.  When not taken they are stricken with sleepiness, discontent, and anxiety.

            When the counter is reached they are expected to know exactly which brew they want, if not other look at them in disgust.  They are first greeted by the “muddy-water” man or woman with a form dependent on the time of the day.  Next an alchemic recipe is disclosed by the patron.  Barter currency exchanges hands after that, depending on how elaborate the concoction is the price goes up steeply.  Words such as Ventos, Grendus, and Tahlus describe the size of the potion while other words such as Skant, Dulke, and Seoi describe the composition.  This itself can be overwhelming to a Nacirema that has never partaken in “muddy-water” but for most it is easily deciphered and understood.  The alchemist behind the counter mixes the patrons order once the currency transaction has been completed.

            Hissing sounds can be heard as lactate and bean juices are steamed, frothed, and burnt to create the “muddy-water.”  After this the alchemist calls out the patrons name and hands them the concoction, which they intake by mouth thus completing the daily “muddy-water” ritual.  This is also done by some Nacirema in the afternoon or evening, and even multiple times over the day.  Machines to make “muddy-water” can be bought by the Nacirema to place within their dwellings as well, though the “muddy-water” created by these simple machines is usually not deemed as strong or effective as that made in the “muddy-water” houses.

The Aidlyos

Chevis English 

            The Aidlyos tribe is a very unique tribe that has different ceremonies throughout each year, but some members of the tribe know more than others about each one.  Some ceremonies vary in date and you can predict when it will be but will not know precisely.  Each year that passes, these ceremonies take on a new meaning for each tribe member and will sometimes shock, scare, or disappoint some of the members, and others may even die. 

            They bring in each year with a tiny infant so that they may have prosperity, enhance vigor, and relinquish ghastly conduct.  Some tribe members may wish for more than others depending on their state of being.  They also consume a very rare seed that grows from a plant in hopes of achieving the best life. 

            Certain tribe members celebrate a truly unique ceremony that will bring happiness to few and severe depression to most.  The ones that do not experience happiness from this ceremony are often found holed up in their huts gorging on bitter brown beans that are found abundantly in the Virgin Islands but are put through a certain process by tribe members who receive them. 

            The tribe’s next ceremony involves many members who cover themselves from head to toe in fur and are forced by superior tribe members to sit in one spot for up to three weeks.  Other tribe members are allowed to visit the shrines where some are demanded to sit during certain times of the day, but others are often terrified upon seeing this take place.  Although, some prefer to worship chickens and ducks instead.  This ceremony used to last forty days but the tribe has shortened it to one for convenience of certain members. 

            There is a very special ceremony every single year where many imbibe special potions and create fire to venerate their elders.  Some tribe members sit in the scolding sun under huge tents for up to a month in preparation for this ceremony.  Others consume so many victuals that they are ill for a couple of days causing their stomachs to swell. 

            The biggest ceremony the Aidlyos tribe has is at the very end of the year.  Many celebrate by putting all of their faith into a foreign member by the name of  Weihnachtsmann.  Every tribe member believes in Weihnachtsmann early in their life but is later led to think that he is just a part of their ancient heritage.  Many tribe members travel to visit other natives during this ceremony and bring offerings to show peace and goodwill.  Some tribe members, usually women, spend all year getting ready for this ceremony so everything is perfect.  It is also tradition that every tribe member goes out and severs a coniferous plant to bring back to their huts.  Some members wear very ornate outfits that others cannot find unless they are handed down from their elders.  These outfits are so ornate that many try to replicate them for special celebrations around the time of the main ceremony.  

            The Aidlyos tribe has many ceremonies and traditions that are carried down from one generation to the next, some that are slowly changing each year, and some that get lost completely as the years pass.  Every member has different and unique methods that are passed down through only their families, and some members don’t celebrate during any ceremonies at all.    

Note: Aidlyos= holidays

Nacirema Women

Frank Hofschulte

          We have already seen some of the strange habits of the tribe as a whole but no we are going to look at the tribe’s women and check out some of the bizarre things they do on a normal day.

          Most of the women in this tribe are very strange when it comes to hygiene and other things of the sort.  They seem to enjoy pain as they take this squeezing object and remove their eyebrows and this seems to be very essential because the thinner the eyebrows the more attractive you are.  They older females tend to shave theirs off and just draw them on however they please.   This is a morning ritual as they also smear flesh color paint on their face to cover any blemishes but then they color coordinate what they have on with the paint they put on their upper eyelid. 

          One interesting thing that our research did find was this place that a lot of women go to bake their skin.  They go to this place and will sit in this bed that emits light and heat and will bake themselves until they are a golden brown and this attracts mates.  It also seems that the darker the skin the more attractive the woman in this culture.  Also, these women also will have dark skin in the months of the year that are very cold. 

          The dress of the women of this culture is very strange as well not all women look the same but a lot of them wear the same types as clothes.  What I found to be very fascinating to be more attractive to a mate the women have to be really uncomfortable to be really beautiful.  They wear shoes on their feet that have long spikes at the end of the shoe and this makes them more attractive to the men of the culture.  This also goes for the pants as some of the women can barely walk and not seem to move right but they have them as tight as they can handle.

          One of the weirdest rituals is the one before they go to bed.   They will go into the shrine room and get into the rain chamber and wash themselves but then they will put this thick ointment on their legs and they will they take a tool ,similar to the men’s one that they use on their face, they use it on their legs.  I have heard of women doing the same thing only with hot boiling thick liquid that they will put on their legs then the will place a piece material on the liquid but it’s a solid now.  They will let it sit for just little bit, then the will rip it out almost pulling their skin off.   Keeping the hair off the legs is very import to the women of this culture because they spend so much time baking themselves they can’t have hair getting in the way of their golden brown skin.  

          The women of this culture are very odd as they do some many painful things to their self and you would think that they would be fearless of most everything.  That isn’t the case though at the sight of an insect they will tremble in fear and get their mate to dispose of it.  However the women of this culture are weird but it seems that they do run most things in this culture and it would not be able to run unless they are around and they only need men around to get those darn insects.