Exploring how our everyday routines can carry cultural, symbolic, and personal meaning.
One of the topics I've been exploring in my anthropology coursework is the role of rituals and symbolism in human societies. I think one of the most interesting aspects of studying religion and culture is recognizing how many of the behaviors we consider completely normal can look very different when viewed from an outside perspective.
For my second reading analysis in Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing: An Introduction to Comparative Religion, I was asked to examine an anthropological reading about ritual, identify its central themes, and explain how specific behaviors can carry cultural and symbolic meanings.
For this assignment, I chose to analyze Horace Miner's 1956 article, Body Ritual Among the Nacirema. In this reading, Miner describes the everyday behaviors of Americans as though they belong to an unfamiliar civilization. What initially appears to be a description of unusual religious and cultural practices is actually an examination of ordinary routines, including personal hygiene, beauty practices, and health care.
I found this reading particularly interesting because it demonstrates how easily our understanding of another society can be influenced by the way its practices are described. It also made me recognize how many of our own everyday behaviors could be considered rituals, even when we don't necessarily think of them that way.
In my paper, I explore the symbolism behind some of these behaviors and how their meanings can extend beyond cultural expectations. I also connect the reading to my own nightly self-care routine, which I consider a personal ritual. Although some aspects of that routine are influenced by society's beauty standards, I find that the practice has a much more personal meaning as a time to reflect, set intentions, and reconnect with myself.
I've included my original academic paper below, along with the references used to support my analysis.
Reading Analysis Two: Rituals and Symbolism
Course: ASB214 — Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing: An Introduction to Comparative Religion
Date: October 9, 2026
Author: Kaitlin Scheuble
Original academic paper submitted as part of my anthropology coursework.
Read My Full Academic Paper (PDF)
The Curious Mind is a collection of my academic writing, research, and explorations into anthropology, history, religion, and the human experience. These essays reflect the subjects I'm studying, the research I find interesting, and how my understanding of the world continues to develop.
