For my sociology class we have to put ourselves in the position of an outsider and write about the rituals of Americans when they use a certain type of technology. I “observed” Facebook and its effect on our culture. It turned out funnier than I expected, so I thought I’d put in on here for a laugh. It will probably need some revisions..this is just my first draft. Let me know what you think..or if you have any suggestions!
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My life as a cultural anthropologist has been quite fascinating through the years: I have studied the Hmong culture, as well as the Australian Aboriginal culture.
The most interesting group I encountered were the Nacirema. I spent a year doing field work for my ethnography, so I became part of the culture through participant observation. I focused on their use of material things, particularly what they refer to as ‘technology.’
I was most interested in the Book of Faces, which is an information program used on technology pieces referred to as cell phones and computers. This Book of Faces contains information about thousands of people, who also use the program. Hobbies, schooling and religious beliefs are openly shared with others in written form.
I found this to be worthwhile research because after spending a few months observing the Nacirema, this program was constantly being viewed, manipulated and used by everyone I encountered. I hadn’t met anyone above fifteen that did not own a Book of Faces, so I felt it is obviously a major aspect of Nacirema culture.
I followed a young woman named Kate and became her roommate in a giant building with hundreds of rooms and only a few large bathrooms. There were eight layers of these rooms and many women living in them.
Once I was Kate’s roommate, I began to see the Nacirema’s dependence on the Book of Faces. Almost 75 percent of the time we were awake in the small room, Kate was looking at a face on the computer. Many times I’d look over at her screen and she was viewing the same face, with the same information. I was confused why she kept forgetting what the person looked like, as she seemed to always be looking at it.
Many times, she would be sitting several feet away from her computer, reading a book, and she was suddenly get up and run to the Book of Faces. She would sit at the screen for hours, almost in a trance. She would write on someone else’s page, where other obsessive members of this world would write a well.
If Kate was having a bad day, she would write in a box how she was feeling, and others would comfort her beneath the box. This allowed hundreds of people to know what kind of mood Kate was in. It was fascinating to me how the Nacirema used this technology to express their feelings and stay connected to their culture.
Kate was always receiving new alerts that there was activity on her Book of Faces page. She took it for granted that each day there would be something new. On days that nothing changed from the day before, she went into a deep depression. Instantly, upon the arrival of the new alert, her mood would increase again. The fluctuation was draining for me as an observer. Kate treated each new alert with excitement, yet uncertainty.
A good example of a ritual is on the day of birth for each user of the program, the Book of Faces master leader (who is unknown) would alert Kate. It was expected of her to write on their Face page and tell them ‘Happy Birthday,’ whether she cared or not. On Kate’s day of birth, she checked her Face page to make sure each individual in her world gave the respected message. If they did not, she would wonder what she did wrong in the friendship or think they were rude individuals.
Also, if two individuals are dating, it is expected that they will show ownership of one another on their Face pages. If they are not listed as each other’s property, others in the Book of Faces assume there is a problem or issue regarding the relationship.
A frightening ritual regarding the Book of Faces is the constant stalking of friends, acquaintances and Unknowns. The Unknowns are individuals that have never been introduced to certain Nacirema, but they may have seen them in public or heard their name. It is frowned upon to stalk these individuals physically, but it is socially acceptable to read excessively about them on the Book of Faces.
From my observations, it came to my attention that this Book of Faces is sometimes the only communication between family and friends. The use of telephones and face-to-face contact is somewhat non-existent.
This program is like a cult. It sucks individuals in, holds their attention for hours and keeps them from communication with the outside world. I feel the Nacirema are brainwashed or are under a spell from this Book of Faces. They do not have enough self-control remove their Face page or stay away from it for even a few hours. The Book of Faces is used to build up self-esteem, talk about their emotional issues, own one another and stalk others. It is a frightening obsession that must be watched carefully before it causes problems for the world of the Nacirema.
