1. Re-read Miner’s article. Pay attention to the way he writes the article and the perspective he has taken. It is almost as if he were an anthropologist from Mars seeing American / Nacirema life for the first time. Try to take this same perspective as you think about Facebook / Koobecaf.

2. Brainstorm. Think of all the things you do on Koobecaf that might strike the anthropologist from Mars as strange. Examples: gnitad (dating), etadpu sutats (status update), stseretni (interests), pictures of teps (pets), koobecaf serohw (facebook whores), gniklats (stalking), etc. ... also consider how Koobecaf fits into your life, organizing parties, pictures of parties, checking out possible girlfriends/boyfriends, etc.

3. Run with the funny stuff ... See how far you can take your topic. Think of real examples from your life that illustrate what you are writing about.

4. Now try to take it a step deeper using our model of culture (infrastructure, social structure, superstructure).

The infrastructure includes technology, economic system, and the subsistence pattern. For the Nacirema, this includes massive industries, mass media, mass markets, industrialized/corporate agriculture, malls, supermarkets, and big box stores. We live in relatively isolated homes in small families.

So how does Koobecaf fit into all this? Maybe Koobecaf helps us reach out and connect from our relatively isolated homes? Or is it something else or something more? Let’s look further at our model ...

... on to the social structure. The social structure includes family structure, social organization, and political organization. For the Nacirema this includes a strong value on romantic love as the basis of building a nuclear family that is mostly independent. (Our value system looks down on those who are dependent on others.) We have considerable inequality in our society, but we value equality, particularly equality of opportunity. We also value individualism, as embodied in our political system of democracy, in which each individual has their own opinion and their own voice in the political process. Perhaps Koobecaf allows us to express ourselves (just as we do when we go shopping and buy clothes that represent us, etc.) It allows us to connect, while also maintaining control over our self-presentation and our individuality.

Now we are getting somewhere. We are ready to look at the superstructure. The superstructure includes our core cultural values, beliefs, ideas, and ideologies. What are Nacirema core values? As we could see in the social structure, love, independence, and individualism are all core values. These are connected to our infrastructure. Mass media and mass markets give us tremendous choices, emphasizing our individuality and allow us to live independently. But this leads to some contradictions. Our independence leaves us lonely, leaving our core value of connection with others unfulfilled. Enter Koobecaf.

Now that you have a more complete picture of Nacirema culture (using the model of culture learned in class), you can develop a more thorough understanding of “Koobecaf”

5. Start writing! We can’t wait to read your paper!

If you have any further questions, please contact your TA.