Horace Miner's famous sociological paper entitled "Body Rituals Among the Nacirema" is an example of how non-fiction can be just as powerful and interesting as fiction. This is an article that reveals ethnocentrism, the belief that one's own culture is superior to another's culture, by showing off the "strange" body rituals of the Nacirema tribe. Little does the reader know but there is a surprise hidden in the intent of the work. Nacirema, spelled backwards, is American. This is meant to show how anything can be spun to be completely different with the right words.
This work, when I first read it, blew my mind. For any student that believes non-fiction is second best to fiction, I will give them this article and wait for the lightbulb to turn on.
Non-fiction, in my opinion, is an underappreciated genre of literature. Most students, if asked to name nonfiction, will probably cite a dusty, heavy book with no pictures and lots of dates and facts. Yet, the Sports Illustrated in their hands counts as nonfiction and they will probably never realize this fact unless it is pointed out. Magazines, biographies, articles. These all count towards non-fiction.
Non-fiction not as interesting as fiction? This is a popular phrase among students as to why they do not iindulge in more non-fiction reading. To this point I ask this question: are war, sex, scandal, heroism, survival, and politics not interesting? If the scope of nonfiction's reach is shown, students should begin to realize just how interesting non-fiction can be. Also, the best part about curling up with a good and exciting non-fiction story is that it is just that: non-fiction. At the end of the experience, the reader can go: Oh My God, this actually happened.
Jean, you're so right about "a good and exciting nonfiction story" and the constant and startling realization, "This Really Happened!"
ReplyDeleteMost recently, the book that I couldn't put down and couldn't believe was real was the best-seller "Unbroken." Written by Laura Hillenbrand (the author of "Seabiscuit"), this is the account of a young American's attempt to survive during WWII: shot down in the Pacific, adrift for weeks, attacked by sharks, shot at by the Japanese, imprisoned in a Japanese camp, etc. etc. OH, AND DID I MENTION THE SHARKS??!
Actually, I'm a sucker for shark non-fiction -- if anyone else is also oddly drawn to these kind of books, try "Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916" -- it's the real-life story on which the movie "Jaws" is based. EEK!
I remember when I was younger and I read The Diary of Anne Frank. It was so powerful and moving to me and then I cried even harder when I realized that a real girl suffered in this manner. Non-fiction can even surpass the emotional punch of fiction because it is real.
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