I think there are 3 ways to turn this option off and I cant remember them all....this is a pain in Maya.

You can go to "Window>Settings/Preferences>Preferences>Display>Polygons" and turn backculling off in there but it really doesnt do much...have a look in the help files? You can do it in the view port tabs as well but again it doesnt do a hell of a lot...I think there is or should be a proximity option??

cheers bullet