Geertz summary

Geertz summary

 Clifford Geertz, “Deep play: notes on the Balinese cockfight” is a commentary on Balinese culture. Geertz begins with the way the Balinese people acknowledge him in Balinese society. He is considered to be an outsider and as a result he isn’t noticed by the people. It was only when Geertz attended an illegal cockfighting match his status as an outsider was soon erased. When the cockfighting match was raided by the police Geertz fled just like the locals and by doing so he gained respect from the Balinese people. His actions caused the Balinese people to accept him and this led to Geertz insight into the phenomena of cockfighting.

 Cockfighting in Bali is very symbolic and in Balinese’s culture because a cock is referred to as “hero,” “warrior, “or “tough guy.” So when Balinese men gather around for a cockfighting match it means more than two animals fighting, it represents a man’s ego. From Geertz perspective cockfighting may seem barbaric by outsiders, but in Balinese society it’s a system that contains gambling, hierarchy’s and rules.

 The description of cocks fighting is described by Geertz as a mixture of intensity and beauty. The precision of cockfighting is surprising because it entails an umpire who manages and judges matches. A cock fight usually consists of two cocks who are equipped with blades and furiously fight till one is dead. Usually matches vary depending of the bets cast by the audience.   To make things interesting the Balinese make the center bet as large as possible so there’s more in stake. A deep match is meant to keep things interesting and unpredictable, but Geertz finds it to be a “shallow, “affair.

           

In conclusion Geertz insight into Balinese culture comes from the phenomena known as cockfighting. Cockfighting is an expression of how Balinese culture functions through hierarchy’s and rules. Geertz’s accidental involvement with a cock fight led to the understanding of what it means to be Balinese through the examination of matches that provided an insight on how Balinese society functions.