Geertz Summary

            In the article, “Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfights,” Geertz remarks on his experience of living with the Balinese, absorbing their culture, and trying to identify the significance of the cockfights that happen so readily there. A remarkable style of writing is implemented that almost appears that if he is crafting a journal entry for a local newspaper; however, it goes so much “deeper” than just that. The entire summary of this article stems from the title, specifically the words “ Deep play,” which branches out to describing the cockfights; he mentions how they take on an art form in an unusual manner that so perfectly describes the unique, and somewhat odd, culture of the Balinese.

            Due to the complexity of this article, it would be silly to try and take everything that Geertz says for face value, behind his well sought out anthropological arguments are “deeper” meanings. Geertz is really trying to strike chords with the reader and get his audience to truly understand what the complex network around the cockfight is truly a symbol. In his case it is a symbol for their culture, even though the society functions on a full 180-degree turn from what goes on with the fights, the connections can be made.

            It is easy to get lost in the complex wording, difficult vocabulary, and what seems like endless footnotes; however, an astute audience can get past all that and realize the message Geertz is convey. The Balinese culture is akin to an art form that is the cockfight, which at first glance seems like an unreasonable correlation, but the correlation does exist. One has to look past the strict guidelines of the day to day social life and analyze the instance where the rules of life fall by the way side and let the art be interpreted “deeply” to understand them, the true point being made by Geertz.