Geertz's Deep Play

Geertz’s “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” Clifford Geertz’s “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” is an essay that seeks to deal with the meaning of cockfighting in Balinese culture. Although the essay was meant for members of the academic community, it is in itself a fascinating account, description, and dissection of cockfighting’s significance in Balinese culture. This makes the essay an enjoyable read not only for those who want to understand Balinese culture, but also to laymen who want to find out why cockfighting is so important to the Balinese. In the lengthy essay, Geertz is able to not only describe cockfighting and Balinese life, but also provide insight and his expert interpretation on what cockfighting is to Balinese life. In many ways, what makes the “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” unique among many anthropological studies and ethnographies is how Geertz is able to present his topic in such a way that it is not overwhelming or tedious to a reader. In order to achieve ease of understanding, Geertz makes use of a logical flow that allows the reader to ease into the topic of Balinese cockfighting then progresses in difficulty until the end. In making use of sections that are written in different ways, Geertz is not only able to establish a logical flow,

Essentially, the sections are there so that Geertz can fill in the gaps of knowledge. As the essay progresses, the reader becomes knowledgeable about Balinese cockfighting. In a sense, the essay from start to end is a course in Balinese cockfighting that will allow the reader to keep up with the concepts Geertz presents at the end. The sections are logical, and present the different angles for understanding Balinese cockfighting. In the end, it achieves the goal of making sense of what Balinese cockfighting is and its significance to Balinese