"Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight"

"Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight" is an essay by anthropologist Clifford Geertz that explores the cultural significance of cockfighting in Bali. Geertz interprets the fights as a symbolic expression of social status, identity, and hierarchy among Balinese men. He emphasizes how the event reflects deeper societal values and tensions, turning an everyday pastime into a complex social ritual. The essay analyzes the meanings behind the fight’s rituals, wagers, and behaviors, demonstrating how such activities serve as a mirror to Balinese society and its intricate social fabric.