Analysis

As Geertz and his wife ventured to a Balinese village, he did not know that he was going to study so intently the art of the Balinese cockfights. Geertz and his wife were able to overcome culture barriers to enter the Balinese community and observe closely something that had not been studied, the cockfights. The cockfights brought with them a chaotic atmosphere to the quiet Balinese culture. Not only did the cockfights bring entertainment and money to the community, they also hold a deeper meaning. In a country where there is gender equality, only men fight roosters. The roosters are part of the men and more importantly than running the risk of losing money is the risk that challenges the men’s honor.  Cockfights are organized to illustrate the importance of honor in the game. Everything from determining the umpire and being able to pay the bet immediately show the importance of trustworthiness and honor in the society. The deep fights involve more equal in strength roosters and attract bigger bets, but what is important for those in deep fights is honor. The shallow fights attract less money and smaller crowds but attract those who only care about the money.  They are looked down upon and are in a lower level in the stratified culture of the Balinese. Being the observer, Geertz realizes that the cock fights are a part of the culture having guidelines that everyone must follow. At the end of the day, whether you win or lose is not a drastic change in your life.  Winning or losing a cockfight will not change your social status. The cockfights are just a part of the Balinese culture and as an anthropologist Geertz has been able to observe the culture and write down his observations so others can glance into one of the aspects of the Balinese and be able to understand them

Through how a men care for his rooster one can identify the importance of the rooster to the men. As the word cockfight suggests it has a double meaning. Not only does it represent the roosters, but it represents an aspect of the men. The roosters become to symbolize the men’s honor and prestige.  The men personified the roosters by grooming them and feeding them.  They bathe them in what is equivalent to that of used in ceremonies. This is not common in a culture where animals are considered to be a representation of evil. The sculptures of demons are represented by animals. The cockfights are a bridge to the Powers of Darkness. Like the Aztecs who sacrificed their enemies each day so that the sun could rise, cockfights hold a religious purpose. The cockfights serve as way of being able to pacify the demons that threaten to destroy their lives.  

The cockfights have made the Balinese community into a stratified community. As a means of economy, the cockfights have been able to circulate the money around the village and other villages. The organizations of the cockfight bets show the stratification of the community. The deep fights are higher stakes than the shallow side bets. This is because those in the center are usually wealthier than those in the peripheral. The one center bet is surrounded by many smaller bets which is equivalent to the few wealthy and the many poor in our modern society. And just like in our society, the center bet controls how much the side bets are going to be worth. The social hierarchy made by the cockfighting puts those who just gamble for money at the bottom of the social pyramid and those who place the highest bets (deep play) are at the highest position. Those in the highest bets are regarded to have the most dignity and respect.

Furthermore there is a deeper value besides monetary value behind the cockfights. In reality the cockfights is a means of defending a man’s honor and respect. Because honor and prestige are at stake, men do anything to strengthen their bird from stuffing “its wound with various sorts of medicines” to blowing its mouth. The importance of honor is seen throughout the whole cockfight process. Men only bring their cocks to umpires who are known to have honor and respect and the center bets are given to the umpire to be held. It is very uncommon for arguments to sprout from the players. Those greedy for money are looked down upon and not seen as true cockfighters.

While one outside of the Balinese culture might see cockfights as animal cruelty, the Balinese see the fights as insight to their own lives. A lot about a person is revealed through the fights. They are like a form of art; the fights are the medium that shows the individual.  If your only purpose for participating in the cockfights is the money your greediness is exposed. The pride and loyalty is shown by betting in favor of those in your own group.  Cockfights are an evaluating experience to the men and they are able to learn by the fights.

A culture is made up of several elements that make it functional. The Balinese cockfights are only one aspect of the culture. Being in the outside of a culture, one glances inside the Balinese through Geertz’s observations. We are able to see that cockfights are not just for betting purposes and that the Balinese do not see it as animal cruelty. We are able to see the culture from the Balinese point of view. Although the culture is not defined by one element, Geertz gives awareness to one of the most important aspects of the Balinese culture.