Topic: Cultural Text (Balinese Cockfight)
Source:Robbins Richard,Cultural Anthro,pg 21-22
Relation:"The Balinese cockfight is above all about status,about the ranking of people...The Balinese cockfight is a text filled with meaning about status as the Balinese see it. Cocks represent men, or, more specifically, their owners."
Description: In Bali there are certain cultural aspects that we may not understand. Such as the Balinese cockfight where two roosters of opposing villages go into battle till' death. In a circle men gather and place sharp knives on each roosters and make them fight each other. The surviving rooster is considered the winner. Geertz sees these fights as an art form, he believes "it tells something real about their lives in a way that doesn't directly affect their lives".The cockfighting are representing the men. The fight is usually a representation of status.
Commentary/Analysis: In some countries cockfighting is legal and seen as a sport where high amounts of money are at stake.Then there are other countries were cockfighting is illegal and seen as a cruel treatment of animals. A friend of mine completely disagrees with this practice. She does not care that it is a cultural thing, she says that animals shouldn't be treated in that way and that the roosters don't willingly fight each other. I question if it has lost its cultural significance and why the people bet on such things. I acknowledge this as a cultural event yet i still find it difficult to fully comprehend such actions.
Humans have manipulated animals for decades, desiring the thrill of taming the wild beast. Both cockfighting and dog fighting have shown clear evidence of this. They use these animals to value their worth in the ring. If you have a weak rooster or dog, then you are also a timid man incapable of dealing with the struggles in life. Instead of having their own individual lives, these animals become symbols.
ReplyDeleteNormally, symbols are expressed through objects such as signs and hand motions. Instead, these man will use the birds to vouch for them. This, in my opinion, is cruel. The sport has become illegal for humane reasons yet people continue to participate in it. When we will we mark our progress simply by our actions only? This insanity needs to stop. Animals shouldn't be used as symbols. They are individual beings just like us.
Belen,
ReplyDeleteI also chose to write about the balinese cockfighting on my blog and I really like how you incorporated yours and your friends thoughts and perspective towards cockfighting. I think that you should have also included how we might not see their cultural traditions as ethical or right but when they see some of our american traditions they as well don't think ours are ethical or right. But I do agree with you that living animals should be treated in such a way when they have no say or opportunity to get away from it. Incorporating some information about dog fighting in America would have been a nice addition to strength then your blog post.
Misty Lawson