Nurture
One of the more surprising forms of imagery in the essay is that of the care and nurturing of the fighting cocks. Geertz explains in detail how the owners of cocks treat their birds – they are fed specific and laborious diets, bathed with the same ceremony as newborn babies, and exposed to different amounts of light at particular times of the day. This imagery emphasizes the seriousness with which the Balinese take cockfighting as well as the civilized background behind what Westerners might consider a brutal form of entertainment.
The Fight
Of course, Geertz does not shy away from providing his readers with the imagery of the fight itself. He explains the intricacies of how cocks are inspected and spurs attached to their feet. He also describes the timing device used during the match – a punctured coconut in a bucket of water, which takes approximately 21 seconds to sink and denotes the time the cocks have to engage one another. Finally, Geertz describes the image of wounded and dead birds, though he pairs it with descriptions of the handlers' caring for their wounds, suggesting, once again, that brutality is not the only element on display during a match.
American Sports
Notably, Geertz makes many references to American pastimes, specifically attendance and betting related to American sports games. When one compares these descriptions of American sports spectators to Geertz's descriptions of a Balinese cockfight, they will likely notice many similarities. In fact, one might come away from the article with a greater respect for Balinese conduct during cockfights than for American fans' behavior at football games. These descriptions serve to highlight Geertz's claim that Balinese cockfighting is not only organized, but also a central part of Balinese society that, he suggests, contributes more to social progress than American sports and their entertainment value.
Masculinity
Of course, Geertz provides a number of instances of imagery related to masculinity, as Balinese men interpret fighting cocks as, if not extensions of their own bodies, then symbols of themselves and social import. Geertz focuses on the imagery of fighting and rage, of course, but also on that of honor, strength, constancy, and nurture. In so doing, he suggests that masculinity in Balinese culture is more complex than Western readers might originally perceive, just as it is across all societies where conceptions of gender have evolved.
