Author imitation
“Today, a few special occasions aside, the newer rectitude makes so open a statement of the connection between the excitements of collective life and those of blood sport impossible, but, less directly expressed, the connection itself remains intimate and intact. To expose it, however, it is necessary to turn to the aspect of cockfighting around which all the others pivot, and through which they exercise their force, an aspect I have thus far studiously ignored. I mean, of course, the gambling.” from “Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfight” by Clifford Geertz
I really admire Clifford Geertz’s style of writing ethnographies, mostly because of his thick description. He is well known for that type of writing, and I think it makes for a very interesting and easy to read ethnography. I can also picture exactly what he sees, everything from the participants, to the setting, to the activities and even the chickens. He wrote about a great experience for anyone, but especially for an anthropologist. His work, however, doesn’t seem like the work of a researcher, but more of a visitor and eventually an insider, which is also refreshing to read because it makes it easier to follow and enjoy.
Morgan