Men and cockfight through the lens of multispecies ethnography: from the symbolism of masculinity to multispecies collaboration

ABSTRACT

This paper calls for another perspective on cockfight and the symbolism of masculinity. Previous research on cockfighting has its own perspective and interesting findings, one such work on the matter was that of Geertz who focused on the symbolism of cockfighting within the context of Balinese culture. I argue that, as anthropological studies develop a number of anthropological approaches that produce a more holistic ethnography also evolve. One of them is multispecies ethnography. This approach places culture and nature on one equal level of analysis.

This research involves Kampung Laut People in Segara Anakan, Indonesia. The data is collected through observation and in-depth interviews through the ‘art of noticing’ method.

The findings of this research show a different perspective in understanding the practice of cockfighting through interspecies collaboration. In terms of scientific contributions, this paper introduces a multispecies ethnographic approach as another approach to understanding the socio-cultural phenomenon of cockfighting and human interactions with non-human species. This perspective complements Geertz’s symbolic cultural perspective. In terms of its contribution to humanitarian issues, the holistic multispecies perspective employed within this research advocates for a balanced interrelation between humans and other species in creating a sustainable ecological system.

KEYWORDS:

• Symbolic
• cultural
• masculinity
• cockfight
• multispecies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. This approach encourages the revision of the dichotomy of the symbolic cultural approach (qualitative, meaningful and reasonable) with a positivist approach (quantitative, causal explanation and testing) (Tholen, 2018). This topic was reviewed by Tholen (2018). This paper does not discuss the dichotomization of the positive falsification approach and the symbolic cultural approach.

2. Geertz understood cockfighting in the context of Balinese culture as a symbol that represents the social status and masculinity of Balinese men as well as a reflection of their views on Balinese culture through an cultural-symbolic perspective (Geertz, 2005). Balinese cockfight is a representation of war for Balinese men because they are actually gamble and risk their social status, caste, honour, and so on (Geertz, 2005). All these things and their masculinity are symbolised by their fighting cocks. Geertz’s perspective in understanding Balinese cockfighting is anthropocentric, has an unclear explanation, and leaves many questions among scientists who observe cockfighting (Martin, 1993). Multispecies perspective has a different understanding on cockfight as it pays attention to non-human species.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prihandoko Sanjatmiko

Prihandoko Sanjatmiko Lecturer and researcher at the Department of Anthropology, Universitas Indonesia. Conducted research .on Orang Kampung Laut, Segara Anakan Indonesia, since 2013.