Symbolic Interactionism and Geertz Deep Play - an...

Symbolic Interactionism and Geertz’ Deep Play Symbolic interaction, one of the three main perspectives of the social sciences of Anthropology and Sociology, was thought to be first conceived by Max Weber and George Herbert Mead as they both emphasized the subjective meaning of human behavior, the social process, and the humanistic way of viewing of Anthropology and Sociology. As human behavior and socialization were observed, Mead discovered that behavior may be either overt, meaning observable, or covert, the underlying meaning that behaviors tend to imply. Symbolic interaction was further developed and basic principles and assumptions were established. The basic assumptions of Symbolic Interactionism are 1) beliefs, however†¦show more content†¦This short sequence of events reflects the second assumption of Symbolic Interaction: actions are guided by interpretation. The Balinese interpreted the Geertz’ reaction to the raid as that of being one with them; instead of asserting their higher visitor status, they c hose to follow the natives in their plight. Because of this, the Geertz’s were finally given access to the community and were able to see that which only the intimate members could see. After being accepted into the community, the Clifford Geertz was able to not only observe the cockfights up close, but to ask the natives questions regarding their traditions. According to the basic principles of Social Interactionism, in social interaction, people learn the meanings and symbols that allow them to exercise their distinctively human capacity for thought. Through asking and socializing, Geertz was able to discover the various myths and beliefs that were incorporated into Balinese cockfighting traditions, beliefs which not only reflected the cockfighting, but the entire behavioral psyche of the Balinese themselves. For example, there are various beliefs involved in the making of the tadji or the steel spurs; among these the belief that one may only make and sharpen steel spurs du ring eclipses and full moons. This tradition is reflective of yet another assumption of Symbolic Interactionism, and that is culture is