Deep Play Quote

"Of course, like drinking during Prohibition or, today, smoking marihuana, cockfights, being a part of 'The Balinese Way of Life', nonetheless go on happening, and with extraordinary frequency."


This quote definitely stands out to me simply because the comparison of cockfighting in the Balinese culture to smoking marijuana or drinking during the prohibition is quite remarkable. I feel like Geertz uses this comparison so that we can get a better understanding of what actual value cockfighting has in their culture. Basically, these pastimes are what we choose to do, and they will continue to be enjoyed, despite their illegality, and in fact, with greater frequency. 

OWS

In the article, “Ask Not What Occupy Wall Street will do next; Ask How We Will Change The Status Quo," Fitzgerald offers us the standpoint that OWS is indeed dying down and losing momentum. The movement still remains in the eyes of the public, due to its actual successes, however, it has reached a decline in both its efforts and effectiveness.

Within the text, the author compares OWS to a reality TV series, where everyone is curious to know what the next step will be. He also compares OWS to a brand, one where everyone is caught up questioning whether it is a good thing or not, instead of pursuing the true benefits that could be reaped of the OWS efforts. Fitzgerald is basically stating that those who comprise the OWS movement are indeed fighting against the elitist 1% that have all the power and money. Fitzgerald believes that the movement is definitely reaching a halt, but that there is hope for it to reach its full potential, by resisting reification.

OWS, according to the author, is basically a movement that fights against those at Wall Street, who in turn, have all the power and wealth to do as they please. OWS serves as a vanguard to hopefully one day solving this issue, potentially from the inside out. In conclusion, Fitzgerald commends OWS for its efforts, and sees how it will challenge the status quo, and furthermore, creating a system that involves all.

Grain Reading

When reading with the grain, I believe one could say that the reader is directly trying to capture the meaning of the text as the author intended it to be. However, this doesn't mean that one should read the text without analyzing, but instead take the authors perspective in as it is. To me, reading with the grain entails a more simple form of reading, almost as if it were for pleasure, taking in the message without much critique. This is true when you are reading a novel, or watching a movie, or just reading an article for leisure. I personally like reading magazines like Men's Health, where I simply understand what the authors are talking about when it comes to fitness, and I take it as it is. There will be times, however, that I might read the same magazine "against the grain," only because sometimes I truly feel the training methods being described are incorrect.

When reading against the grain, we are literally taking a text and analyzing in every way or form that comes to mind. It is as if one were to read a text, and knowingly take on the role of having to interpret it in various forms. This links back to being a strong reader. There are certain professions that require one to read against the grain, and not just to take the text for what it is and what the author has to say. Instead, doubting and questioning what the text is providing is crucial when reading against the grain. As a political scientist, I am constantly watching the news, reading newspaper articles as well as magazines, and in all of this, I must approach these texts cautiously. I can't simply take the authors word, and believe what they are saying.

Strong Reading

I believe strong reading can be understood as taking a text and analyzing it in various forms, being able to perceive all the different points of views it offers (or can be interpreted in). A strong reader is one who will take reading to the next level, and not just unravel the rhetorical sense of texts. Instead, the reader should take time to realize the different angles that the text offers, and be creative when understanding what is being read.