“Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” – Clifford Geertz
An essay by the anthropologist Clifford Geertz. This work is seminal in its study of South East Asian agonistic, gambled practices, beautifully written and full of insight into the logic & meaning in provincial gambled Muay Thai, even though it is on Balinese Cockfighting in the 1950s.
This thread explores the essay’s insight into traditional Muay Thai: Muay Thai Scene as Rite: Sacrifice, Combat Sports, Loser as Sacred Victim
“Muay Thai – Inventing Tradition for a National Symbol” – Peter Vail
Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, Volume 29, Number 3, November 2014, pp. 509-553. One of the best, comprehensive articles on Muay Thai history and its role in Thai National identity, written by a foremost academic author on the sport. download the PDF here