Final answer:
Deep play refers to activities with high stakes that have significant symbolic or social meaning, such as Balinese cockfighting, where betting, social status, and emotional investment enhance the depth and cultural significance of the matches.
Step-by-step explanation:
‘Deep play’ is a concept in anthropology used to describe a type of play or ritual that has an extraordinarily high stakes for the players, such that the level of engagement has a profound symbolic or social impact. The term was first coined by anthropologist Clifford Geertz, who used it to describe the Balinese cockfight in his essay ‘Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight’. In the context of Balinese culture, cockfighting is not merely an animal sport; it is deeply intertwined with the social fabric and rituals of the community. The factors that make a match “deeper” include the amount of money wagered, the social status of the participants, and the emotional investment of both participants and spectators. The intensity and impact of the event escalate as the wagers increase and the social standing of the betters becomes more prominent, reflecting the Balinese societal structure and relationships.