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Bullfighting
*** Shopping-Tip: Bullfighting
Image:Malaga Arena2004.jpg thumb|400px|right|Bull ring ('''''Plaza de Toros''''') in [[Málaga (
Spain)]]
'''Bullfighting''' or '''tauromachy''' (
Spanish language Spanish '''''toreo''''', ''corrida de toros'' or ''tauromaquia'';
Portuguese language Portuguese '''''tourada''''', ''corrida de touros'' or ''tauromaquia'') is a tradition that involves, most of the time, professional performers (generally called in Spanish ''toreros'' or ''
matadores'' and in Portuguese ''toureiros'') who execute various formal moves with the goal of appearing graceful and confident, while masterful over the
bull itself; these maneuvers are performed at close range, concluding (in Spanish-style bullfighting) with the
death of the bull by a well-placed
sword thrust as the finale.
It is a
ritual spectacle that is usually designated by insiders as an art, by others as a
sport, as tallies are kept for the purpose of ranking the bullfighters. The art of bullfighting requires a significant degree of skill and talent, resulting in the widely held view of matadors as national celebrities.
The practice generates heated
controversy in many areas of the world, including
Spain where the "classic" bullfighting was born.
Origins
Image:Fresque Mithra Doura Europos.jpg thumb|350px|right|Mithras killing a bull.
Bullfighting may trace its roots to
Minoan civilization Minoan Crete, where the
bull-leaping ritual practiced by youths of both sexes is memorialized in the famous wall-frescos at
Knossos. However, the frescos offer no hint of struggle or violence, and the
bull (mythology) Lunar Bull was a sacred animal commemorated in ritual and legends such as that of the
Minotaur. Modern archaeologists tend to emphasize the danger involved in this athletic skill and may underestimate the extent to which the bull cooperated. French ethnologist
Dominique Aubier considers that there is no relationship between the Greek sacrifice which is an agricultural ritualistic celebration and the bullfight which is in Spain of pure paleontological hunting origins.
A more likely explaination is found in the worship of
Mithras in the pre-Christian
Roman Empire. The killing of the sacred bull (
tauromachy) is the essential central iconic act of
Mithras, which was commemorated in the
mithraeum wherever Roman soldiers were stationed. Many of the oldest bullrings in
Spain are located on the sites of, or adjacent to the locations of temples to Mithras.
Bullfighting is often linked to ancient
Roman Empire Rome, when many human-versus-animal events were held as a warm-up for gladiatorial sports. Alternatively, it may have been introduced into Spain by the
Moors in the 11th century, although there are theories that it was introduced into Spain a millennium earlier by the Emperor
Claudius when he instituted a short-lived ban on gladiatorial games as a substitute for those combats. The latter theory was supported by
Robert Graves. In its original Moorish and early Spanish form, the bull was fought from horseback using a javelin. (Picadors are the remnants of this tradition, but their role in the contest is now a relatively minor one limited to "preparing" the bull for the matador.) Bullfighting spread from Spain to its Central and South American colonies, and also in the 19th century to France, where it developed into a distinctive form in its own right.
In the 18th century, the Spanish introduced the practice of fighting on foot,
Francisco Romero generally being regarded as having been the first to do this, about 1726. The modern style of Spanish bullfighting is credited to
Juan Belmonte, generally considered the greatest matador of all time, who introduced a daring and revolutionary style which kept him almost constantly within a few inches of the bull. Although extremely dangerous (Belmonte himself was gored on many occasions), his style is still seen by most matadors as the ideal to be emulated.
Styles of bullfighting
Originally, there were at least five distinct regional styles of bullfighting practiced in southwestern Europe:
Andalucia,
Aragon-
Navarre,
Alentejo,
Camargue,
Aquitaine. Today, these styles evolved more or less into standardised national forms mentioned below. The "classic" style of bullfighting which comes to most peoples' minds, where the bull is killed, is the form practiced in Spain and many Latin American countries.
Spanish
Image:CorridaTorosDesfile.JPG thumb|right|250px|Starting a corrida (un paseÃllo)
Spanish-style bullfighting is called a ''corrida de toros.'' (literally a "running of bulls", the name being derived from the
past participle of the Spanish verb ''correr'', "to run"). In a traditional ''corrida'', three ''toreros,''also called ''matadores'' or, in French, ''toreadores,'' each fight two out of a total of six bulls, each of which is at least four years old and weighs up to about 600kg (with a minimum weight limit of 460 kg for the bullrings of the first degree). Bullfighting season in Spain runs from March to October. The fights that attract most spectators are the ones held during
fiesta patronal fiestas patronales. The most prestigious of such fights is held for the fiesta of
San Isidro in
Madrid.
Each matador has six assistants — two ''picadores'' ("lancers") mounted on horseback, three ''banderilleros'', and a ''mozo de espada'' ("sword servant"). Collectively they comprise a ''cuadrilla'' or team of bullfighters. However, the whole crew includes also an ''ayuda'' (aide to sword servant) and at least two ''peones'' (pages, singular ''peón''). There are also the ''areneros'' (arena personnel): ''Alguacilillo'' (there are two men of this title who represent the presiding dignitary on the ground and apply his orders) and a number of servants named ''monosabios'' (they are in charge of the ring after each individual fight but their most active participation is when they help the picador and his mount on foot) and ''mulilleros'' (they lead the set of
mules that drags out the bull's body after the corrida).
Image:Bull attacks matador.jpg left|thumb|250px|Bullfighter engaging the bull with a capote
The ''corrida'' is highly ritualized, with three distinct parts or ''tercios'', start of each announced with a
trumpet sound. The participants first enter the arena in a parade or ''paseÃllo'' to salute the presiding dignitary; ''presidente'', accompanied by band music. The ritual is a key factor, for example: The oldest matador goes to the far left, and the newest will be in the middle. If a matador is new in the Plaza, where the bullfight is taking place, he will do the "paseÃllo" without his hat on. Torero costumes are inspired by 18th century Andalusian clothing. Matadores are easily distinguished by their spectacular and quite costly "suit of lights" (''traje de luces'').
Next, the bull enters the ring to be tested for ferocity by the ''matador'' and ''banderilleros'' with pink and gold capes. Bulls are raised by specialist breeding estates called ''ganaderÃas''. Each bull is recorded delicately with its name, weight, and age to profile the estates. The bull enters the arena with a rosette on its back bearing the colours of the estate it belongs to. For example, Miura colours are green-black in
Madrid and green-blue in the provinces. Estate owner is represented by a ''mayoral'' and if their bulls display an exceptional performance, in the end, he will be invited to share a lap around the ring with toreros.
Image:Picador.JPG right|thumb|250px|Picador
In the first stage, the '''tercio de varas''' ("Lances third"), the behavior of the bull is observed by the matador by the way the bull behaves in the arena and how he attacks the capes, when banderilleros play with the bull with their capes. Then the matador goes and confronts his rival. If he performs with art and courage, he will be rewarded with an ovation. This initial section is called ''suerte de capote'' ("act of cape"). Then two picadors enter the arena, armed with lances or ''rejones''. Each is mounted on a heavily armoured and blindfolded
horse of extremely large stature. The bull is encouraged to attack the horse, which is well protected by its armour and generally treats the attack with stoic patience. The picador stabs the bull with his lance to weaken it, often leading to a considerable loss of blood on the part of the bull. The idea is to weaken the bull, making it possible for a matador on foot at the end of the bullfight to attempt to stab the bull with a sword between the bull's shoulder blades. The audience often objects to excessive use of the lance, as this is seen as making the fight too one-sided.
Image:Suerte de banderillas.jpg thumb|275px|left|The '''tercio de banderillas'''
In the next stage, the '''tercio de banderillas''' ("banderillas third"), the three banderilleros each attempt to plant two coloured,
harpoon-pointed sticks (''banderillas'', literally "little flag") on the bull's flanks. These further weaken through loss of blood the enormous ridges of neck and shoulder muscle which set fighting bulls apart from ordinary cattle, while also frequently spurring the bull into making more ferocious charges. The placing of the banderillas is also the last chance to correct or fine tune the charging tendencies of the bull. Some of the more skilled matadors will often do this themselves. If the bull proves to be extraordinarily weak or unwilling to fight, the presidente may order, to the disgrace of the breeder, the use of black banderillas.
In the final stage, the '''tercio de muerte''' ("death third"), the matador re-enters the ring alone with a small red cape or ''muleta'' in one hand and a sword in the other. Having dedicated the bull to an individual or the whole audience, he uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes, both demonstrating his control over it and risking his life by getting especially close to it. The red colour of the cape is a matter of tradition, as bulls are actually
color blindness colour blind. There are a number of distinct styles of pass, each with its own name. For instance, the ''
Verónica (bullfighting) verónica'' is a pass in which the matador slowly swings the cape away from the charging bull while keeping his feet in the same position. The ''
faena'' is the final series of passes before the kill, in which the matador with a muleta attempts to manoeuvre the bull into a position to stab it between the shoulder blades and through the heart. This section before killing the bull is called ''suerte de muleta'' ("act of muleta").
Image:Toroencorrida.JPG right|thumb|250px|Bull in the arena with banderillas on flanks
The act of thrusting the sword (''estoca''), thought to require particular skills, is called an ''estocada''. The matador must begin the estocada fifteen minutes after the first muleta pass, at most. If he exceeds this limited time, the presidente will give an order to have the bull returned to its pen (''corral''). A clumsy estocada that fails to give a "quick and clean death" will often raise loud protests from the crowd and may ruin the whole performance. If estocada is not successful the matador must then perform a ''descabello'' and cut the bull's
spinal cord with a second sword called ''verdugo'', to kill it instantly and spare the animal pain. Although the matador's final blow is usually fatal, it may take the bull some time to die. A ''coup de grâce'' is therefore administered by a peón named a ''puntillero'', using a dagger to further pierce the spinal cord.
Image:Matador.JPG 250px|left|thumb|Matador in the '''tercio de muerte'''
The bull's body is dragged out by a set of galloping mules. If the presidente is impressed by the performance of the bull, he orders a tour around the ring to honour the animal. Very occasionally, a bull will be allowed to survive a fight as an indulgence granted in recognition of an exceptional performance. The spectators will demand an ''indulto'' from the presidente, by waving handkerchiefs, before the estocada. The matador will stop and look at the presidente. If he stands still, he will resume his action and kill the bull. But if he has an orange handkerchief hung on his balcony, the matador will imitate the estocada with a banderilla and the bull will be "freed". Such bulls are generally retired from competition and raised as studs, as their experience in the ring makes them extremely dangerous opponents.
A ''trofeo'' (trophy) is the usual indicator of a successful faena. When the records of bullfights are kept, trofeos earned by the matador are always mentioned. If the crowd demands, the matador is allowed to take a lap of victory around the ring. If more than or about half the spectators petition the presidente by waving handkerchiefs, the presidente is obliged to award the matador with one ear of the bull. To award the matador with another ear or with two ears and the tail; ''los máximos trofeos'', depends solely on the presidente's appreciation. The matador who won at least two ears is given the permission to be carried on the shoulders of the admirers (''salida en hombros'').
Although most of the fights take the form described above, ''
mano-a-mano'' corridas where two matadores fight three bulls each in competition are also held. There are also events named ''novilladas'' where younger bulls (''novillos'') and apprentice toreros (''novilleros'') are involved.
'''Other lesser spectacles'''
'''Professional'''
* The ''rejoneo'' — A rider on horseback (a ''rejoneador'') tries to stab three colourful javelins called ''rejones de castigo'' on the bull's back and in the final stage, kills the bull with a lance called ''rejón de muerte,'' also in some occasions the ''rejoneador'' will kill the bull on foot by the traditional way with muleta and estoca.
* The ''recortadores'' — Where a bullfighter dodges around the bull and does not use a cape or sword [http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/06/20/1119250922406.html]. Bulls are not killed during this type of bullfight. Most specialists of bullfighting of this art come from
Aragon.
* Comedy spectacles, such as ''
El bombero torero y los enanitos toreros'' ("The bullfighting fireman and the bullfighting dwarfs").
'''Amateur'''
* The ''encierro'' — A "running" of the bulls in the streets, in which youths compete to outrun the charging bulls. Originally, it was the moving of the bulls from the pen to the ''plaza''. The most famous are
San FermÃn those of Pamplona in July.
* The ''Toro de la Vega'' — in September at
Tordesillas. A bull is carried to an open terrain by the river. There a crowd (on foot and on horse) tries to kill it with lances. Considered as an ''espectáculo tradicional'' (traditional spectacle) by the government of
Castilla y León.
* The ''vaquillas'' (''sokamuturra'' in
Basque language Basque) — A young cow is freed in a small ring (often built for the period of the festival and then dismantled)among local youths who tease her. The cow may have a dangling rope for recovery purposes.
**A Mediterranean variation is placed on a dock. When youths are cornered, they jump into the water.
**Another variation is the nightly ''
toro de fuego'' ("fire bull"). Balls of flammable material are placed on the horns, frightening the bull. Nowadays the bull is often substituted by a runner carrying a chassis on which fireworks are lit. Dodgers run to avoid the sparks.
Before the diffusion of modern sports premises, bull rings were used in the
Basque Country for challenges of
resistance running. The public made bets on the number of laps the runner could make. No bulls were involved.
French
Since the 19th century Spanish-style ''corridas'' have been increasingly popular in
Southern France, particularly during holidays such as
Whitsun or
Easter. Among France's most important venues for bullfighting are the ancient Roman arenas of Nîmes and Arles, although there are bull rings across the South from the Mediterrannean to the Atlantic coasts. A more indigenous form of bullfighting is widely popular in the
Provence and
Languedoc regions, and is known alternately as "course libre" or "course camarguaise". This is a bloodless spectacle (for the bulls) in which the objective is to snatch a rosette from the head of a young bull.
Image:Cause camarguaise.jpg thumb|300px|A young razeteur flees from a bull
The participants, or ''razeteurs'', begin training in their early teens against young bulls from the
Camargue region of Provence before graduating to regular contests held principally in
Arles and
Nîmes but also in other Provençal and Languedoc towns and villages. Before the ''course'', an ''encierro'' – a "running" of the bulls in the streets – takes place, in which young men compete to outrun the charging bulls. The ''course'' itself takes place in a small (often portable) arena erected in a town square. For a period of about 15-20 minutes, the ''razeteurs'' compete to snatch rosettes or tassels off the bulls. Afterwards, the bulls are herded back to their pen by ''gardians'' (Camarguais
cowboys) in a ''bandido'', amidst a great deal of ceremony. The star of these spectacles are the bulls, who get top billing and stand to gain fame and statues in their honor.
Although the ''course camarguaise'' does not end in the death of the bull, it is at least as dangerous to the human contestants as a ''corrida''. At one point it resulted in so many fatalities that the French government tried to ban it, but had to back down in the face of local opposition. The bulls themselves are also fairly small ones, much less imposing than the adult bulls employed in the ''corrida''. Nonetheless, the bulls remain dangerous because of their mobility and impressive, vertically formed horns. Participants and spectators share the risk; it is not unknown for angry bulls to smash their way through barriers and charge the surrounding crowd of spectators.
Another type of French bullfighting is ''course landaise'' popular in
Landes. In this style, cows of the same breed of cattle are used instead of bulls. This is a competition between teams named ''cuadrillas'', which belong to certain breeding estates. A cuadrilla is made up of a ''teneur de corde'', an ''entraîneur'', a ''sauteur'', and six ''écarteurs''. The cows are brought to the arena in boxes and then taken out in order. Teneur de corde controls the dangling rope attached to cow's horns and the entraîneur positions the cow to face and attack the player. The écarteurs will try to dodge around the cow in the latest instance possible and the sauteur will leap over it. Each team aims to complete a set of at least one hundred dodges and eight leaps. This is the main scheme of the "classic" form, the ''course landaise formelle''. However, different rules may be applied in some competitions. For example, competitions for Coupe Jeannot Lafittau is arranged with cows without ropes. Although it may be seen not a dangerous sport by many, a death to note is the one of écarteur Jean-Pierre Rachou who died in 2003 when a cow's horn tore his
femoral artery.
Portuguese
The Portuguese now practice a type of bloodless bullfighting which is in many respects different from its original form. A Portuguese ''corrida de touros'' has three main events:
* ''Cavaleiro'' - A horseman (rider), dressed in traditional 18th century costumes fights the bull from horseback. The horses are
List of horse breeds Portuguese Lusitanians, specially trained for the fights. These horses are usually skilled in ''
dressage'' and may exhibit their art in the arena. The purpose of this fight is to stab three or four ''bandarilhas'' (small
spear javelins) in the back of the bull. Horseback bullfighters are usually members of old aristocratic families.
* ''Bandarilheiros'' - Akin to the Spanish ''matadores'' (see above), but without the sword. These men simply play the bull with a red coat.
* ''Forcados'' - The forcados are a group of eight men who challenge the bull directly, without any protection or weapon of defense. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a ''pega de touros'' (bull catch). The front man secures the animal's head (usually it is a violent choke) and is quickly aided by his fellows who surround and secure the animal until he is subdued. Forcados were usually people from lower classes who practice their art through amateur associations.
Image:Forcados.jpg thumb|300px|Forcados in a "pega de touros"
The bull is not killed in the ring and the fight is accordingly referred to as a "bloodless bullfight". After these three sets, the bull is removed from the arena alive and is sometimes killed, away from the audience's sight, by a professional butcher. More often than not, many bulls are entered into other events, such as
rodeos in California, or released to pasture until their end days. Nevertheless, tradition was so strong at the small town of
Barrancos, where the bull was illegally put to death in the arena, that the government was forced to relent and permit the town to follow its ancient ''matador'' tradition and kill the bull in the arena. There are many forms of traditional, popular bullfighting in Portugal, differing from the "official" version, some of which involve groups of people doing a tug-of-war with young bulls, by holding large wooden structures into which the animals charge. In the
Azores, bullfighting is often remniscent of the running of the bulls in
Pamplona, Spain, in which those most at risk are human beings, not the bulls themselves.
In Portugal, some bulls have their horns severed in a way that they do not present sharp points. This practice is believed to have been introduced by King
Joseph I of Portugal after a tragic event in a bullfight he was presiding. The son and heir of the
Marquis of Marialva was fighting a bull on horseback when the animal wounded his horse. The young man fell, was kicked by the bull and killed. The Marquis himself, then around 70 years of age, jumped from the royal cabin that he shared with the king, drew his sword and killed the animal.
Also in Portugal, the main stars of bullfighting are the ''cavaleiros'', as opposed to Spain, where the ''matadores'' are the most prominent bullfighters.
Bullfights are not accepted in some parts of Portuguese society, as it is in some parts of Spanish society, and to that extent, has seen a decline in the number of spectators in those sectors. However, southern regions such as
Ribatejo and
Alentejo, and the Azores are traditionally more interested in the ''corrida de touros'', than Portugal's central and northern regions, where it has little presence. Part of this decline is traceable, for good or bad, to the homogenization and uniform moral subjectivity of
Culture of Europe European culture and ethical standards.
Cultural aspects of bullfighting
Image:mosaik.jpg left|thumb|300px|Artistic representation of a bullfight
Many supporters of bullfighting regard it as a deeply ingrained integral part of their national cultures. The aesthetic of bullfighting is based on the interaction of the man and the bull. Rather than a competitive sport, the bullfight is more of a ritual which is judged by ''aficionados'' (bullfighting fans) based on artistic impression and command.
Ernest Hemingway said of it in his 1932 novel ''
Death in the Afternoon'': "Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honour."
The bullfight is above all about the demonstration of style and courage by its participants. While there is usually no doubt about the outcome, the bull is not viewed as a sacrificial victim — it is instead seen by the audience as a worthy contestant, deserving of respect in its own right. If a matador is particularly poor, the audience may shift its support to the bull and cheer it on instead. A hapless matador may find himself being pelted with seat cushions as he makes his exit.
Image:Edouard Manet 063.jpg thumb|300px|''Bullfighting'', [[Edouard Manet,
1865-
1866.]]
The audience looks for the matador to display an appropriate level of style and courage, and for the bull to display aggression and determination. For the matador, this means performing skillfully in front of the bull, often turning his back on it to demonstrate his mastery over the animal. The skill with which he delivers the fatal blow is another major point to look for. A skillful matador will achieve it in one stroke. Two is barely acceptable, while more than two is a botched job.
The moment when the matador kills the bull is the most dangerous point of the entire fight, as it requires him to reach between the horns, head on, to deliver the blow. Matadors are at the greatest risk of suffering a goring at this point. Gorings are not uncommon and the results can be fatal. Many bullfighters have met their deaths on the horns of a bull, including one of the most celebrated of all time,
Manolete, who was killed by a bull named
Islero, raised by
Miura.
If the matador has done particularly well, he will be given a standing ovation by the crowd, who wave white handkerchiefs and sometimes throw hats and roses into the arena to show their appreciation. Occasionally, if the bull has done particularly well, it will get the same treatment as its body is towed out of the ring (although an even greater honor is for the bull to be allowed to survive due to an exceptional performance). The successful matador will be presented with colours to mark his victory and will often also receive one or two severed ears, and even the tail of the bull depending on the quality of his performance.
Spanish bullfighting is a traditionally male sport. A very small number of women have been matadors, a recent example being
Cristina Sánchez, but they have experienced considerable resistance and hostility from aficionados and other matadors.
Social aspects
In the era of mounted bullfighting, it was a sport of nobility like
jousting. The introduction of ground fighting allowed commoners to practise it. It became a means for poor people to achieve fame and fortune. When a famous ''torero'' was asked why he risked his life, he reportedly answered ''Más cornada da el hambre'' ("Hunger hits harder with its horns").
The ''maletilla'' or ''espontáneo'' was a poor person who illegally jumped into the ring trying to show that he could bullfight before being taken away. Bull breeders have extensive properties (generally in
Andalusia,
Extremadura or
Castilla-La Mancha) where the bulls are raised
free-range. They try to
artificial selection select cattle with a characteristic combination of intelligence, strength and attack-proneness. Often a star matador buys a ranch where he retires rich to breed his own pedigreed bulls. The bullfighting season coincides in each city with the local yearly festivals. Often the ''plazas'' are run by
charity charities. After especially shocking disasters, charity ''corridas'' are organized.
Influence in art
The ''corrida'' happens to the tune of live-played
Paso Dobles. Many of them were composed to honour famous ''toreros''.
Bullfighting is seen as a symbol of
Spanish culture Spanish character. It has inspired
Francisco de Goya,
Georges Bizet,
Vicente Blasco Ibáñez,
Julio Romero de Torres,
Pablo Picasso,
Salvador DalÃ,
Ernest Hemingway,
Federico GarcÃa Lorca,
Cantinflas,
Pedro Almodóvar,
Fernando Botero, among many Spanish and foreign artists.
Criticisms of bullfighting
Image:Valenciabullfightposter.jpg thumb|right|200px|Poster advertising a bullfight in [[Valencia]]
Bullfighting has for many years been a controversial activity; it is widely reviled outside Spain (and increasingly within it) as a gratuitously cruel
blood sport.
Animal welfare campaigners object strongly to bullfighting because they think that animal should not be killed or abused for entertainment. Some also think that the bull suffers severe stress or a slow, painful death. Bullfighting is banned in many countries; people taking part in such activity would be liable for terms of imprisonment for
animal cruelty. "Bloodless" variations, though, are permitted and have attracted a following in
California. It is notable that Spanish laws against cruelty to animals have abolished most archaic spectacles that had involved animals while including specific exceptions for bullfighting.
Animal welfare supporters believe that such exemptions were passed because legislators were worried that prosecutions of bullfighting would otherwise take place.
A number of
animal rights or
animal welfare activist groups undertake anti-bullfighting actions in Spain and other countries. In Spanish, opposition to bullfighting is referred to (somewhat inaccurately) as ''taurofobia''. Some separatists despise bullfighting because of its association with the Spanish nation and its blessing by the
Francisco Franco Franco regime as the ''fiesta nacional''. However, even a former
Basque people Basque Batasuna leader was a ''novillero'' before becoming a politician.
Barcelona came out a few years ago with a complete ban of all kinds of bullfighting in the
Catalunya region as a signal of advancement and distinction along with the coming of the International Forum of Culture, and, after voting, was declared an Anti-bullfighting City - during a public event in front of Barcelona City Hall.
Catalan nationalism naturally played an important role in this decision. Bullfighting has also been banned in the
Canary Islands.
English-speaking critics often confuse the tauromachia with the coarse entertainment of "
bull-baiting" formerly popular in
Britain, in which packs of specially-bred
bulldogs were loosed upon a bull confined within a ring or even tethered to a stake. Bull-baiting was a rustic and lower-class entertainment until the 1830s, when increased sensitivity to animal suffering made it objectionable to the governing classes and it was outlawed. Opponents of the tauromachia respond that elite social status accorded to a blood sport or ritual does not automatically excuse it.
"Cheating" Against the Bull
Critics of bullfights charge that, in addition to the treatment meted out to the bull in the ring, it is may be mistreated in other ways immediately before the contest — for instance:
*The horns are filed down, ostensibly to remove the bull's ability to aim properly. Sometimes called barbering or afeitado.
*Petroleum jelly is put in the bull's eyes to weaken its sight.
*Heavy sacks are dropped on the bull's kidneys to make it wilder.
*Sometimes, the bull is tranquilized.
Image:Bullfighting advertisement Graffited Leganes 2005-08-12.jpg thumb|left|250px|Poster advertising a bullfight in [[Leganés Graffited.]]
However, these views are not widely supported in the countries where Spanish-style bullfighting is practiced; the argument is that bulls are bred for the ring and live well before they are killed, living much better and freer than meat
cattle.
Responses to Opposition
Part of the "artistic" impression of a ''corrida'' is based on the perception of "cleanliness" of the kill; prolonged suffering is regarded as part of a very poor performance, and experienced bullfighters are able to avoid it. Some claim that the highest form of "Airs above Ground" (a component of the most famous form of
Spanish Riding School Lippizan horse training) at one time was bullfighting, to use all the high precision movements learnt in the school to evade the bull and have its rider spear it was deemed the most dangerous and difficult move of all. In the modern day, the Spanish Riding School does not train horses for bullifighting. Abuses to the bull that make it less apt to fight are regarded by many aficionados as scandalous, but abuses that make it more apt to fight are not regarded in such a fashion.
Economic reasons also may prevent mistreatment. Bull breeders invest their money in growing up the bulls and their financial stability depends on their bulls performance. If bulls are mistreated it will be obvious for the bullfight public plus the bull's conduct will be harmed probably making it weaker, more distractable, etc. The bull's attitude is essential for the correct ongoing of the bullfight. Breeders work with most of the events where their bulls will be killed, and are the first to complain if they notice they have been harmed in any way previous to the bullfight that might damage the bull's entertainment value.
There is a type of aficionado named ''torista''. A torista concentrates on the fighting abilities, courage, and stamina of each bull. If an expert torista spots a bull obviously weakened or mistreated before the fight, this will be a bad reputation for not only the breeder but also for all people in charge of the corrida.
Famous bullfighters
*
Juan Belmonte
*
Manolete
*
El Cordobés
*
Luis Miguel DominguÃn
* Julian López 'El Juli'
* David Fandila 'El Fandi'
*
Enrique Ponce
*
Eulalio López 'El Zotoluco'
*
César Rincón
*
Eloy Cavazos
*
Manolo MartÃnez
*
Fran Rivera Ordóñez
*
Paquirri
*
Paco Camino
*
José Mari Manzanares
*
Pedro Gutiérrez Moya 'El Niño de la Capea'
*
Joel Landis 'El Magnifico'
Bullfighting Terms
-
Bullfighting Dictionary in French.
See also
*
Bullring
*
Faena
*
List of bullfighters
*
Jallikattu - Bullfighting in
Tamilnadu a state in
south India
External links
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Bullfight.es (Bullfight resource and guide)
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Corrida.tv (in French)
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California Bloodless Bullfights :: Portuguese Style
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Forcados :: Portuguese Style
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La Corrida on Yucatan Today
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The secret codification of the spanish corrida
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Mundo Taurino, a complete guide to bullfighting
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Asociación para la defensa del animal, a Spanish anti-bullfighting group
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Anti-bullfighting page, with picture and video galleries showing the cruelty behind bullfights
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Bullfighting in Andalucia
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The cruelties of bullfighting. Created by two children of 11 and 10, but nonetheless very well-organized and adult-level.
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Traditional Bullfighting in Yucatan as it's been practiced since XVI century with no change since then
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Photos of Female Bullfighters in Spain Photo essay about Spanish female bullfighters by photojournalist Natsuko Utsumi.
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Images off the Traditional Bullfighting in Yucatan
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Category:Blood sports
Category:Portuguese culture
Category:Spanish culture
Category:French culture
Category:Peruvian culture
ca:Tauromà quia
cs:BýÄ?à zápasy
da:Tyrefægtning
de:Stierkampf
es:Corrida de toros
eo:Toreo
fi:Härkätaistelu
fr:Tauromachie
he:מלחמת שוורי×?
lt:Korida
nl:Stierenvechten
ja:闘牛
pl:Korrida
pt:Tourada
tr:Boğa güreşi
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