Bullfighting: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 03:32, 3 April 2004 editTedius Zanarukando (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers14,277 edits =External links=← Previous edit		Revision as of 08:26, 4 April 2004 edit undoJeeves (talk \| contribs)609 editsm minor NPOV changesNext edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__
	]		]
	'''Bull fighting''' or '''tauromachy''' (] ''tauromaquia'') is a spectacle whose variations are popular in ], ], some countries in ], and in the south of ]. Bull-fighting goes back to ancient ], when many people-killing-animal events were held as a warm-up for ]~~ial~~ sports. The event's earliest roots are probably religious.		'''Bull fighting''' or '''tauromachy''' (] ''tauromaquia'') is a spectacle whose variations are popular in ], ], some countries in ], and in the south of ]. Bull-fighting goes back to ancient ], when many people-killing-animal events were held as a warm-up for ] sports. The event's earliest roots are probably religious.

	The Spanish version of the event, called a ''corrida de toros'', begins with a procession accompanied by band music. Next, the ] enters the ring, to be tested for ferocity by the '''matador''' ('''toreador''' or '''torero''') and ''banderilleros'' with pink and gold capes.		The Spanish version of the event, called a ''corrida de toros'', begins with a procession accompanied by band music. Next, the ] enters the ring, to be tested for ferocity by the '''matador''' ('''toreador''' or '''torero''') and ''banderilleros'' with pink and gold capes.
Line 19:		Line 19:
	Finally, in the ''suerte de matar'' (death act), the matador reenters the ring alone with a small red cape. Having dedicated the bull to an individual or the whole audience, he uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes, demonstrating his control over it. He then attempts to manoeuvre the bull into a position to stab it between the shoulders and through the heart. This often fails, and the toreador must cut the bull's spinal cord with a second sword, killing it instantly.		Finally, in the ''suerte de matar'' (death act), the matador reenters the ring alone with a small red cape. Having dedicated the bull to an individual or the whole audience, he uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes, demonstrating his control over it. He then attempts to manoeuvre the bull into a position to stab it between the shoulders and through the heart. This often fails, and the toreador must cut the bull's spinal cord with a second sword, killing it instantly.

	~~Very occasionally~~, a particularly resilient bull will be spared.		Occasionally, a particularly resilient bull will be spared.

	A typical bullfight will involve three matadors fighting two bulls each though, occasionally, a ] confronts two matadors fighting three bulls each.		A typical bullfight will involve three matadors fighting two bulls each though, occasionally, a ] confronts two matadors fighting three bulls each.

	Trophies and prizes (usually a bull's ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail) are awarded to matadors, mostly according to the reaction of the crowd to the fight. ~~It has been proven that many of the bulls are still alive and conscious while their ears and tails are being cut off.~~		Trophies and prizes (usually a bull's ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail) are awarded to matadors, mostly according to the reaction of the crowd to the fight.

	The Portuguese version is a bit diffrent from the Spanish version. It is conducted on horseback, and is called a ''bloodless bullfight''. The bull is tortured the same way in both versions, but in the Portugal they don't kill it until it is out of the ring.		The Portuguese version is a bit diffrent from the Spanish version. It is conducted on horseback, and is called a ''bloodless bullfight''. The bull is tortured the same way in both versions, but in the Portugal they don't kill it until it is out of the ring.

Revision as of 08:26, 4 April 2004

Bull fighting or tauromachy (Spanish tauromaquia) is a spectacle whose variations are popular in Spain, Portugal, some countries in Latin America, and in the south of France. Bull-fighting goes back to ancient Rome, when many people-killing-animal events were held as a warm-up for gladiator sports. The event's earliest roots are probably religious.

The Spanish version of the event, called a corrida de toros, begins with a procession accompanied by band music. Next, the bull enters the ring, to be tested for ferocity by the matador (toreador or torero) and banderilleros with pink and gold capes.

Before the bullfight

Before the bull is sent into the ring, it is usually handicapped in several ways:

Vaseline is put in the bull's eyes to weaken its sight.
The horns are filed down to remove the bull's ability to aim properly.
Heavy sacks are dropped on the bull's kidneys, to make it wilder.
Sometimes the bull is tranquilized.

The bullfight

After a period of time, picadores on blinkered horses go past the bull and put lances into the bull's neck, further enraging and weakening the bull, and, crucially, weakening its neck muscles. The audience often objects to excessive use of the lance to tire the bull too much .

Next is a suerte de banderillas, in which three banderilleros goad the bull so they can stab the bull's shoulders with coloured, sharpened sticks.

Finally, in the suerte de matar (death act), the matador reenters the ring alone with a small red cape. Having dedicated the bull to an individual or the whole audience, he uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes, demonstrating his control over it. He then attempts to manoeuvre the bull into a position to stab it between the shoulders and through the heart. This often fails, and the toreador must cut the bull's spinal cord with a second sword, killing it instantly.

Occasionally, a particularly resilient bull will be spared.

A typical bullfight will involve three matadors fighting two bulls each though, occasionally, a mano-a-mano confronts two matadors fighting three bulls each.

Trophies and prizes (usually a bull's ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail) are awarded to matadors, mostly according to the reaction of the crowd to the fight.

The Portuguese version is a bit diffrent from the Spanish version. It is conducted on horseback, and is called a bloodless bullfight. The bull is tortured the same way in both versions, but in the Portugal they don't kill it until it is out of the ring.

The aesthetic of bullfighting, which is regarded as a deeply ingrained part of the culture and an art in the countries where it is practiced, 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 its aficionados based on artistic impression and command.

More information

Animal rights campaigners object strongly to bullfighting because of the slow, painful death the bull suffers, and kill bullfights are banned in most countries. "Bloodless" variations, though, are permitted and have attracted a following in California. A number of animal-rights activist groups undertake anti-bullfighting actions in Spain and other countries (see links).

However, these views are not widely understood in the countries where Spanish bullfighting is practiced; the argument is that bulls are bred for the ring, live well before they are killed, and if the bullfight went, the bulls would too. Furthermore, part of the artistic impression of a corrida is based on the "cleanliness" of the kill; prolonged suffering is regarded as part of a very poor performance, and experienced bullfighters are able to avoid it.

Spanish bullfighting is a traditionally male sport. Only recently have a very small number of women ever been toreadores, such as Cristina Sánchez. 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 an unknown cattleman.

Especially prominent bullrings are to be found at Madrid, Sevilla, and Mexico City.

Related subjects

In Spain there are also other activities that can be associated with bullfighting, and these are often called Blood Fiestas. These events usually takes place far from tourist areas and main cities. Some events around Spain:

The crushed donkeys of the Pero Palo fiestas, Villanueva de la Vera.
Goat paraded in streets, before being thrown from the church tower in Manganeses de la Polvorosa.
Chickens hung from a line and hand-decapitated by horsemen in Nalda.
Pigeons and squirrels in clay pots stoned in Robledo de Chavela.
Live chickens hung from a line and hacked to pieces by blindfolded young girls with blunted swords in Tordesillas.
Chickens buried to their necks and decapitated by blindfolded villagers in Aduna.
Speared bulls, fire bulls.
Drowned bulls, bulls castrated alive for fun, and darted bulls of Coria.

Animal welfare

Animal welfare and protection organizations around the world have over the years condemned bullfighting. Here is a short list with links to a few of them: