Bullfighting
The bull's hooves pound the ground as its teeth grind and horns dash. The Matador (Spanish for "The Killer"), taunts the raging animal to attack him and to demonstrate its power to the audience. As the bull charges, ready to pierce the Matador with its horns, the Matador waves a Capote (bright red cape) in front of the bull to distract it while the Matador lunges from the path of the beast, inches from the knife-like horns. Once the bull charges again, the Matador does the same action except this time he stabs a small but damaging spear into the bull's back. After several similar series of events, the bull eventually runs out of steam and the Matador kills the bull, resulting in a deafening roar from the crowd. This event may seem gruesome to some people, but around the world it is celebrated as a historical ritual. Combined with many different aspects ranging from the history and celebration of the event, to the intensity and skill needed to fight a bull, bullfighting has become an iconic event throughout Latin America and Europe.
How It Works
Bullfighting is comprised of several different rituals that vary according to the location and the point in history the fight takes place. One aspect that all bullfights have in common is that they consist of six bulls and three Matadors (Usama). The specially bred fighting bulls are at least four years of age and weigh from 1100 to 1760 lbs (Usama). The majority of bullfights follow a ritual called the Corrida. The Corrida is separated into three stages, each stage beginning with the sound of a trumpet ("Bullfighting Ritual"). The first stage is called the Tercio de Varas (third of lances), where the Matador taunts and observes the bulls behavior and sizes up the opponent to determine how difficult the fight may be ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Stage two, Tercio de Banderillas (third of the flags), begins when the Matador plants two sharped barbed sticks into the bull's shoulders, weakening and infuriating the bull ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Tercio de Muerte (third of death) is the final stage in which the Matador uses his Capote to make a series of passes where the bull charges at the Matador ("Bullfighting Ritual"). The Matador has a limit of fifteen minutes to then kill the bull with a sword by thrusting it into the bull's chest, instantly killing it. Other than specific rituals, there are many other factors that determine the result of a bullfight. Depending on the performance of the Matador, the audience will judge his skill and give him a standing ovation or not. The performance of the Matador can depend greatly on the behavior of the bull. A wild, enraged, and vicious bull creates more drama and excitement, allowing the Matador to execute key moves and passes during a fight ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Just like religion is practiced differently throughout the world, different aspects of bullfighting are celebrated more dominantly than others in different societies.
History
During the eight centuries of the Spanish War of the Reconquest (711 - 1492 AD), many warriors including knights, Moors, Jews, and Christians, were reluctant to kill each other (Carrion). To prove to local subjects who was the bravest warrior, hunting competitions emerged throughout the Iberian wild-life (Carrion). While the killing of easy prey such as deer and boar became more or less, unimpressive, knights and other contenders began hunting for the vicious Iberian Bull. Known for its willingness to fight bravely, the Iberian Bull proved to be an excellent foe, allowing knights and other warriors to demonstrate pure skill in order to finally defeat the bull and prove their courage to their subjects (Carrion). As these competitions rose in popularity throughout medieval Spain, people began to capture these bulls and organize events for knights and warriors to demonstrate their abilities in front of an audience (Carrion). As the Spanish War of the Reconquest ended, Kings began to use bullfighting to commemorate important events and to entertain guests (Carrion). As the French Dynasty arrived in Spain, bullfighting lost its place as a form of entertainment in the royal court and was handed down to the plebeians who in turn recognized it not only as a practice, but as a symbol of the Spanish way of life. Toreos (bullfights), with the rise of professional Matadores, have since spread to Latin American countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and several others (Carrion).
Controversy
Although bullfighting has retained its place as a sacred art in Spanish culture, some ideologies question its status as an "art" and reject its unique celebration of the slow torture and killing of an animal. Controversy concerning bullfighting dates back to the Spanish War of the Reconquest. An example of intents to rid the world of bullfighting include Pope Pius V forbidding the fighting of bulls and of any other beasts in 1567, which was eradicated by Pope Gregory XIII eight years later (Carrion). Animal rights activists and associations such as the Asociación Defensa Derechos Animal (Animal Rights Defense Association) have tried to abolish bullfighting from Spanish society since 2006 (Rob). Finally reaching success, the ADDA have persuaded a region in Spain, Catalonia, to discontinue bullfighting (Rob). As bullfighting seems to slowly diminish in societies it once thrived in, traditional ideologies and cultures are threatened. The "art" of bullfighting is displayed only when someone understands the true meaning behind bull fights. Bullfighting is more than just the execution of the bull, the technique and skill needed to accomplish such a task is incredibly detailed. Bullfighting is not viewed as a sport in Spanish society because the Matadors do not "win" or "lose" fights. Satisfaction comes from the grace, intelligence, and cunning from the human that triumphs over the brutal strength of the bull (N.p). A successful bullfight occurs when the Matador has killed the bull with exceptional skill and respect to the bull's sacrifice (N.p). This controversy will be an ongoing factor, determining whether or not a symbolic tradition will be able to stand its ground against a historical and growing opposing ideology.
Through thick and thin, the bullfighting tradition has made its mark in history of not only Spanish and Latin American societies, but of every society out there. With various aspects ranging from historical events to ongoing controversy, all the way to cultural traditions and uniqueness, bullfighting will forever be a symbol that identifies the true and genuine Spaniard.
The bull's hooves pound the ground as its teeth grind and horns dash. The Matador (Spanish for "The Killer"), taunts the raging animal to attack him and to demonstrate its power to the audience. As the bull charges, ready to pierce the Matador with its horns, the Matador waves a Capote (bright red cape) in front of the bull to distract it while the Matador lunges from the path of the beast, inches from the knife-like horns. Once the bull charges again, the Matador does the same action except this time he stabs a small but damaging spear into the bull's back. After several similar series of events, the bull eventually runs out of steam and the Matador kills the bull, resulting in a deafening roar from the crowd. This event may seem gruesome to some people, but around the world it is celebrated as a historical ritual. Combined with many different aspects ranging from the history and celebration of the event, to the intensity and skill needed to fight a bull, bullfighting has become an iconic event throughout Latin America and Europe.
How It Works
Bullfighting is comprised of several different rituals that vary according to the location and the point in history the fight takes place. One aspect that all bullfights have in common is that they consist of six bulls and three Matadors (Usama). The specially bred fighting bulls are at least four years of age and weigh from 1100 to 1760 lbs (Usama). The majority of bullfights follow a ritual called the Corrida. The Corrida is separated into three stages, each stage beginning with the sound of a trumpet ("Bullfighting Ritual"). The first stage is called the Tercio de Varas (third of lances), where the Matador taunts and observes the bulls behavior and sizes up the opponent to determine how difficult the fight may be ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Stage two, Tercio de Banderillas (third of the flags), begins when the Matador plants two sharped barbed sticks into the bull's shoulders, weakening and infuriating the bull ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Tercio de Muerte (third of death) is the final stage in which the Matador uses his Capote to make a series of passes where the bull charges at the Matador ("Bullfighting Ritual"). The Matador has a limit of fifteen minutes to then kill the bull with a sword by thrusting it into the bull's chest, instantly killing it. Other than specific rituals, there are many other factors that determine the result of a bullfight. Depending on the performance of the Matador, the audience will judge his skill and give him a standing ovation or not. The performance of the Matador can depend greatly on the behavior of the bull. A wild, enraged, and vicious bull creates more drama and excitement, allowing the Matador to execute key moves and passes during a fight ("Bullfighting Ritual"). Just like religion is practiced differently throughout the world, different aspects of bullfighting are celebrated more dominantly than others in different societies.
History
During the eight centuries of the Spanish War of the Reconquest (711 - 1492 AD), many warriors including knights, Moors, Jews, and Christians, were reluctant to kill each other (Carrion). To prove to local subjects who was the bravest warrior, hunting competitions emerged throughout the Iberian wild-life (Carrion). While the killing of easy prey such as deer and boar became more or less, unimpressive, knights and other contenders began hunting for the vicious Iberian Bull. Known for its willingness to fight bravely, the Iberian Bull proved to be an excellent foe, allowing knights and other warriors to demonstrate pure skill in order to finally defeat the bull and prove their courage to their subjects (Carrion). As these competitions rose in popularity throughout medieval Spain, people began to capture these bulls and organize events for knights and warriors to demonstrate their abilities in front of an audience (Carrion). As the Spanish War of the Reconquest ended, Kings began to use bullfighting to commemorate important events and to entertain guests (Carrion). As the French Dynasty arrived in Spain, bullfighting lost its place as a form of entertainment in the royal court and was handed down to the plebeians who in turn recognized it not only as a practice, but as a symbol of the Spanish way of life. Toreos (bullfights), with the rise of professional Matadores, have since spread to Latin American countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and several others (Carrion).
Controversy
Although bullfighting has retained its place as a sacred art in Spanish culture, some ideologies question its status as an "art" and reject its unique celebration of the slow torture and killing of an animal. Controversy concerning bullfighting dates back to the Spanish War of the Reconquest. An example of intents to rid the world of bullfighting include Pope Pius V forbidding the fighting of bulls and of any other beasts in 1567, which was eradicated by Pope Gregory XIII eight years later (Carrion). Animal rights activists and associations such as the Asociación Defensa Derechos Animal (Animal Rights Defense Association) have tried to abolish bullfighting from Spanish society since 2006 (Rob). Finally reaching success, the ADDA have persuaded a region in Spain, Catalonia, to discontinue bullfighting (Rob). As bullfighting seems to slowly diminish in societies it once thrived in, traditional ideologies and cultures are threatened. The "art" of bullfighting is displayed only when someone understands the true meaning behind bull fights. Bullfighting is more than just the execution of the bull, the technique and skill needed to accomplish such a task is incredibly detailed. Bullfighting is not viewed as a sport in Spanish society because the Matadors do not "win" or "lose" fights. Satisfaction comes from the grace, intelligence, and cunning from the human that triumphs over the brutal strength of the bull (N.p). A successful bullfight occurs when the Matador has killed the bull with exceptional skill and respect to the bull's sacrifice (N.p). This controversy will be an ongoing factor, determining whether or not a symbolic tradition will be able to stand its ground against a historical and growing opposing ideology.
Through thick and thin, the bullfighting tradition has made its mark in history of not only Spanish and Latin American societies, but of every society out there. With various aspects ranging from historical events to ongoing controversy, all the way to cultural traditions and uniqueness, bullfighting will forever be a symbol that identifies the true and genuine Spaniard.