Jul
29
The beginning of the end to bullfighting?
Bullfighting, a Spanish tradition which has existed for centuries, may be on its way out for good. The parliament of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting starting January, 2012.
The colorfully-dressed matador in the ring with the bull is an iconic image strongly associated with Spain. In fact, it’s probably one of the first things foreigners who have never even visited the country will mention if you ask them about Spain. “Hey, isn’t that the country where they have bullfights and do siestas?”
Even though they say they don’t like the idea of animal torture, a lot of tourists want to see a bullfight anyway. They buy tickets to see the bloody spectacle because “it’s a tradition.” It’s as if they believe that their visit to Spain will be incomplete unless they get to see a bullfight.
But times have changed and there are many Spaniards who find bullfighting a cruel, barbaric activity that should be banned forever. In fact, it was the efforts of Spanish animal rights activists that brought about the vote in the parliament.
At this point it’s uncertain whether or not other autonomous communities in Spain will follow suit. There’s still a sizable industry which exists around bullfighting and Spain’s conservative political party, el Partido Popular, is now rushing to come up with a new law that will give bullfighting special cultural status which will prevent it from being banned in Madrid.
What do you think? Is bullfighting a tradition which should be abolished? Or do you think there is a place for this kind of Old World tradition in a 21st-century modern, industrialized society?
July 29th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Two things instantly remind me of Spain:
1.Flamenco music which I LOVE
2.Bullfighting which I HATE
I understand all the cultural and symbolic importance of bullfighting for spain however I believe nothing can justify the torturing of animals to death. The principles of humanity I think are more valuable than any tradition or industry.
July 29th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
The original article having been published in the English language, I shall follow suit. Not that this is the perfect idiom in which to most faithfully convey the inner flame of “la tauromaquía”, smacking as it seems of snobbish Hemingwayism and yes, in a “mundialist” way, the agony of an old Spain, as if it had been initiated with the act of removing the life-sustaining catheters from “Caudillo” Francisco Franco’s arm on that 20th of november, way back in 1975 already.
And it seems more than a mere coïncidence that it would be Catalunya (making an exception for Canarias, back in 1991) that, in an act calculated to irritate any Castilian to immesurable length, the ass kicking (or engaging in even more degrading behavior!) the bull, that sent this clamorous humaniarian ban (favoring bulls…) into the world at large.
Personally, I grant Catalunya the fullest right to make such decisions for themselves. I’m willing to accept that Nation, not as my own, but as part of our Europe in formation. And, no, I’ve never been to see any bullfight, whether in Juarez, Lima or anywhere in Castilla or Andalucía or other such deep-down tauromaquía havens. Of course there is cruelty there, down to the young boys at the local fiesta or carnaval…
I have revelled in biographies of “El Cordobés” and Juan Belmonte. Tears at nostalgy for a country and a culture I”ve never even known. Without the utter poverty of most bullfighters’ existence, few ever to climb that gilden stairway, Spain (or should I say Castilla?) would not be what it WAS, or even what it IS.
The argument is hotly disputed. Once again, as ever and always in Spain, we have completely conflicting visions confronting themselves. And no, bullfighting will not disappear: there are far too many old men around, unwilling to give up a culture uniquely theirs. I, for my part, will probably never attend a bullfight. For lack of understanding that ritual.
August 1st, 2010 at 6:42 pm
It seems that the decision by Cataluna to introduce a ban on bullfighting from January 2012 is heavily tinged by their long-running desire for complete political independance from the rest of Spain. That said, I nonetheless completely support the decision on bullfighting. Nothing can justify its blatant cruelty.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I can understand bullfighting is not something everybody enjoy. It’s something very specific to the Spanish (and French catalans) culture.
August 17th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Me gusta la idea es genial. Tenemos que mirar con atención y me hizo volver con el comentario completo.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
bullfighting should be banned
September 8th, 2010 at 4:58 am
Well, this takes me by surprise, but it just shows my ignorance. I did not realize that bull fighting was about killing the bull. I know I may sound naive, but I’ve just never been to a bull fight before. I don’t understand what the point is in doing all of these fancy moves just to stab the bull at the end (via my reading on wikipedia). I am sorry to see a cultural tradition disappear, but I had no idea it was so brutal.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:29 am
My friend and I went to a bullfight in Barcelona, August of 2009. We left before it was over and discussed whether we would ever admit to anyone that we had attended. It seemed evident by the mostly empty seats that bullfighting was probably doomed comercially, anyway. I observed one of the horses being warmed up and he had an injury to one of his ankles that probably should have required that he be euthanized. Certainly, he shouldn’t have been being worked.
The fights were heavily stacked against the bulls. There was nothing fair about the fight. It consisted of a series of injuries to the bull to wear him down until he could barely stand, much less get to the matador.
Of the 5 bulls we watched, there was one “clean” kill. One (the most spirited) injured himself early in the contest and was excused from the ring. The other 3 were not very well done and required multiple attempts to finally be dispatched. Acquaintances who made the trip with us and stayed later into the evening, said the quality improved as the program moved toward the more experienced and admired matadors.
I felt guilty about contributing my 30 euro’s to keeping the custom in existence.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:41 am
Although to speak with authority on a subject so controversial as bullfighting, as with any tradition one should understand all that takes place in this dance with death performed in an artistic performance at the risk of being killed or crippled. People that were casual spectators, such as tourists, seldom get the intensity of this ancient ritual and rarely get to see the great artistic expression that can take place in the bullring; in the same way you can hardly get an understanding of boxing, by witnessing a couple of fights take place.
And personally I don’t like to see the bull go through the torture and death process that takes place in a corrida, but if you go to a site called toroprensa.com a better appreciation of the artistic performance that takes place may be appreciated; and although I have enjoyed the unique beauty of the show if it’s destined to end, let it be so. But as defenders of humane causes let us also outlaw any kind of war and the hunting of animals.
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:16 pm
I agree to what Carlos de la Parra said. There are other bigger causes out there as well. Personally, it feels nostalgic to abolish an old tradition but it would be lot better it a way is found to make it less bloody.
Umer.
April 30th, 2011 at 7:00 am
When I visited Spain in 2000 I went to a bullfight. It wasn’t what I expected and I did find it entertaining in some ways, the horses were trained well. lol But I did find it very cruel and I really did feel bad for the bulls. I’m glad they are looking to make changes. I enjoyed many other parts of the great country.