341
- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
a bull into a ritual, purportedly cultural event, apparently
spearing thetorofrom horseback? What we do know is
that these days the season runs from March to October,
with contests held on a Sunday evening.
What happens in a bullfight?
The classical Spanish-style bullfight, orcorrida de toros,
isn’t quite as simple as man versus beast. A traditional
fight actually involves two bulls, 21 people and three
phases.The cast list breaks down thus: three matadors,
each with six assistants; twopicadores(lancers on
horseback), threebanderilleros(who have flagged darts)
and amozo de espada(a kind of keeper of the swords).
The contest has three distinct phases:
The first phase, thetercio de varas(third of lancing),
sees the matador staring down the bull before the
picadoresstab it in the neck.This is supposed to provide
important clues about the bull’s behaviour as well as
weakening it for the stages ahead.
The second stage, known as thetercio de banderillas
(third of flags), features the threebanderilleroseach
trying to jab two flags into the bull as close to the first
wound as possible.
The final part, which goes by the macabre (but accurate)
name of thetercio de muerte(third of death) is what
most of us would recognise as bullfighting. It involves
the matador, the bull, a sword, the iconic red cape and
a decidedly unhappy outcome for somebody.
Bored of the bulls?
Bullfighting is waning in
popularity. A survey
conducted by Gallup in
2006 found that more than
70 per cent of Spaniards
registered no interest in
the spectacle. In August
2007, Spanish TV took the
controversial step of
cancelling live coverage
of bullfighting, citing the
violent content as a
reason. In Catalonia, the
autonomous government
has declared itself ‘anti-
bullfighting’ and imposed
a series of restrictions on
the practice, although it
continues for an audience
comprised largely of
tourists. Andalusia
and Castile show less
inclination toward ending
the tradition.
