Madrid Spain Bull-Fighting Melanie Otten “The bullfight is an important tradition in Spain although at the same time the most polemical.”(donQuijote). Oldest and most established custom in Spain Most popular show in Madrid Recently has been given a protected status because of its cultural heritage despite the opposition from the international animal rights organizations. (The Telegraph) Bull-Fighting Melanie Otten

The Fight

The 3 stages Stage 1: Third of Lances Stage 2: Third of Flags Stage 3: Third of Death The fight is divided into three section. Third of Lances As the matador (Bullfighter) performs a series of passes with its cloak, he/she pays attention to the bull’s ferocity and charges. Two horsemen enter the ring on well-padded horses carrying a lance. This is used to stab the muscle in the bull’s neck to weaken it for the fight. Third of Flags Three flags (sharp barbed sticks) are attempted to be stuck into the bull’s neck to further weaken the bull and additionally anger the bull, making it more dangerous. Third of Death Time limit of 15 minutes, in which the matador must perform with different moves, seeing how close he can come to danger. Must try to back the bull into a situation where the matador has a clear opportunity to kill the bull. The kill is made by a swift plunge of the sword in the tiny space located between the bulls shoulder blades to the heart. (donQuijote)

Winning Earning the Applause The Public Waves White Bandanas President of Arena Ultimately Decides Motions to cut off either one or both ears as a reward Highest honour - Cared on shoulders of crowd Applause The emphasis is on the ability to increase, but control personal danger, while maintaining the balance between suicide and survival. Focus is on the proximity of the matador to the bull’s horns, his bravery in danger, and his smoothness in swinging the cape in front of the bull. It is more about the internal struggle of the matador then the physical struggle between the bull and the matador. (Spanish Fiestas) White Bandanas How the public votes and rate the fight for the president to see. President Judges One ear = good fight Two ears = outstanding fight to which the matador gets cared out on the shoulders of the crowd. (donQuijote)

The Participants

Wears distinctive costumes THE BULL 1000 lbs MATADOR Star of the show Wears distinctive costumes THE BULL 1000 lbs Charges at largest moving object Matador Principle performer trained to work the cape and make a series of move. Keeps and earns the attention of the crowd by his/her skill. Costumes are made of silk heavily embroidered in gold. Fights with the bull, but ultimately competes with other matadors to earn popularity. Bull Raised for bullfighting and is approximately four years old, and 1000 pounds to be used for fighting. Myth has it that the bull goes after the bright cloth because of its colour, but since the bull is colour blind it really is attracted to it because it is the largest moving object. By the third round the bull figures out that the enemy really lies behind the cloth, and is not the cloth itself. (Spanish Fiestas)

LOCATION

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas Capacity of 25,000 Most popular bullfighting arena Perform every Sunday afternoon from May – October - Largest bullring in Spain. Mid May is the “Feria de San Isidro” festival (connected with bullfighting) where the most well known fighters perform. Entrance fee is based on seating and the bullfighter’s popularity 10 to 100 Euros (approx. $13.50 to $135.00) (Madrid Info Site)

History

How it came about... Became intergraded into the Spanish Culture Was done ever since the ancient days Reformed overtime to a practiced art Connected to special feast days Feria de San Isidro festival Became intergraded into the Spanish Culture History - Bullfighting in one form or another ever since the ancient days - 2000 BC - Wall painting were unearthed showing male and female acrobats confronting a bull, grabbing its horns as it charges and vaulting over its back. - 741 AD – Contest was fully changed from a brutish, formless spectacle to a practiced art and ritualistic occasion connected to special feast days where the Moors would mount highly trained horses, confront and kill the bulls. -Then men on foot appeared in the developing stages with cloaks to aid the horsemen and they gained more attention from the crowds turning it into the modern form it is today. - 1726 – The sword was introduced and the muleta (a special cape in the last part of the fight) (Spanish Fiestas)

Bullfighting’s Popularity Over Time Banned in the Canaries Introduced as a Cultural Art Popularity 2000 BC – First introduced and became well known. 771 AD – Was transformed into a practiced art and ritualistic occasion connected to special feast days. (Spanish Fiestas) 1726 – Highest popularity as the show became more about the matador’s internal struggle and how close he could come face to face with death. 1990 – Bullfighting was banned in the Canaries causing it to lose some popularity. 2010 – Spain’s economy declined and the population had no extra money for this entertainment. 2015 – Animal Rights Activists made their protests and opinions widely known and are continually gaining people. (The Independent) Spain’s Recession

Protesting

Click here for the full debate! Controversy Pros Cons Bullfighting makes for a barbaric society Tortures innocent animals Inflicting pain for entertainment is wrong Has long historical and mythical roots Cultural Art Form A very controversial issue… - Opinions both supporting and going against bullfighting. Things to think about Could it be classified as Animal Torture? Is bullfighting a cultural, artistic practice that needs to be protected? Is it a fair fight between the bull and the matador? Is it worth the risk to humans? Should the suffering of animals be used for human entertainment? Smart Art – has the most popularly used arguments. Something to think about for the audience… -While bullfighting is the controversy in Madrid Spain, there are also many different controversy issues in our country! -What are we doing as individuals to stop death and the violence that surrounds us in their different forms? Click here for the full debate!

May the Odds be Ever in Their Favour Thanks for your time! Thank you for your time. Do you have any questions?

References Don Quijote Salamanca S.L. (2015). Bullfighting ritual. Retrieved April 3, 2015 from http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/bullfighting/ritual Fotheringham, A. (2014, May 22). Is it finally time for Spain to ban bull fighting? The Independent. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/is-it- finally-time-for-spain-to-ban-bull-fighting-9421502.html   Govan, F. (2013, October 3). Spain grants bullfighting protected status. The Telegraph. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10353287/Spain-grants- bullfighting protected-status.html International Debate Education Association. (2011, June 21). Bullfighting. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Bullfighting Madrid Info Site. (n.d). Bullfighting in Madrid - San Isidro & Las Vantas. Retrieved April 5, 2015, from http://www.madridinfosite.com/en/entertainment/madrid-bullfighting.aspx Spanish Fiestas. (2015). Bullfighting history. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/culture/bullfighting-history/