Bullfighting

BULLFIGHTING
Bullfighting (also known as tauromachia or tauromachy; from Greek: ταυρομαχία "bull-fight";[1] Spanish: toreo, IPA: [to'reo]; Portuguese: tourada, IPA: [toˈɾaðɐ]) is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador),[2] in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport andentertainment. It is often called a blood sport by its detractors but followers of the spectacle regard it as a fine art and not a sport as there are no elements of competition in the proceedings. In Portugal it is illegal to kill a bull in the arena, so it is removed and slaughtered in the pens as fighting bulls can only be used once. A non-lethal variant stemming from Portuguese influence is alsopractised on the Tanzanian island of Pemba.[3]
The tradition, as it is practised today, involves professional toreros (also called toreadors) who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated according to the bullfighter's style or school. Toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull. Suchmanoeuvres are performed at close range, which places the bullfighter at risk of being gored or trampled. After the bull has been hooked multiple times behind the shoulder by other matadors in the arena the bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust which is called estocada. In Portugal the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men (forcados) tryto grab and hold the bull by its horns when it runs at them.
Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, while animal rights advocates hold that it is a blood sport resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses.
There are many historic fighting venues in the Iberian Peninsula, France andLatin America. The largest venue of its kind is the Plaza México in central Mexico City, which seats 48,000 people,[4] and the oldest is the La Maestranza in Sevilla, Spain, which was first used for bullfighting in 1765.[5]
Styles of bullfighting
Originally, there were at least five distinct regional styles of bullfighting practised in southwestern Europe: Andalusia, Aragon–Navarre, Alentejo,Camargue, Aquitaine. Over time, these have evolved more or less into standardized national forms mentioned below. The "classic" style of bullfight, in which the bull is killed, is the form practised in Spain and many Latin American countries.
Spanish-style bullfighting
Main article: Spanish-style bullfighting
Spanish-style bullfighting is called corrida de toros (literally "running of bulls") or lafiesta ("the festival"). In a traditional corrida, three matadores, each fight two bulls, each of which is between four and six years old and weighs no less than 460 kg (1,014 lb) [8] Each matador has six assistants—two picadores ("lancers on horseback") mounted on horseback, three banderilleros – who along with the matadors are collectively known as toreros ("bullfighters") – and a mozo de espadas("sword page"). Collectively they comprise a cuadrilla ("entourage"). The word "matador" is only used in English whereas in Spanish the more general "torero" is used and only when needed to distinguish the full title "matador de toros" is used.
Recortes
Recortes, a style of bullfighting practised in Navarre, La Rioja, North of Castile and Valencia, has been far less popular than the traditionalcorridas. There has been a recent resurgence of recortes in Spain where they are sometimes shown on TV.
This style was common in the early 19th century. Etchings by painter Francisco de Goya depict these events.
Recortes claims to differ from a corrida in the following ways:
* The bull is not physically injured. Drawing blood is rare and the bull returns to his pen at the end of the...