1. 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

2. The Fight

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. The Participants

6. 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)

7. LOCATION

8. 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)

9. History

10. 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
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.
– The sword was introduced and the muleta (a special cape in the last part of the fight) (Spanish Fiestas)

11. 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

12. Protesting

13. 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!

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

15. References
Don Quijote Salamanca S.L. (2015). Bullfighting ritual. Retrieved April 3, 2015 from
Fotheringham, A. (2014, May 22). Is it finally time for Spain to ban bull fighting? The Independent. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from finally-time-for-spain-to-ban-bull-fighting html
Govan, F. (2013, October 3). Spain grants bullfighting protected status. The Telegraph. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from bullfighting protected-status.html
International Debate Education Association. (2011, June 21). Bullfighting. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from
Madrid Info Site. (n.d). Bullfighting in Madrid - San Isidro & Las Vantas. Retrieved April 5, 2015, from
Spanish Fiestas. (2015). Bullfighting history. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from