french version
Part One: The Bullfighter
The bullfight is a tragedy, and not a sport, nor a contest between the bull and the matador, for the most part. It is, as I said, a tragedy, in terms of the death of the bull. Yes, there is a dangerous bond between the matador against the bull, but death is inevitable for the bull.
The matador, or bullfighter, can measure his own danger by increasing or decreasing his distance and/or his posture towards the bull, that is, he can step back from those bull’s horns at will; he is, in general, the one in control, not the bull. Of course, the bullfighter must be aware of his abilities; such as: reflexes, judgments and others; to include, goring or being thrown like hay by a bull which is more often due to ignorance (if not youth and inexperience) then a lack of agility or quickness on the matador’s part.
Bulls are not as dumb as many may think; because when you don’t study the bull, and the rules of distraction, change, and character of the beast, gaining knowledge of the bull’s traits, learning the techniques of those who came before you, the bull actually doesn’t seem so stupid anymore, it tends to to be the bullfighter who does it (and the unconscious observant participant in the Plaza de Toros, or gallery). My last run, the young matador was just that, unaware of the techniques, and not fast enough, and as a result, he received a horn in the armpit, in Mexico City.
Part Two: The Moral Question
Of course, there are moral issues about bullfighting and the killing of the bull. Consequently, this issue is more or less resolved in how you see the bullfight, and by what values and standards you prefer to go or live. I do not defend, or I prefer not to defend, the bull or the bullfighter, or morality in general-I can sleep very well after a bullfight, I only feel horror when I see what man is capable of doing to man, in war, or in some dark alley, or in the open, or in the way of the justice system when it is carried out unfairly, and when a judge looks the other way for gain or gain, because the judicial system is corrupt, unreasonable and unpredictable.
People seem to be more affected by bullfighting nowadays and not affected by the abuse of the criminal system in which they live; oh yeah, they publicly disapprove of it, but they secretly hope that corruption will eventually help them in some way. Thus, just as they should be horrified and disgusted, they ignore and cry out the blood that the bull spills in the ring.
Third part: the tragedy and the ritual
I have already proclaimed, in the bullfight there is a tragedy, but there is also a ritual in the bullfight (which I will go around, rather than explain because I want to look at the aspect of art and culture).
Either you can see and feel this or you can’t. It could be said that a man of culture is more aware of this than a person of the opposite. The man of culture can see the art in the bullfight, the person without culture, if he has an open mind, he can see this too, but most of the time he doesn’t.
When you think of men killing men in war or for pleasure, or revenge, bullfighting becomes much more civilized. On the other hand, the man has become so adept at warfare, much more so than at bullfighting, that he is merely a stomp on the big toe by comparison. However, we justify the war and criminalize the bullfight. I think at some point we crossed our wires.
Written: 8-4-2009 (Article on Bullfighting)
Spanish version
Part One: The Bullfighter
The Bullfight – for the most part – is a tragedy and not a sport, nor a competition between the bull and the bullfighter. It is, as I said, a tragedy to the extent that the bull dies. Yes, there is a dangerous connection involving the matador against the bull, but an inevitable death for the bull.
The bullfighter, or matador, can measure his own danger, increasing or decreasing his posture and/or distance towards the bull, that is, he can resort to those horns of the bull at will; he is generally in control, not the bull. Of course, the bullfighter must be aware of his abilities: as a reflection, judgment, etc. including, being gored or thrown around like a bale of hay by the bull, which often occurs due to ignorance (or youth or inexperience) or lack of agility or quickness of the bullfighter.
Bulls are not as stupid as many may think; because when you don’t study the bull and the rules of distraction, change and character of the beast, or gain knowledge of the bull’s traits, or learn the techniques of those before you, the bull really doesn’t seem that stupid ever. Plus, it’s usually the bullfighter who appears so (and the witty participants watching in the Plaza de Toros, or arena). In my last bullfight, the young bullfighter will be just that, inexperienced in techniques and not fast enough; accordingly, he was gored in the arm; This happened in Mexico City.
Part Two: The Moral Issue
There are of course moral issues in the bullfight, and in the killing of the bull. Consequently, the issue is more or less resolved in how you see the bullfight, and by what values and standards you prefer to go or live. I prefer not to defend the bull or the bullfighter, or morality in general-I can sleep very well after watching a bullfight-I only feel horror when I see a man being able to harm another man, in war, or in some dark alley, or in the open areas, or when the justice system is carried out unfairly and when a judge goes undercover for gain or benefit, because the judicial system is corrupt, unreasonable and unpredictable.
People seem to be more moved by the bullfight nowadays and unconcerned about the abuse of the criminal system they live under-oh yes, publicly they disapprove of it, but secretly they expect corruption to some degree to assist them, somehow. form, in some memory. Thus, the very thing that should horrify and disgust them, they ignore and instead scream for the blood that the bull spills in the arena.
Part Three: The Tragedy and Ritual
I have already proclaimed that there is a tragedy in the bullfight, but there is also a ritual in it (which I will repeat, instead of explaining because I want to see the art and cultural aspect in it).
You can see and feel this, or you can’t. You may say that a man of culture is more aware of this than a man who is not. The man of culture may see the art in the bullfight, the non-cultured person, if he has an open mind, he may see this too, although often not.
When you think of men killing other men in war, or for pleasure, or for revenge, the bullfight looks more civilized. He also pointed out, the man has become so proficient in warfare, far more than in bullfighting, that he is merely a kick in the toe by comparison. Still, justifying the war, and criminalizing the bullfight. I think somewhere along the way, we ran into each other’s whips.
Drafting: 4-August-2009 (Article in La Corrida de Toros)