Artpress Article Defends Bullfighting as Cultural Event Beyond Spectacle

An article in artpress 2 issue 33 from May-June-July 2014 argues against common criticisms of bullfighting, rejecting terms like 'spectacle' and 'love' for the event. It asserts that a bullfight is an unrepeatable occurrence, citing the 1920 death of torero Joselito in Talavera de la Reina the day after a brilliant performance in Madrid. The text references philosopher Francis Wolff linking the practice to an ethical-aesthetic fusion akin to Stoicism, where the torero confronts reality. Historical context includes Pope Pius V's 1567 ban and the first modern treatise by Pepe-Hillo in 1796. Specific bullfights are noted, such as José Tomás's 2012 performance in Nîmes that moved critics, and a 1996 novillada in Madrid's Las Ventas during a downpour. The piece emphasizes technical knowledge, citing literature and figures like toreros Belmonte and Manolete, who died in 1947 in Linares. It contrasts industrial meat production with the bull's free-range life and honored death, questioning contemporary opposition's foundations.