mediocre -> RE: Javier Conde (the bullfighter) and flamenco (Apr. 21 2008 9:45:07)
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In my opinion, bullfighting and flamenco go hand in hand. To live flamenco, one must at the very least respect the culture and how deeply rooted bullfighting is in the Spanish culture. My father tells me stories of when he was a child, how his father was a benefactor to the arts. He would always support and befriend flamencos and bullfighters of that era (1930's). To be a flamenco aficionado, and not also be an aficionado of bullfighting is mostly unheard of, at least in Spain. That's not to say that one can not be a true flamenco aficionado, and choose not to watch or support bullfighting, but at least understand it's place in the flamenco culture. Additionally, if it were'nt for bullfighting, this breed of bulls (Taurus Ibericus) would eventually go instinct. They are specifically bred for their bravery and nobility. Finally, if you watch the episode of Puro y Jondo with Jose Merce and Tomatito, Jose explains the similarity of bullfighting and cante flamenco. He talks about the compas and duende of the bullfighter. It's true that flamenco and bullfighting have been hardly connected in the past, because one century ago they were almost the only amusements that the andalusian people had, so it was really difficult to separate these two things. But nowadays i don't see the point to keep joining this two worlds. I'm from Sevilla and here bullfighting it's like a religion, but i know more people here against bullfighting that supporting it, it's normal, because a torture of an animal shouldn't be considered an art: First, the bullfighter 'torea' a little bit the bull Then a ' banderillero' comes and drives 4 spears in the back of the bulls. This spear stays hurting the bull until the end of the 'fight'. The bullfighter torea again. Then a man on a horse, provided with a big lance, hit the bull several times the bull, until he thinks it is damaged enough. Is it not damaged enough??? The banderillero comes again with 4 more spears. It's the final turn, the bullfighter torea a little bit, and for finishig he takes out a big narrow sword called estoque and try to kill the bull driving it through the body of the bull. From back to the chest. Usually it doesn't come at the first try, so he has to repeat the same 3 o 4 times, until the sword get through the bull. If it is not enough to kill the bull, the bullfighter has to stab it with a knife just over its head, trying to hit the spinal cord. It's not succesful until the 3 or 4 try. Finished!! If it was a good 'corrida', the prizes for the bullfighter could be the ears and the tail of the bull. Of course these pieces are cutted off the animal when it is still alive. And the bullfighter does a turn around the arena showing the prizes to the audience who applause and cheer a lot!! [&:] It's like the ancient Rome. I consider myself really flamenco, but if it's necessary like bullfighting to be flamenco, don't hesitate anymore, i go to the disc shop and buy some cds of Iron Maiden and i start to be a Heavy Metal! About Javier Conde, he is married with Estrella Morente, so it's normal he likes flamenco. I love Estrella Morente, but when she start singing about bullfighting i can't stand it. Well, i hope i explained 'el arte del toreo' successfully, and you understand that it's not necessary to like the bull torture to love flamenco. I hope it'll be prohibited soon in whole Spain, as it is in Cataluña. Cheers
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