Bullfighting – an entertainment or a torture?

Article: Bullfighting in Catalonia: The impending death of Barcelona’s ring
http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20100820-bullfighting-in-catalonia-to-ban-or-not-to-ban

Bullfighting will no longer be seen in Catalonia after January 1, 2012.

I have always been a fan of Spain in terms of its culture and traditions. The ardor & energy of Flamenco dancers, the courage of bullfighters, stunning architecture, fantastic beaches and mouth-watering tapas have made Spain a dynamic country with diverse attractions.

When it comes to bullfighting, however, I have somewhat a different view. Affectionately known as a part of local celebrations, the event remains a highly contentious subject both in Spain and around the world. If bullfighting is an art (as described by the writer), the matador is the artist and the fight is a medium of artistic expression.


To a certain extent, bullfighting is a show. The matadors need to impress the crowd and jury with bold and graceful moves towards an aggressive, fighting bull. He has to demonstrate his skills and artistry and make the show dramatic and enjoyable for the audience. If bullfighting is a dance, it is a dance with death. I like the way the writer portrays the event as ‘an evening of blood, courage, nobility and insensate cruelty’. It produces a vivid picture of a sanguinary scene. Though not appealing to everyone, the descriptions have made clear that bullfighting is a dangerous business which involves a high level of violence and brutality. The skillful use of metaphor where the matador is described as ‘being gored and tossed about like a handkerchief by several hundred kilos of bull’ has brought the bullfighting scene to life.

The fighting bull is considered a symbol of Spain.

Nevertheless, the main focus of the article is the debate on the banning of bullfighting in Catalonia. While enough data is given in the article – more than 180,000 signatures were collected by Catalonian citizens in support of the ban (which has far exceeded the parliament’s requirement of 50,000 signatures), the sincerity of the signatories is not questioned. In the article ‘Spain's Catalonia bans bullfighting’ published in the ABC News website on July 28, 2010, the view of Josep Rull, member of parliament for the Catalonian nationalist party, is given. Rull regards bullfighting as ‘the most degrading things’ in Spanish tradition and should be banned.


If the ban of this centuries-old tradition is an issue, the writer should perhaps give a more balanced view of the debate by providing the opinions from both sides of the equation. In ABC News, a renowned bullfighter, Serafin Marin, said bullfighting is not a cruel show but completely the opposite. “It's a show that creates art," he said. If the writer thinks bullfighting is an art, in what ways does it show the qualities of art? It isn’t explained in the BBC article.

Above all, the writer has fulfilled its aim by giving an overview of the bullfighting events in Spain and the subsequent debate on the ban. Relevant links are provided at the end of the article to provide readers with information on bullfighting in Barcelona and the campaigns to end bullfighting.


The video below shows a raging bull charging into the crowd in a bullfighting arena in Northern Spain, injuring 40 people on Aug 18, 2010.





 


Other sources:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/28/2967004.htm
http://www.spain-info.com/Culture/bullfighting.htm
http://www.nationalturk.com/en/bullfight-injury-as-matador-gored-through-chin-in-madrid-spain-56646415


Photo courtesy of:
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2064/bullfight0qd.jpg
blogger's photo collection (the fighting bull) - taken in Sevilla, Spain on July 26, 2009.


Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATqx3cqjbjo&feature=related

It's all for you - the One-On-One theatre experience

Article: A theatre play - all to yourself
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10661292

Bolshi Theatre, Moscow, Russia

I was attracted to the article by its headline 'A theatre play - all to yourself'. A traditional view of theatre performance is to give a collective experience to the wider public. The solo experience here certainly suggests some oddity.


I like the way the writer uses scenes to take the readers on a journey before introducing the One-On-One Festival. I did imagine myself being greeted by 10-year-old boy outside the theatre on a Saturday night, and then followed him down to a dark alleyway and into a car before meeting the performer.


If the main focus of theatre is on the human being, artists and performers should justify not only their work but also who they are as dynamic human beings. The One-On-One Festival has done a great job in achieving this goal. The writer stresses that audience participation at this festival is at its 'very highest level'. Taking part in the show gives the audience a completely different theatre experience. With just £17.50, you will be the sole audience member in the show where you are catered for and entertained. It's all for you. What's the harm in trying?

Punchdrunk's The Masque of the Red Death

Photo: Tristram Kenton

I'm particularly interested in the writer's idea of 'being intimate with a stranger'. To what extent should the audience be intimate with the performer? That leaves us to find out. Readers are encouraged to face their fears if they are not the type of persons who are comfortable with strangers. This is something i doubt. Is 'facing your fears' the aim behind the festival? Or is it merely a product of human creativity? No source is given in the article to support this.


The article has given a brief account of the 'performance' in the festival, such as The Star of Nurse Knows Best, where the audience is being put to bed and treated as a patient; and an 'adventure' where the audience will enter a wardrobe to find a secret room where an actor will dress him/ her up in odd clothes. Together with a video showing these performance, readers are able to get a glimpse of what actually would happen in the festival, which may help them decide their suitability to attend the show.


I would suggest the writer to include in the article details of similar festivals in other countries for comparison. In an article 'For your eyes only: theatre just for you' published in The Guardian's website, the writer shares his experience with several one-person shows in Toronto. It give readers an insight into the power and popularity of this new art form. Art is something everyone can share and enjoy, and is not limited to physical boundaries.



Other sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/may/08/one-on-one-theatre


Photo courtesy of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/may/08/one-on-one-theatre

Spending the night with Van Gogh

Article: Last chance to give it a Gogh this starry night
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/last-chance-to-give-it-a-gogh-this-starry-night-20100416-skpq.html

Turning an exhibition into a pyjama party. Gallery director Ron Radford relaxes
in the children’s activity corner which is a model of Van Gogh's bedroom.

Being a big fan of Van Gogh, I was naturally attracted by the article's headline. Enjoy Gogh's work under this starry night. How romantic it is. The writer has brilliantly put the theme of the article and the name of Gogh's masterpiece into one line.

The article began with a man's story of 'spend the night with Van Gogh'. It is true. The chance is very rare. Driving to Canberra takes no less than three hours, but David Wenger, a 46-year-old Sydney lawyer, was more than happy to do it. While articles on exhibitions usually sound dull and boring, this one is a little bit different. Wenger's itinerary on the night surely appeals to exhibition goers. Indulge yourself with a glass of champagne while listening to live music and seeing the pictures at the same time. What is better than that? Wenger even had the luxury of enjoying a dinner with friends before heading to the gallery just before midnight. It leads to a surprising fact that since the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition at the National Gallerye was opened all night on its closing weekend.

The many interesting stories from the staffs of the National Gallery have added color to the article. One planned to wear his pyjamas to events that night as he wanted to celebrate the exhibition 'in a bit of a wacky way'. The Masterpieces from Paris exhibition was no ordinary exhibition.


Other sources:
http://media.theage.com.au/lifestyle/essentials/iconic-van-gogh-restored-1915126.html

Photo courtesy of:
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/last-chance-to-give-it-a-gogh-this-starry-night-20100416-skpq.html

Why marriage is not for everyone?

Article: Argentina approves landmark gay marriage bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66E1IH20100715


Everyone deserves their own Hallmark moment.


The article begins with a statement that Argentina has made gay-marriage legal, and it is the first country in South America that lets gay couples marry and adopt children. As a piece of hard news, the article has fulfilled the 5W in the first paragraph. The quote from a leading gay rights activist in Argentina is very useful in reflecting the views of other supporters of the new law. The writers has shown the readers a vivid scene outside the Congress after the vote. The descriptions made me feel as if I was among the supporters who were hugging each other and jumping up and down even when the outside temperature was almost freezing. I could feel the passion in their hearts.

As a Roman Catholic country, Argentina is now at the vanguard of gay rights in the region despite the Church's opposition. The Catholic Church opposes all homosexual activities and regards them as intrinsically disordered and an abuse of our human nature. Legalizing same-sex marriage is then believed to have harmful effects on the society. The article has given the fact that recent opinion polls show most Argentines support gay marriage and the Argentine President, Cristina Fernandez, supports gay marriage on human rights grounds. This is a big step forward towards a democratic society. As said by Fernandez in the article, the law was a "positive step that defends minority rights."

A crowd in front of the Argentine National Congress,
waiting for the result of the debate on same-sex marriage in Argentina. 

To give readers more information on the issue, there is a list in the article that shows the countries that permit same-sex marriage. We knew that homosexual couples can marry in five states and in the capital city, Washington, where different laws apply in different states in the United States. The writer has also given a brief account of the laws in other Latin American countries as to the adoption of children by same-sex couples. The article has covered the key issue in Argentina as well as related issues and facts in other countries. Though it is short, it is a comprehensive and informative piece of writing.

There is also a video beside the article. It includes interviews and scenes of people cheering outside the Congress. It certainly has brought me into the moment and helped me perceive the news in a more visual way. At the end of the article, we also knew that Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, in addition to its fame for its tango culture, is also a "gay friendly" tourist destination.


Photo courtesy of:
http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/its-time-to-allow-gay-marriage/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crowd_in_support_of_Gay_Marriage_2.jpg