Bullfighting, Corrida, Toros / Spain, Valencia

Bullfighting (also known as tauromachia or tauromachy; from Greek: ταυρομαχία "bull-fight"; Spanish: toreo [toˈɾeo]; Portuguese: tourada [toˈɾaðɐ]) is a &spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru), in which one or more bulls are baited, and then slaughtered in a bullring for sport and entertainment. As such is often called a blood sport by its detractors, but followers of the spectacle regard it as a &art&and not a sport as there are no elements of competition in the proceedings. In Portugal, it is illegal to kill a bull in the arena, so it is removed and slaughtered in the pens as fighting bulls can only be used once. A non-lethal variant stemming from Portuguese influence is also practised on the Tanzanian island of Pemba. The tradition, as it is practised today, involves professional toreros (also called toreadors) who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated according to the bullfighter&style or school. Toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull. Such maneuvers are performed at close range, which places the bullfighter at risk of being gored or trampled. After the bull has been hooked multiple times behind the shoulder by other matadors in the arena the bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust which is called estocada. In Portugal, the finale...