Sundoy, May 26, 1957
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Thred
American Attitudes
Toward the Popular Spanish Sport
Of Death Are Undergoing Quite a Radical Change
come more famous than a mata-
dor.
But such occurrences are outside
the general run of things-freak
incidents that belong to the ec-
centricities of Spanish tempera-
ment, not to the bullring.
ON A bullfight Sunday in Mad-
rid when six brave bulls are
offered up for the general edifica-
tion of the public, it is almost a
foregone conclusion that by sun-
down there will be meat from six
brave bulls for the general bene-
fit of the poor.
Ard if a bull proves himself to
be a coward and unacceptable for
performance in the ring, he meets
his death shamefully-off-stage
instead of in open combat, but
death all the same.
For death is the foundation of
the spectacle. This is the basis of
the art, the reason for t,- peculiar
intensity that accompanies that
art,
When the hot Mediterranean
sun beats down on the gaudy fig-
ure performing with the untamed
beast, it is the ancient laws of tra-
gedy that are set in motion-and
something deeper than sporting
blood is required from the specta-
tor.
It it has been a good fight-the are a thousand variable factors another fictionalized version of ficult to avoid when the show is in
bull brave, the matador courage- that make it impossible for even what goes on in bullfighting. good form, especially after some
ous, the kill honorable-then the the most competent of matadors The most recent American note conditioning. The Mexican per-
power of the spectacle is its ownt t at toftrof Spain and its particulars is Ri- formances are winning over many
to turn aut a satisfactary after- chard Wright's Pagan Spain, an converts, and there is no under-
See Cover Picture noon every time he appears, individual type of travelogue that estimating the effect of the spec-
Furthermore, competence is not maintains its individuality in the tacle in its native environment.
justification. There is a certain enough. The bullfight reaches bullring. If Americans can keep their
profound feeling in the bullfight emotional heights only when the IN SHORT, indications are that morality under control, they may
that leaves the spectator deeply matador too feels the power of the Americans may be closer to the find in the bullfight "an ecstasy,"
emotionally affected - a feeling drama in which he is acting. The Iberian peninsula than they think. in the words of Hemingway, "that
unlike anything found in the bullfighter at his best delivers As Spain becomes included in the is, while momentary, as profound
sporting world, himself "body and soul to the pure standard tourist circuit, and it is as any religious ectasy . . . that
joy of fighting," in the words of rapidly advancing in that direc- leaves you, when it is over, and
)F COURSE, for every fine per- matador Juan Belmonte. tion, the public attitude should be- the death administered to the ani-
tarmance there are the dozens Today the consistently good come radically different. mal that has made it possible, as
of second-rate exhibitions that go writers on bullfighting are still "Bull fever," as the English call empty, as changed and as sad as
from inferior to deplorable. There the English. A fine example of re- the attraction of the ring, is dif- any major emotion will leave you."
cent vintage is John M arks' To the ... . .. . ....... .: ;' V :::::6::." : : f " :
Mis a Bullfight, published in 1953, which"
s rchslag, Presetly -is more modest than Hemingway's
played in her homae city, Chicago, epic, but also more coherent.
gradualed front the University This is not to say that the
with a major is, English in June, Americans do not make their ap-
'tpearance on the scene. Barnaby
1956. Dsring the 1955-56 school Conrad, who now operates a sa
year, she served as The Daily's loon in San Francisco. is the au-
first Magazine Editor. She re- thor of the very interesting La
Fiesta Brava, a sort of primer of
turns to the college newspaper the trade, with excellent photo- :
scene with an article on American graphs. Conrad has also written
attitudes toward the bullfight, the nvel, The Matador and othe We fin that coiing islo
bullfight miscellany.
culled partially from her travels Tom Lea's book The Brave Bulls, the Graduation gift buy-
in Europe last summer. a best seller of a few years back, is ing season that we are able
to offer a few selected bar-
gains for those Moms and FRED V. BASOM
CO NT E NT S Dads who are thinking along photographic lines for
their junior grads. By the way, giving a camera not
Page 2 MOSCOW LETTER Page 10 only makes a fine present, but it makes a lifetiie hobby
Page 4 THE MOSAIC ART Page 11 and gives a lifetime of enjoyment - which is about
Page 6 DETROIT AREA STUDY .Page 12 the greatest gift anyone can give.
Page 8 JOURNALISM FELLOWS Page 14
Page 9 SAILING Page 15
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Bullfight photograph courtesy Boersma Travel Service; Page 2: fl.4
Williams; Page 5: Cartoon courtesy The New Yorker Magazine;
raphs courtesy the Museum of Art; Page 8: Photograph courtesy
e 10: Photograph courtesy Associated Pres sNewsphotos;'Pages Camera,Flash
otographs by Richard Gaskill; Page 14: Daily photographs by arrglC se
15: Photographs courtesy International Yacht Sales; Page 16: C-3 6950 49.50
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ART MUSEUM
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SCOTT FITZGERALD.
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PICTURE CREDITS-Cover:
Photograph by Harding
Pages 6 and 7: Photog
Ronald Muchnick; Pag
12 and 13: Daily ph
Charles Curtiss; Page
Photograph courtesy As
Gaskill (Area Study).
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