Adela Nistora - Photographer

<br />A variety of bullfighting related souvenirs flood the streets surrounding the corrida venue.

At corridas the public goes from the initiated adult to curious tourists, and to <br /> young children brought by their parents; it is equally very “trendy” to attend a bull fight.

Outside the main arena, a young <em>toro</em> (bull) is tormented, as a novice <br /> <em>matador</em> (giver of death) performs various formal maneuvers in order to subdue it.

After suffering a slow and tortuous death, the bull gets tied to a horse cart <br /> and is paraded around, a trail of blood marking the way to the back of the arena.

<br />Once they are dragged from the ring, the six bulls typically tortured and killed in a bullfight for public amusement are butchered on the spot.

A barbaric spectacle, corrida is increasingly popular in Southern France, particularly during Easter. The Roman arena of Arles is among France's most important corrida venues. Although spectacles that involve cruelty to animals are formally banned in most parts of the world, bullfighting is still tolerated in some countries as part of their national cultures. But is it tradition or slaughter? Art or mutilation?

FRANCE, Arles | 2009

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Death In The Afternoon