La dispute identitaire espagnole et catalane à propos des corridas

Abstract

The ban on bullfighting, which was passed by the Parliament in Catalonia in 2010, raised much controversy in Spain. This research analyses the media coverage of the event, by four newspapers from the centre and periphery, and looks at whether they use the debate as a pretext for reaffirming their position with regard to identity and whether they contribute to the polarization of the conflict. A Critical Discourse Analysis approach is used in order to uncover how ideological beliefs are spread and how the newspapers help to establish Spanish and Catalan identity, setting out the arguments for and against bullfighting.