THE OTHER DAY, I shared photos of my walk on the beach (click here). Visible in a few photos was a big black bull on a hill. Some facts about the bull:
• The bull is a billboard, one of 21 in Andalusia. (There are 94 in all of Spain.)
• They were erected beginning in 1956 by the Osborne Sherry Company (now Osborne Group) to advertise their Brandy of Jerez. The company was established in 1772.
• They were made larger in 1962 when new laws banned advertising within 150 metres (about 500 feet) of a road.
• In 1994, the EU passed a law prohibiting roadside advertising for alcoholic beverages. Public response enabled the bulls to remain but completely blacked out (no more advertising).
I went for a walk Wednesday (7 February) to get some new views of the bull to share with you.
Here's the link to last year's blog post when I walked to the top of the hill for a closer look, coincidentally on the 7th of Feburary, the exact same day (click here). I remember wearing a T-shirt and shorts that day. This year, a sweatshirt, scarf, down vest, gloves, and knit cap! This weather is bull!
EL OTRO DÍA, compartí fotos de mi caminata por la playa (haz clic aquí) Visible en algunas fotos era un gran toro negro en una colina. Algunos datos sobre el toro:
• El toro es una cartelera, una de 21 en Andalucía. (Hay 94 en toda España).
• Fueron erigidos a partir de 1956 por Osborne Sherry Company (ahora Grupo Osborne) para publicitar su Brandy de Jerez. La compañía fue establecida en 1772.
• Se hicieron más grandes en 1962 cuando las nuevas leyes prohibieron la publicidad dentro de los 150 metros de una carretera.
• En 1994, la UE aprobó una ley que prohíbe la publicidad en carretera de bebidas alcohólicas. La respuesta pública les permitió permanecer, pero se quedaron completamente en negro (no más publicidad).
Fui a dar un paseo el miércoles (7 de febrero) para obtener algunas vistas nuevas del toro y compartirlas contigo.
Aquí está el enlace a mi blog del año pasado cuando caminé hacia la cima de la colina para ver el toro, casualmente el 7 de febrero, exactamente el mismo día (haz clic aquí). Recuerdo que llevaba una camiseta y pantalones cortos ese día. ¡Este año, sudadera, bufanda, chaleco, guantes, y gorro! El tiempo es una mierda!" (En inglés, se dice esto es "bullshit" (mierda del toro).
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| IN DECEMBER, TOURISTS IN SANTA HATS CLIMBING THE BULL (ILLEGALLY). EN DICIEMBRE, TURISTAS CON GORROS DE PAPÁ NOEL ESCALANDO EL TORO (ILEGALMENTE). |
thank you for the explanation, dear. interesting.
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteMy pleasure. An excuse for a walk in a different direction.
Great public art. I like them. You could travel the country and photograph all of them.
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteWhile writing this post I actually thought of a roadtrip to find at least the 21 in Andalucía. I've seen a few others on my travels but for some reason never thought to take pictures.
I kind of like the wonder of it from a distance. It's a little eerie.
ReplyDeleteDeedles:
DeleteThey are fun to see from a distance.
I am fascinated by that bull and read both your posts. Thanks for schlepping all the way up there again for more photos! Do people rub its rather prominent testicles for good luck?
ReplyDeleteDebra:
DeleteIs rubbing a bull's testicles really good luck? Good luck if you survive, I suppose!
As you know, Mitchell, at my place I write mostly about pop culture, and occasionally I delve into advertising art. My feeling is even though the whole point of an ad is to separate you from your money, if you can resist that, you may realize a lot very creative people work for ad agencies, and they occasionally create works that transcends mere marketing. Sounds like something like that happened with these bulls in Spain.
ReplyDeleteKirk:
DeleteI agree with you. The Osborne Bull became a symbol of Spain. Brilliant advertising.
That's some bull
ReplyDeleteAdam:
DeleteNo bull... all true... well and SOME bull!
I rememvbere these bulls from Adalucia when I was in 2013 there
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteThey are fun to see on your travels.
It's a bull, alright. A rather impressive distant figure on the hilltop.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteThere's a great view of it from the train platform near us. I love seeing them along the roads. Have seen 3 or 4 so far.
To me those bulls are Spain
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteA truly successful ad campaign.
All I could think of when I first saw it was a production of Carmen in Warsaw with a stage high rotating anatomical correct bull as it's main scenic feature. That and a pinata that I bought when we lived in Mexico of a bull - intacto as it where. Never did have the nerve to fill it with candy and bat at it....
ReplyDeleteWilym:
DeleteAn anatomically correct piñata. What WOULD one aim for?
damn lets try that again.... the STARS!!!!!!
Delete