| Creator | Paulus Potter |
| Media Form | Print on paper |
| Genre | Animal art |
| Technique | Etching on cream laid paper |
| Date and Location of Creation | Holland, 1650 |
| Publication Information | Dimensions: Plate: 10.8 × 14.7 cm (4 5/16 × 5 13/16 in.); Sheet: 11.5 × 15.2 cm (4 9/16 × 6 in.) Credit Line: Elizabeth Hammond Stickney Collection Reference Number: 1887.456 |
| Natural Phenomenon Represented | The Bull |
How are bulls portrayed in the media? More recently, bulls have begun to catch my interest because of the way they are both portrayed in media and perceived in everyday life. When I think of bulls, I am reminded of depictions of aggression and recklessness. Bulls are often depicted in an exaggerated and violent manner. Whether the general perception of bulls is caused by media portrayals or if media portrayals are a product of their perception is up to you, but bulls are very interesting nonetheless.
Bulls are generally more aggressive than the average cow, but they are often provoked or shown to be provoked. While researching for this blog post, I stumbled upon an unknown clip from Looney Tunes where Bugs Bunny finds himself in an arena with a bull and a matador, or a “bullfighter”, and he begins to provoke the bull and start his old-timey, exaggerated, cartoon shenanigans on the bull.
This clip is a very good example of a typical depiction of a bull. However, there is one thing this clip gets wrong that many other depictions of bulls also get wrong; Bulls don’t care about the color red. Bulls are actually colorblind. It’s a myth that they can even see the color red. Bulls are enraged by the movement of the cape, not the color.
In Greek mythology, the story of the Cretan Bull is an example of an uncommon depiction of the bull. In the story of the Cretan Bull, the bull has been portrayed as beautiful and strong, yet quite aggressive when provoked. The beauty and strength of the bull is something uncommon for most depictions of bulls, but the aggression is very common.
Bulls are also portrayed in an aggressive fashion in music. An example I often think of is the way bulls are used in “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine, where the title is repeated in a very mantra-like fashion, something common in their music. Other than the politically charged lyrical content, which I won’t get into right now, the existence of the bulls in the lyrics paired with Zack de la Rocha’s aggressive lyrical delivery and Tom Morello’s unmistakable wah and downtuned, distorted guitar, the point definitely comes across.
There’s a common expression, usually used by folks older than me, which is “you’re acting like a bull in a China shop!” Although it’s a bit of a mouthful, it’s relatively self explanatory and can be used wisely given how bulls are both depicted and widely perceived. In listening to At the Drive-In’s In/Casino/Out, I found that the opening track contained repetition of this lyric:
Matadors chase the bull in a china shop
At the Drive-In, “Alpha Centauri”
During my first time listening to this album, I found myself intrigued by the lyrical content. To this day, I still listen back and think about how the lyrics are cryptic, but can present a message very clearly to the listener. In referencing the “bull in China shop” expression, there is an illustration of aggression and recklessness around fragility, the fragility being the abundance of China. However, the existence of a matador adds an added dimension of someone or something provoking said aggression and recklessness. I’m unsure who in the band wrote the lyrics for “Alpha Centauri”, but Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s quick repetition of “matadors chase the bull in a China shop” paired with the rising burn of post-hardcore instrumental is very powerful. The matador shows that there is a reason for the aggression.
I want to leave you with one thought; What is an animal that you recognize as aggressive? Are they actually like that? How do stereotypes sway your thought?
Works Cited
“CRETAN BULL (Tauros Kretaios) – Labour of Heracles in Greek Mythology.” Theoi Greek Mythology, https://www.theoi.com/Ther/TaurosKretaios.html. Accessed 9 October 2023.
Potter, Paulus. “The Bull.” 1650, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/72/the-bull. Accessed 4 October 2023.
Stuart. “Raging Bull: Why Bulls are so Aggressive and Angry – Fauna Facts.” Fauna Facts, 24 June 2021, https://faunafacts.com/cows/why-are-bulls-aggressive-and-angry/. Accessed 4 October 2023.
“Warner Bros. Classic Cartoon Characters: Bugs Bunny.” Warner Bros. Classic Cartoon Characters: Bugs Bunny – YouTube, SUPER CARTOONS Channel, 9 March 2019, https://youtu.be/14KTu4i27j8?si=6Ksa86WxzxrL910u. Accessed 9 October 2023
