Cultural+Implications



=Why was the bull created?= ====As the previous pages in this wiki state, the sculpture [|Charging Bull]was created by an artist named __ [|Arturo Di Modica] __ and placed in the city of New York. The sculpture was not commissioned by the city, but was entirely the artist's idea and was funded entirely by the artist himself. The piece was initially installed as an act of "guerrilla art," which is discussed on a later page of this wiki. It was installed under a 60 ft Christmas tree and placed there as a gift to the city of New York symbolizing the "strength and power of the American people." The stock market crash in 1987 was the inspiration for the creation of this sculpture and the morning after it was installed under the Christmas tree in 1989, the artist stood beside it and passed out fliers about the sculpture to the people who gathered to view it.====

=How did the sculpture end up on Wall Street?= ====The Charging Bull did not remain in it's original location, in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Police seized the statue and impounded it, however, this sculpture had instantly captured the hearts of the people, and the public outcry which rose up made New York's officials realize the cultural significance of this sculpture. They re-installed it a few blocks down the street in the plaza at Bowling Green, and it has remained there ever since. The sculpture is technically on a temporary permit, but it is clearly not going anywhere any time soon and it has become an iconic piece of art and a huge tourist destination for the city of New York.====

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=Why has Charging Bull become a New York Landmark?= ====The bull fascinates people and they are drawn in to touch it - particularly it's nose, horns, and "a 'peculiar ritual' of handling the 'shining orbs' of the statue's [family jewels] seems to have developed into a tradition" - "People are crazy about the bull. It captured their imagination," says the park's commissioner. And, apparently, the fun with the bull does not stop when the sun sets - if anything it gets more wild and crazy: "I've seen people do some crazy things to that bull," said a souvenir vendor, "At night, sometimes, when people have been drinking, I've seen them do stuff to that bull that you couldn't print in a newspaper."====

====Though the bull was not commissioned, it has become a symbol of strength and prosperity as well as a good luck charm, which no one can ignore, and which thousands of people flock toward. The bull has become Wall Street's mascot, and though it is placed "temporarily" in the plaza at Bowling Green, it is an iconic, essential, and very permanent attraction in the city of New York.====

= __**Bund Bull:**__ =



====Charging Bull has a commissioned Chinese counterpart, also created by Arturo Di Modica, called Bund Bull. The bull is located on the Bund in [|Shanghai] and is an almost complete replica of Charging Bull, retaining the same weight and height, but differing in color and certain physical details.====

====The bull was commissioned by Chinese officials in order to create a symbol that is representative of China's new identity as a global economic power. It's also important to note that the bull is not an exact replica. Shanghai's bull maintains the same weight and height as New York's, but is individualized enough to suggest that their bull is not a tribute, but rather an indirect challenge or Chinese declaration of financial rivalry between the two nations.====

====China's decision to create Bund Bull also validates the global and cultural significance of New York's Charging Bull. By imitating New York, China may have established a global trend of placing a bull in a city's financial district as a type of visual indicator of economic strength and supremacy, almost serving the same function as a trophy or medal given out after an athletic competition.====

====Bund Bull's most notable difference is its red color, representative of China and its communist government. The bull also appears younger and stronger, drawing attention to the perception of youthful strength that China wants to establish and spread about its economy. Bund Bull's tail is also pointing up, reflecting the ongoing growth of China's markets.====