Corrida de Torros, Ole!

Yesterday, the group had the opportunity to witness something extremely important to the Spanish culture; a Corrida de Torros (literally translated, running of the bulls, or bullfight). It was my first time going to one and although I am happy to have been able to experience that, I can't say it is something I want to experience again. Bullfighting here is considered to be something that is deeply ingrained and is an integral part of the culture. The people consider the bull fight to be a ritual of artistic expression. I was definitely able to see the artistic aspects present in the fight, the angles and lines of the matadors body, the interaction between the bull and matador, the sheer courage necessary to take on such a powerful animal, and the technique of the matador all contribute to the beauty many people see. It was truly amazing to see how the crowd was able to voice whether they were pleased or unhappy with the matador, based on his technique and his success in demonstrating the beauty of the sport, it is much different than the interactions fans have at sporting events back home in America. When they feel as though the matador is taking too long to kill the bull and unnecessarily lengthening the life when the bull is in pain, they let the matador know by clapping repeatedly in sets of three, and id they are pleased with the matador thy wave white cloths and clap normally.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the bullfight. Many people do not see it as a part of the spanish history and something that contributed to their current national identity, but rather something that is cruel and inhumane. Animal rights activists view the sport as barbaric and cruel. Although the majority of spaniards appreciate the sport, many people also agree that there is a limit to the length of the death and amount of pain the bull should experience. Although I can understand why people appreciate the sport, I personally did not like it. I am glad I was able to be a part of something so important to Spain's history, but once was more than enough. I think a lot of my negative interpretation of the fight was rooted in my cultural upbringing and the differences in values between the United States and Spain. If bull fighting was brought to America, many people would find the sport cruel and unnecessary. What impacted me most about the sport was knowing the fate of the bull regardless of what it did; there was something morbid about knowing that and still appreciating the beauty of the fight. Bullfighting is something of beauty and cruelty all at once. With every drop of blood, there was the gracefulness of the matador to accompany. Regardless of how it impacted my emotionally, it was an experience I will always remember and something I will never regret. Something I am happy to check off my bucket list!