Therefore:
Warning: Some content in the below entry is graphic and may not be suitable for young audiences.
On the Sunday before last, I went to my first (and let's be honest, last) Bullfight. Anyone that has ever attended a Boston University tour, the Shelagh edition (which is none of you), knows that BU has this cultural reimbursement thing. If you do something "cultural" then you can get reimbursed up to 7 euros for it (about $10). Only one of these activities can be used a bullfight. Maybe the programmers do this because they are on the "No es cultura es tortura" (it's not culture, it's torture) side of the Bull-fighting argument, I don't know. Whatever the case, I am kind of glad that they do. Bullfights are weird.
You probably think you are familiar with bullfights. I can't speak for everyone, but I was under the impression that they killed a bull or too at a bullfight. Well, that is partly true. They kill 6 bulls. The entire thing lasts about 3 hours. We left after 2 hours because, well, would YOU want to watch the same performance 6 times? Four was all we could handle.
Please believe me when I say I am by no means an animal rights activist. I love meat. I will never be a vegetarian (I am impressed by vegetarians, but I could never be one). I am not even that nice. HOWEVER, when the first bull came into the ring (la plaza) and looked around confusedly at the hundreds watching, with no idea it was to be stabbed and slaughtered, I felt bad for the guy. I ALMOST got teary. My friend Natalie might try to tell you I DID have tears in my eyes. She's a liar.
 |
| This viejo and I became fast friends after he asked me if I was from England (honored he didn't assume I was American). He taught me everything I never wanted to know about Bullfights (in Spanish!) |
Bullfights go a little something like this:
- The original prossesion comes out, with the matadores, torreros (matador lackeys), picadores ('picar' literally means to cut or chop), and some important looking people.
- The first bull comes out, looks around a while, then the torreros wave their PINK(!!) "capotes" at the bull. They are not hardcore at all because they stand on the edge of the ring and hide behind these partitions when the bull starts running after them.
- After that, the matador comes out and does some cute little dances that are quite well-received, especially given their tight little suits.
- The bull gets pretty angry, as expected, and usually runs at the picadores on horseback. When the bull runs into the horses, the picadores stab them in attempts to make them go away. The horses have coverings over their eyes, so they never know when a bull is about to charge them. The horses are usually physically fine; they have a really thick mattress sort-of covering over their body. HOWEVER, according to some Enyclopedia Brittanica info I stumbled upon:
"Prior to 1930, the horse did not wear any protection, and the bull would usually disembowel the horse during this stage. Until this change was instituted, the number of horses killed during a fight was higher than the number of bulls killed." I think I may go vomit now.
- Then, three 'banderilleros' plant 2 'bandillas,' which look like long piñatas... but with spears at the end (this toy not suited for children), each on on the bull's back to weaken it.
- The matador then comes out with a sword and the cape and does some more little dances. The capes are red, but it doesn't matter, since bulls are colorblind. Hurrah to useless information! Finally, the matador spears the bull in between the shoulder blades to pierce the bull through the heart and (finally) kill it.
Despite my discomfort through 'la corrida', I am glad I went. It may be torture, but it IS culture as well. It is something every student in Madrid should see at least one, if only for the cute matadores.
"There's one American woman down here now that collects bull-fighters."
Ernest Hemingway The Sun Also Rises
