Monday, April 07, 2008

Lunchtime Poll


Aliens (aka upcoming visitors) land on earth (aka Seville) and say they're going to make you (not really) attend a bullfight (aka bullfight), the same day you caught glimpses of a bullfight on TV and decided you couldn't handle it. What do you do?

Seriously. Bullfight season is in full swing and when Jay and I happened upon a televised fight at a bar today, I started tearing up the minute the poor thing pranced into the ring, unawares of what he was walking into. The whole thing is, in fact, worse than I imagined. Horses are involved, as are these spears, which look tiny but produce a nauseating amount of blood from the animal. I had no idea if the poor creature made it (it is, of course, doubtful), because Jay just kept telling me, "Don't look up. Just finish your drink and we'll go. Don't look up."

But the decision isn't the no-brainer it seems. Bullfighting is an incredibly integral part of Spanish culture, and Seville in particular. The stands are packed full of men in three-piece suits and women in their best archaic Sunday attire. If the whole point of this excursion is to immerse oneself in the day to day life of a Sevilliano, how can one not attend a bullfight? It seems so righteously uptight to not attend the spectacle based on principle, especially since I have been a far-from-perfect vegetarian since arriving here.

I await your advice in the comments.

3 comments:

Corrie said...

DON'T GO! cultural experience aside... there's no shame in not wanting to see the blood n' guts. Take a flamenco class and chill on the bullfight. :) Jay... take one for the team and report back. CD (the girl one)

Unknown said...

Neither of you impress me as the bullfight type. I think the people of Seville will forgive you for being who you are. To thine own self be true. Mom P.S. Dad says go for it.

Hater said...

Jen, you are right in assuming they don't make it. I don't know why they call it a Bull "Fight" when they could just as easily call it a Bull "Stabbing". And the whole "Thats their culture" argument shouldn't not make you not feel guilty. It's just not an excuse for a-hole behavior. That being said, you "guys" really should go see a "delicious" Bull "Fight" while you are in "Spain".

PS

I "Love" You "Both"

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