Euthanasia is something that I ever gave much thought to so I didn’t really have an opinion about it before watching the movie Mar Adentro. In the movie it was hard to understand why such a charming, well-loved man would want to die. I know he is paralyzed but why would that make you want to take your life? I think this is the question that many people ask including the government but my opinion is that unless you are in the situation yourself you should have no say in the decision. I feel it is unfair to force someone to live a life that is miserable and unbearable. I do not condone suicide and I feel that it is necessary for people to find ever reason to be here, but when someone has been in a situation for 25 years and has no way of changing their situation, I think it is in the best interest of them to support whatever they want to do. It is a very difficult thing to stand by and watch happen but I feel it comes down to the individual only. I thought that the different roles in the film were very important and showed how much support and how difficult that situation can be and how real it actually is. I have only heard and seen euthanasia in films but seeing a real story be told and knowing what happens and how it was done was shocking to me. I thought it was crazy how big the media was apart of it. It was very courageous and brave of Ramon Sampedro to let his story be known and maybe help someone else in the future. The combination of family, love, tragedy, and government control gave made this movie very strong and capable of reaching many people and making them think about something they might not have before.
I have watched multiple television programs since I have been in Spain. I have watched a game show, a dance competition, and the news. They all have many similarities to programs in the United States and very little differences. None of them seemed to be censured in anyway, however they are shows that don’t have much to censor. One thing that I noticed with the news was the people presenting it. At home, the people broadcasting the news are usually very well groomed. They are made up to perfection and wearing suits or other apparel appropriate for the place they are reporting form. When I was watching the news here, I noticed that certain broadcasters were wearing tank tops and had no make up on. This was interesting to me because I am so used to the newscasters having perfect hair and make up and these people did not. Another thing I noticed from the other two shows was that the host was very dressed up. They all wore dresses and had their hair and make up done. On the game show, the host was very enthusiastic but spoke somewhat slowly and was dressed very nice. This was interesting to me because a game show is supposed to me a more relaxed television program then the news and they appeared the opposite of what they would in the United States. Other then that the programs were more or less the same. Since all of the shows did not have actors in them I was unable to see a difference in those kinds of programs. All of the hosts were very dramatic and spoke with a lot of passion even though it was about a game show or a dance competition. The dancing show was very similar to the show on MTV “America’s Best Dance Crew”. The groups were given a task and they had to choreograph a dance and present it to judges. One dance was very flamboyant and would probably not be seen in the U.S. In general the programs were very similar to those I have seen in the U.S.
I thought this presentation was very good. While I went into the class having a sense of the history of Spain, I did not know much about it. Usually, I am not fond of learning about politics and government, however Oscar had a good way of keeping me interested. The government in Spain is one that has gone back and fourth over the past century. The concept of “La Nina Bonita” was interesting to me. He kept saying that having such high hopes for something usually leads to disappointment. Another concept that he referred back to was timing. Oscar’s view on certain successes in history are based on timing. I have never thought of timing as being such a factor into whether or not a government or a ruler would succeed or not. When we look at the history of Spain, I find it interesting how separated the country is. The elections in 1936 were interesting to hear about also. There was the Frente Popular and the Derechas. There was nothing in between which caused problems for the country and eventually turned into a civil war. Franco’s regime was a success more or less because of timing. He came during a time where the world was preoccupied with WWII. He was able to set up his regime with no problem. During Oscar’s presentation, he knew how to capture his audience and keep them listening although he knew that we not have wanted to. I thought it was important for him to continue to add his own input and tell us his opinions during certain parts of the lecture because it made it his own.
Pedro Almodovar has created another role for women with this film. In his films he always creates a character that is not so strong at first, but overcomes whatever hardships she is facing and ends up being somewhat happy or content in the end. This film, like the other we’ve seen in class, has a woman that is married and has a child. This woman is a cleaning lady as is Gloria in the other film. When the movie begins she is playing the typical role that I have seen in these films, which is the inferior woman that works and comes home to take care of her husband then her daughter then herself. In his films, Almodovar creates the male roles so that they are not very likeable. In both films they seem like disrespectful people that demand catering and sex from their wives. In Volver, Raimunda’s husband is a man that asks his wife for sex and when refused, he masturbates right next to her. He also molests his daughter, which makes him an even worse character in the story. He is the only man in the story with an actual role and he is killed. This is interesting because it makes for another story about women and their ability to stay strong and keep their lives going. Another similarity that is random but interesting is that both men were killed in the kitchen. I like how the films have such different story lines but are so similar in other ways. Little things like the actors, or the similar characteristics among characters, or the way people are killed, all make Almodovar’s films unique and familiar. The main themes of his films are death and the role of women and their strength although they are looked down on in their own society.
Since I have been in Spain I have noticed a difference in the role of different genders. There have been a couple occasions where I have witnessed men acting superior to women. One experience was on the train. We were on our way back from Cadiz and the train was over booked. There were seats filled and people that had official seating. In our section some of us were asked to get up and give the seat to the people who held the tickets with assigned seating. Unfortunately we had to compromise and give up our seats. As this happened we heard a commotion from the next car down. The same situation was happening and somehow a grown man ended up putting his hands on a woman. This caused an upset throughout the train. This was something that I had never seen in person and could not believe it was happening in a public place as though it was no big deal. The older couples that were around us were acting as though the woman who had been hit must have done something to deserve it. This shocked me even more. I was standing next to an older couple when it was settling down. The woman was still discussing what had happened with other people. She was very opinionated and getting worked up about it. At one point her husband gave her a firm look and told her to shut up and stay out of it and she stopped talking and apologized to him. This was another thing that baffled me. I could not believe the calmness and willingness of this woman to sit back and listen to her husband asking her not to voice her opinion. Another experience was when we went on the tour of the palace. We were walking in a small hallway when all of a sudden a man came form behind us and yelled at us and clapped his hands to get us out of the way instead of politely saying excuse me. It was a group of girls including the tour guide. She said something to him explaining that he was being rude and should be more considerate especially with women and he back talked her said it was our fault. While they were arguing his wife just quietly followed behind not saying a word to anyone. This whole situation showed the role of the male and his feeling of dominance and then the weaker role of his wife following behind keeping her mouth shut. We have also seen examples of this in the films we have watched. It is very interesting to me and seems out dated because I come from a place that a man would never hit or verbally disrespect a woman and have it be okay.
Frederico Garcia Lorca’s play was one that gave me mixed emotions. I thought that the plot of the play was very dark and depressing with some comedy added in. From the start, the play was very intense and emotional. The woman that played the mother was good at capturing the heartache and suffering that she had gone through with the death of her son and husband. I enjoyed the whole play because the plot was such a classic story. One woman torn between two men that leads to a fight and a tragic ending. The actors did a great job expressing the emotion and making it as real as possible for the audience. I thought it was interesting the role that the mother had in the whole play. She was somewhat of the leader and the one that ran everything. When she was upset everyone knew and would need to change whatever was wrong. I have been used to seeing the women as the inferior gender in everything we have done in class, so this was a surprising change. However the other women in the play were grabbed up and yelled at by the men in the play. The experience as a whole was great. I really enjoyed the setting of the play and how simple it was. They performed the whole thing on a piece of wood, but their performance gave it so much life and I was able to picture where and when the scenes where taking place. The play gave a good representation of family honor and gender roles during that time period.
Pedro Almodovar’s, “Que he hecho yo para merecer esto?”, is a film that depict a completely dysfunctional family in Spain trying to make do with what they have. I found the film odd yet interesting. The characters that Almodovar created each had a significant part in adding to the authenticity and outrageousness of the film. Many parts in the movie were shocking and made me question the story and the meaning of the movie. I found it disturbing when Gloria sold her son to the dentist. It is clear from the beginning of the movie that it will be unpredictable and somewhat difficult to understand. I think Gloria is a woman that has settled for an unsatisfying life and is unable to escape it. She tries in certain scenes, such as the opening one with the man at the gym and when she is with the daughter of her neighbor. I find her and Crystal’s relationship interesting because although I don’t think Gloria wants to be a hooker, I think she envies Crystal’s freedom to do whatever she wants. Even though Gloria is searching for that freedom throughout the film, once she finds it she feels empty and doesn’t want to live anymore. Another thing that was interesting to me was the relationships between spouses. Gloria and her husband did not have a happy relationship. They were angry and at times cruel to each other and she ends up killing him. She is made inferior to him and eventually stands up to him, which is an empowering yet disturbing scene. The most unexpected part of the movie was when the young girl put up the wallpaper for Gloria. I don’t understand the relevance of her powers but it made the movie more interesting. Almodovar’s style is one that takes and open mind to appreciate. Although I thought the movie was strange I was never bored and found myself curious to see what would happen in the end.
La feria de Jerez was a wonderful experience. I thought the whole thing was very beautiful. The fair was full of colors and life it really showed a big part of the Spanish culture. I think that tradition is very important in the Spanish culture and certain traditions have been carried on for many years. One main thing that stood out at the fair was the dresses that the women and girls wore. They were all very colorful and loud. We did an interview with two young women about their dresses. They have been getting them since they were young and usually get a new one every 2 or 3 years since they are so expensive. Another thing that I loved about the fair and the people in Spain is their spirit and their ability to have a good time no matter how young or old they are. As we walked down the roads we saw people dancing and having a great time with each other wherever they heard music. At one point we were under a tent and there was a group of women dancing flamenco with each other. They were obviously enjoying themselves so we decided to join and try to learn the dances as well as show them some dances. They were very nice and very willing to let us join and teach us. The Spanish culture in general is very old fashioned and I feel is based on keeping their traditions alive as the years go on, which makes it so authentic and so much its own. The fair overall was a great example of this.
