When people talk about culture in Spain, many immediately think of the Alhambra, Velázquez, Picasso, flamenco, or Don Quixote. But if we are honest, our contemporary culture has been personified by a fictional character who, for better or worse, represents the antithesis of all that: José Luis Torrente. This rude, corrupt, pathetic former policeman embodies some of the worst stereotypes of the average Spaniard, and despite that—or perhaps because of it—has become a cultural touchstone. So what better unofficial ambassador than Torrente? This character is a mirror of what we are, what we were, and, in some cases, what we hope not to become.
