A liquid poured in a ritual (or the ritual itself) or a drink of any kind. "Libation" can be pronounced many different ways, all of which sound different. Say it with a British accent and it sounds like high class Lagavulin. With an American accent, it sounds like seltzer. Breathe it out and it sounds sensual; accent upwards on the last syllable and it sounds brotastic. It's a remarkably flexible blend of sound and meaning.
As you might've guessed from today's gif, the newest Captain America movie comes out today. We don't know what's going to happen in it but the previews seem to indicate seriousness and pain.
To interact with the movie, we've got two articles that might be relevant. First, from a year ago, Kate Erbland examined Marvel's view of what its superheroes are and are responsible for:
The Avengers’ desire to keep human beings safe informs their every decision and, even though the film is also about the eventual cracking of the original team, it’s easily the most important thematic choice director Joss Whedon makes. It certainly looks a fair bit different than the burgeoning DC cinematic universe—the DCCU?—which stumbled straight out the gate thanks to Man Of Steel. Zack Snyder’s 2013 film did little to remind viewers that Superman cares about them first (just like The Avengers), instead turning the story into a personal vengeance outing that left tons of innocent blood on Supes’ hands. Did Marvel notice? You bet they did. Look no further than Age Of Ultron, which never lets anyone forget what its heroes are fighting for, and how that looks so different from Man Of Steel. The Avengers want to save you. The DC heroes would like you to get out of the way.
Then, if you're ready, head over to The AV Club and read William Hughes' article about how resurrection in movies often feels unearned and cheap. (Warning: this is a heavy article. It's worth reading but be aware of what you're going into.)
When stories ask me to feel and care about a character’s death, and then reverse it by magic, the authors have gone beyond wish fulfillment. They’ve shown that they have no understanding of the truth of what they’re writing about. And without that truth, their art can never be anything more than a shallow reflection of life.
It will be interesting to see the choices that Captain America: Civil War makes. Hopefully they will be well-considered.
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