Comments | elspethdixon: Not Yet Dead

elspethdixon

Not Yet Dead

Feb 21, 2007 16:06

I have Civil War 7 in my hot little hands, but am waiting until after Ash Wednesday services this evening before I read it, mostly because I have to psych myelf up, but also because it's a form of penance/self-denial/torture ( Read more... )

Comments 4

htbthomas February 21 2007, 22:14:21 UTC

Oh, wow, you are VIRTUOUS for keeping from reading that. I read ASM 538 last night because it came early in the mail... but it spoils absolutely nothing about CW 7.

I don't have mine... I thought they would be coming out on Thursday because of Presidents' Day. ?? I'm a little anxious about it, too. O_o

likeadeuce February 21 2007, 22:40:23 UTC

Oooh, I am begging people for Spider-man spoilers over in my LJ.

*makes eyes*

likeadeuce February 21 2007, 22:44:02 UTC

*nods a lot*

Ash Wednesday is an interesting choice, hmmm?

I like pseudo-death stories if they really count and don't read as cop outs. And sometimes, I'm just willing to shrug and read past them -- I mean, Colossus being alive in Astonishing Xmen doesn't make any actual sense, but it's a good story so I forgive. Same with Spike in season 5 of Angel.

On the other hand, I have trouble with post-"Not Fade Away" Angel fic that tries to explain away that ending, if only because it manages to feel so final and open-ended at once.

seanchai February 22 2007, 00:48:48 UTC

Stories in which the reports of a character's death have been greatly exaggerated have been around since pretty much forever. Jesus is obviously the big one for Western culture at this point, but there's also King Arthur being taken off to sleep until he's needed again - actually there are a bunch of 'sleeping king' stories. And there are innumerable fairytales and myths where a character returns from seeming death.

I think you've pretty much hit the nail on the head - pseudo-death stories serve a different function from death stories. Death stories are all about grief, and loss, and a certain kind of catharsis. Pseudo-death stories are a reminder of hope, that things lost can be regained, even if they're altered, and that there is a cyclical aspect to nature, and that things come back, in one form or another.

So in other words, I don't actually have anything intelligent to add, I'm mostly just agreeing with you.

Also! As far as where people imprinted on the pseudo-death story, there's also Disney's Robin Hood and any version of ( ... )