Canon

I see people asking about a particular bit of data 'is it canon'. Like there's a yes or no answer to that. And usually the closest you can get to an answer is to point at the source. Was it official, if so was it on paper, web, or TV, if so was it something we saw or something we heard.

I made a comment with my personal hierarchy in:

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I think the s in authors is a big part of where the question goes fuzzy. I mean, in a single author 'verse, if they write it, then it's canon. If they write it as an interview or opinion then it's probably less canon than a finished fiction, but if that's their opinion and they're going to write based on that opinion, that's a pretty fine distinction.

But in a multi creator 'verse, who gets the final say on anything?

And when the final say person keeps changing... then what?


I think people who start off in a 'verse with a limited creator-pool and only a few seasons (and I'm counting Buffy and Angel as 'only a few', which says something about perspective shift), you can get the idea that canon has edges.

If you start off in comics, or in Doctor Who, where the 'canon' has been created by god only knows how many people since before you were born... well, little bit more complicated.

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Once things get to comics level fuzzy-canon, with multiple titles by multiple authors all with slightly incompatible storylines that tie in every now and then to create a cyclically rebooting 'verse that actually chucks out a whole heap of previous canon at regular intervals...

Canon is that information which, if you did not know it, your core audience would point at you and laugh.

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So, you know, canon?
Not so much a yes or no deal.
More a balance of probability thing.

Personally I figure if I can cite my sources everyone can figure it out for themselves.

They won't agree with me. But that's okay.




And none of this gets into the differences in interpretation that are essential parts of the reading process. Sure, we can say Jack and Ianto were in a particular episode, and we can say if they were kissing, but saying how they feel about it? Even if they say it with words, is it canon they feel that way, or just canon they said it? And I've seen different people's transcripts - we aren't even hearing the same words. Or reading them - subtitle files are also multiple in their interpretations.


Canon: Fuzzy.


... I'm now getting visions of fun fur covered magenta seige weapons...
*sigh*

Labyrinth = lessons for the day

Sir Didymus: I have sworn with my life's blood that none may pass without my permission.
Sarah: Well... may we have your permission?
Sir Didymus: *thinksthinksthinks* ... Yes?

(Hint: it only turns into a battle if you don't ask.)

(See, Labyrinth is clever.)