Canon (fiction)
Official body of works in a fictional universe.
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Canon, in the context of fiction, refers to the body of works set in a particular fictional world that are widely considered official or authoritative, especially those created by the original author or developer. It is contrasted with derivative works such as fan fiction, and its definition is often disputed, with no consensus on who has the authority to decide what is canonical. The question of canonicity is particularly significant when franchises are rebooted or re-imagined, as it shapes the viewer’s experience. Copyright holders frequently assert their authority to declare what is canonical, sometimes using this power to erase or retcon material previously approved by a setting’s original creator.
In the Star Trek franchise, for example, the official website defines canon as events occurring within the live-action television episodes and films, explicitly excluding tie-in novels, comic books, and video games, though it acknowledges that elements from those excluded sources have later been introduced into the television series. The Star Wars canon was originally divided into tiers by Lucasfilm, with live-action films and certain television series at the top, superseding other material in case of contradiction. After a corporate acquisition, Lucasfilm reclassified most earlier Expanded Universe material as a non-canonical “Legends” continuity.
The makers of Doctor Who have generally avoided formal pronouncements on canonicity. In literature, the canonical status of works by an original writer but not the original publisher can be debated, as copyright was historically exercised by publishers rather than authors. Original publishers or literary estates have sometimes posthumously approved continuation novels, such as The Royal Book of Oz, as canonical. Fan fiction is never regarded as canonical, though influential ideas within fan communities are sometimes termed “fanon.”
Quick Facts
- Definition
- Official or authoritative body of works in a fictional world
- Contrast
- Derivative works, including fan fiction
- Key dispute
- Who has authority to decide canon
- Related concept
- Fanon (fan-accepted ideas)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The canon of a work of fiction is defined as the body of works set within a particular fictional world that are widely considered official or authoritative, especially those created by the original author or developer. It serves as the basis for derivative works, including fan fiction, and is contrasted with non-canonical material. There is no universal agreement on who holds the authority to determine canonicity.
Copyright holders often declare themselves the authorities, particularly when they wish to erase or retcon materials approved by the setting's original creator. The concept is especially important regarding reboots or re-imaginings of established franchises, as it influences viewer experience. In some cases, works by the original writer but not the same publisher may have debated canonical status, as copyright was historically exercised by the publisher rather than the author. Campaigning by Victor Hugo led to the Berne Convention, which introduced author's rights.
Sometimes, original publishers or literary estates posthumously approve continuation novels as canon, such as The Royal Book of Oz, written entirely by Ruth Plumly Thompson after the death of original series writer L. Frank Baum, and designated canonical by the original publisher. In film and television, the original writer often does not decide what is canon. Fan fiction is never regarded as canonical, though influential ideas within fan communities are referred to as fanon.
Reader's Guide
During George Lucas's time, the Star Wars canon was divided into discrete tiers incorporating the Expanded Universe (EU), with higher-tier and newer material abrogating lower-tier and older material in case of contradiction. The makers of Doctor Who have generally avoided pronouncements about canonicity. In literature, original writers have not always approved works as canon, but original publishers or literary estates have posthumously approved subsequent works, such as continuation novels like The Royal Book of Oz and Heidi Grows Up.
Did You Know?
- The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror episodes are an example of non-canonical material.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Canon (fiction) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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