[HPforGrownups] What is Canon?

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 55455

 
"Graniteworks" wrote -

I keep seeing everyone refer to "canon". What is it?? I don't 
understand the connection. Please Explain?? Also why does everyone 
refer to the first book as Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone?? 
As far as my knowledge goes in reading the book, it is called Harry 
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
 
"Graniteworks"
 
 Canon is the collection of facts established in a book or series or tv
series or film or whatever, depending on which fandom you're in. For example
Professor Snape is the head of Slytherin is canon because it is stated in
the books. Harry is the heir of Gryffindor is not canon because it is merely
an assumption many people have made based on him pulling Goderic's sword
from the Hat in CoS. And on a related note fanon is  something which is
generally taken as 'fact' by the fan community or sections of it such as
MWPP referring to themselves as the Marauders - fanon not canon.

And as for the title when the book was published in America the title was
changed because it was believed American children would not know what a
Philosopher was so it was changed to Sorcerer - whereas amongst us wise old
Brits Philosopher is a word commonly bandied about by 7 year olds - not! :)
It is imo the 'correct' title of the book because it is the title JKR used.

K