What is Canon?

[Petra Pan]

No: HPFGUIDX 55830

Katy Cartee:
> Again i must ask, WHY NOT? Nobody has
> given me a good reason thus far as
> to WHY we should refute facts retrieved
> from objects other than the books
> if they do not contradict what is in
> the books! 

Ask and you shall receive...

Speaking for myself, it's because it is a 
lot easier to avoid 'contamination' than 
trying to get rid of incorrect notions 
once it's been woven into the fabric that 
is canon understanding.
 
> Here's one good reason why we SHOULD
> accept them as fact (or "canon"): so
> far, we've been told that JKR is
> only writing 7 Harry Potter books.
> SEVEN. #5 is about to come out and
> then only 2 more to go. What then?
> What else will we have to turn to
> to satiate our thirst for
> Potter-knowledge? I'll tell you -
> OTHER licensed sources. I don't know
> about you, but it would thrill me to
> learn more facts after the series is
> complete.

Ah but the series is NOT complete yet.  
Info gleaned from merchandising may 
very well be contradicted by future 
canon.  The very fact that such info 
DO fill in the blanks left by current 
canon is why they are attractive...but
...it's also a weakness: such blanks 
may be filled by canon later.  I envy 
you if you can keep accurate track of 
where you get all the various bits of 
data and therefore can remember when 
conflicts arise, which bit of info is 
from canon and which from the Harry 
Potter Coat Stand (or whatever).  <g>

Besides, canon is the common ground 
for all of the 6000+ members here.  
Canon is something we all agree on as 
far as authenticity/importance and it's
something we all have equal access to.

Petra
a
n  :)

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