[HPforGrownups] Re: What is Canon?

[Suzanne Chiles]

No: HPFGUIDX 55934

The Fox said:

>
> Lucas has actually called the novels "glorified fan fiction".  This is
> pretty rich, considering he's the one doing the glorifying, but there you
> go.  :-)  This includes the novelizations of the films themselves, so
> strictly speaking the Star Wars canon presently consists only of the five
> films.
>
> This makes every bit as much sense as considering the Harry Potter canon
> presently to consist only of the four books[1], and not the
> films.  You've
> got canon in one medium, and you've got material in another
> medium based on
> the original canon material.  Only one of them can be right, when they
> disagree.

Actually, it doesn't make sense at all. You *must* consider the original of
the work. Star Wars originated as film, and for that reason, the Star Wars
canon may only consist of the films, especially with Lucas' disclaimer.

Harry Potter, on the other hand, originated as literature, and for that
reason, canon must be restricted to the published books, of which there are
four at present. I'm inclined to include the schoolbooks, as they were
authored by JKR.

My opinions, and they are opinions, are based on my understanding of the
tenets of both film and literary criticism. Personally, I find (and keep)
the fan fiction as a completely separate being, bearing no resemblance to
canon whatsoever.

Suzanne