Canonicity

[Darth Thanos]

When we think about Star Trek, we usually think about the live-action series and films, but there is more in the franchise, such as animated series, comics, novels, etc.

I know that there are at least two canons: the rebooted films of recent years, and the main one with the series and old films. But what about the rest? Are Prodigy and Lower Decks canon? Are the comics canon?

The main series are obviously canon for them, but that doesn't mean they are canon to other Star Trek series.

 

[fireproof78]

re Prodigy and Lower Decks canon?

Yes.

Are the comics canon?

No.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Everything on TV/Streaming and films are canon. The canon may draw from other stuff like novels and videogames, but that doesn't make them canon.

Also, fans care WAY more about this stuff than the people making the shows.

 

[The Wormhole]

TV shows and movies are canon. Nothing else is. /THREAD

 

[DonIago]

I know that there are at least two canons: the rebooted films of recent years, and the main one with the series and old films.

Others have addressed some of the points you've raised to my satisfaction, but I'd point out that as canon refers to a body of work, there aren't two canons. There's a single canon that includes all of the above.

On a very simplistic and overly-broad level (he said, trying to forestall arguments about technicalities), "canon" is little more than a synonym for "official".

 

[Ovation]

Canon is what has been on a screen made by the Trek IP holders. Continuities are variable--"Prime" and "Kelvinverse" being the two principle ones. And canon cannot be "violated"--it has no set of rules except A) it's on screen, and B) it was made by/for the IP holders (Paramount, at present). It does not have to be consistent, it is frequently contradictory, and it is all REAL Star Trek. No one has to like all of it (or any of it), but it's ALL Trek.

 

[fireproof78]

On a very simplistic and overly-broad level (he said, trying to forestall arguments about technicalities), "canon" is little more than a synonym for "official".

Indeed. Here are some definitions (mostly to satisfy my inner word nerd):
Canon (most appropriate definition from Meriam Webster): [Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, standard]
a
: an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture
b: the authentic works of a writer
the Chaucer canon
c: a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works
the canon of great literature

---vs.---

Continuity: a: uninterrupted connection, succession, or union

 

[Finn]

Everything on TV/Streaming and films are canon. The canon may draw from other stuff like novels and videogames, but that doesn't make them canon.

Also, fans care WAY more about this stuff than the people making the shows.

More true for TOS and the TNG era shows (until Manny Coto in Enterprise) as the TPTB back tend tended to be people who didn't grow up or care that much for trek.

We didn't need to worry about fanwank back then

 

[fireproof78]

as the TPTB back tend tended to be people who didn't grow up or care that much for trek.

Now where's my heresy meme...?

 

[1001001]

There is no God.

 

[fireproof78]

There is no God.

There is only Roddenberry.

 

[Finn]

There is only Wesley

 

[LAFR]

There is only Zuul.

 

[Ovation]

There is only Bob the Discount Klingon.

 

[Oddish]

There is no William Shakespeare. "Hamlet" was written by Hamlet.

As to canon? As Garak said, it's all true. Especially the lies.

 

[The Wormhole]

There is only Roddenberry.

And His Holy Prophet, Lord Terry Matalas, Blessed be His Name.

 

[Finn]

Hallowed are the O'Briens

 

[Oddish]

They should have called this topic "Trekquus".

 

[Citiprime]

TV shows and movies are canon. Nothing else is. /THREAD

Generally true, but there is some wiggle room to this rule.

The canonicity of The Animated Series has been a contentious issue in the past, with reportedly Roddenberry not considering it canon. After his death, the official Paramount position is that it is canon, and other series have pulled story elements from The Animated Series. But there are elements of TAS that are hard to reconcile with everything else. But that's true of every show.

 

[fireproof78]

Generally true, but there is some wiggle room to this rule.

The canonicity of The Animated Series has been a contentious issue in the past, with reportedly Roddenberry not considering it canon. After his death, the official Paramount position is that it is canon, and other series have pulled story elements from The Animated Series. But there are elements of TAS that are hard to reconcile with everything else. But that's true of every show.

I mean, that was true of TWOK too. Are we discarding that too?


Oh, that would be fun.