What is star trek canon and where is the authorative reference?
- Thread starter erebus
- Start date
Not according to paramount it is not:
Understand, it's all psychology.
Hardcore "trekkies" are people who obsess over the smallest detail concerning the version of the Trek universe they insist on perceiving as "canon". The more accurately and detailed this universe is defined, the more real it becomes (for them, and in product). The more stable, stagnant, and unchanging this universe remains....the more permanent the foundation of episodes, rules, and character traits become....the more consistent this reality becomes, and thus, more easily escaped into by said "trekkie". Within a constuct of their own acceptance and design, they have power over that universe. And, thus, power over their life.
Once you remove the stability of that universe....once you change any detail to any drastic degree, or threaten to rewrite their "permanent foundation"....that is when the conflict occurs for them. You are removing their power. Their control and percieved "ownership" of said universe.
That's why you have these few that lament and wail over the new movie. They are trapped. They cannot accept it into their controlled universe, because of its alien elements (sexuality, emotional flaws, pop culture, etc.), elements that remind them of the real world. For many who require a Trek universe to escape into, these elements could actually be the things they are escaping from. It is not an insult to say that sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll do not mix with Trekkies. The sex part, especially. This is not within their control, thus they shun it.
On the flipside, it is onscreen, stars Leonard Nimoy's Spock, and is from all possible angles, Star Trek.
So, the immediate weapon of "Cannonical Debate" is drawn, and the tantrums begin. Beware these supposed "fans". They do not support Star Trek. They support their personal corporate fantasy world. They support "more of the same" because they require the comfort, the reassurance, the control that this little bubble of fandom has given them their entire life. They do not care for new fans. They care for converting new fans to their perceptions of these fantasy worlds. They long for like-minded company, because there is security within the pack. They long for the pack mentality, because within an emotional furvor, whoever screams the loudest gets the most accolades, and....this is the key here.....the most validation.
If being a hardcore "trekkie" is their life, then maintaining a rigid stance on what they perceive to be Star Trek is the validation of their life.
Congratulations! If there were ever to be an award for "Most Erudite Troll Post" this would have to be the winner.
The fact that you are the only one who seemingly takes personal offense at my opinion speaks much more loudly about you, than it does me...
Trek canon doesn't exist. If a writer can change even well-established canon on a whim, it doesn't really exist. Anything you think is canon just hasn't been changed yet.
An excellent example is the new Trek movie. Most of the old Trek canon was swept away like yesterday's McDonald's extra-value meal.
An excellent example is the new Trek movie. Most of the old Trek canon was swept away like yesterday's McDonald's extra-value meal.
Exactly. Its whatever they say it is, which means its nothing at all. When they can just decide that long established characters and planets can simply be poofed out of existence, its clear that "canon" is nothing really.
For now, you could say Enterprise is still in it, and this movie. But even that doesnt mean anything. I am sure if they felt they needed to contradict something from Enterprise they would just go ahead and do that.
It was applied to the licensed tie-ins, in a 1989 memo, in an attempt to keep them consistent with the parent series, and in an attempt to stop fans from demanding that all material from the tie-ins be incorporated, carte blanche, into the parent shows.
Writers of the actual shows and movies have never had to follow canon strictly. TV shows are evolving entities, and each script is considered on its own merits, hence supposed "canon breaches" over the years.
"Live-action footage produced by Desilu/Paramount/Viacom/CBS" is the accepted canon criteria.
Several video and computer games featured live-action ST footage, often even filmed on the actual sets, but such footage wasn't a Paramount production and doesn't count. Similarly, live-action footage made for the tourist attractions at Universal and the ST Experience.
What the original memo never mentioned was the status of previously-trimmed material being reinstated into the movies. There are three versions of TMP, for example, and their content conflict with each other.
If you've read "Countdown" you'll see that the only thing newly-destroyed in the prime timeline is Romulus. And Nero.
Yes, I should confess canon doesn't really matter to me more than a good immersive story with star trek feel; but also that i completely buy into the alternate/parallel timeline/universe idea.
I like to think every decision from now on even at the quantum level can be different than what has gone before, and so cascading to all manner of radical possiblities at our 'grunt' level. So i'm looking forward to anything at all happening completely disconnected to anything we've had before.
I guess i sorta started this thread just to get a sense of what the other camp are thinking.
But i do admire the writers and although i haven't read Countdown, i'm excited to follow them anywhere they lead.
I like to think every decision from now on even at the quantum level can be different than what has gone before, and so cascading to all manner of radical possiblities at our 'grunt' level. So i'm looking forward to anything at all happening completely disconnected to anything we've had before.
I guess i sorta started this thread just to get a sense of what the other camp are thinking.
But i do admire the writers and although i haven't read Countdown, i'm excited to follow them anywhere they lead.
Canon is what has been established on screen and it counts until some hotshot "in charge" decides to violate it.
like tos did.. especially big time in the second season.
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