Canonicity: Difference between revisions

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(Fixing up phrasing. I don't have it in me right now, but that first line in the BTS should really be telling us what canon actually *means*. There's a few interesting angles to get into, but at least a simple explanation would be good background for the more uninformed reader. (Especially with more meta articles, this is our opportunity to start at the beginning for the uninitiated.))
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Canonicity was seemingly of interest to the [[Time Lord]]s, as there existed a [[Towers of Canonicity and Likelihood|Tower of Canonicity]] in the [[Capitol]], twin to the Tower of Likelihood. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Blue Angel (novel)|The Blue Angel]]'')
Canonicity was seemingly of interest to the [[Time Lord]]s, as there existed a [[Towers of Canonicity and Likelihood|Tower of Canonicity]] in the [[Capitol]], twin to the Tower of Likelihood. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Blue Angel (novel)|The Blue Angel]]'')


The [[Sixth Doctor]] once expressed doubt on whether [[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)#Plot|something]] to do with [[Hecate]] (about which he didn't elaborate) was "canonical". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Pirates (audio story)|Doctor Who and the Pirates]]'')
The [[Sixth Doctor]] once expressed doubt on whether something to do with [[Hecate]] (about which he didn't elaborate) was "canonical". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Pirates (audio story)|Doctor Who and the Pirates]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)|A Girl's Best Friend]]'')


The adventures experienced by [[River Song]] where she met her adoptive mother, her [[Proto-Time Lord|"sort-of" sisters]], and various incarnations of [[the Master]] (including the {{Jacobi|n=War Master}} and {{Gomez}}) were "probably" canonical. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Story of the Diary of River Song (webcast)|The Story of the Diary of River Song]]'')
The adventures experienced by [[River Song]] where she met her adoptive mother, her [[Proto-Time Lord|"sort-of" sisters]], and various incarnations of [[the Master]] (including the [[War Master]] and [[Missy]]) were "probably" canonical. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Story of the Diary of River Song (webcast)|The Story of the Diary of River Song]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==

Revision as of 02:54, 26 November 2022

Canonicity, also called canon, was a concept that determined whether or not a certain source (such as a religious or fictional text) could count as a proper part of a greater whole; this concept was used by humans on Earth, whether they be practitioners of Christianity (AUDIO: The Council of Nicaea) or fans of the fictional adventures of Iris Wildthyme. (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love)

However, many individuals within the Doctor's universe actually questioned the canonicity of either their own adventures or those experienced by others, (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates, PROSE: Lady Peinforte, WC: The Story of the Diary of River Song) with the Time Lords even having a Tower of Canonicity. (PROSE: The Blue Angel)

Usage

On Earth

Religious canon

In 325, the Council of Nicaea (to which the Fifth Doctor bore witness alongside companions Erimem and Peri) saw a gathering of the greatest scholars and leaders of 4th century Christianity to debate and solidify the reaches of biblical canon, showing the concept was applied by humans to religion. (AUDIO: The Council of Nicaea)

Fictional canon

Panda found out about the spin-offs from the Iris Wildthyme series from "super-fan" who "hardly knew what was canonical". (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love)

The information contained on the TARDIS Wiki influenced Lady Peinforte's search for information on the Doctor and the canonicity of information she could find. (PROSE: Lady Peinforte)

By Time Lords and other time travellers

Canonicity was seemingly of interest to the Time Lords, as there existed a Tower of Canonicity in the Capitol, twin to the Tower of Likelihood. (PROSE: The Blue Angel)

The Sixth Doctor once expressed doubt on whether something to do with Hecate (about which he didn't elaborate) was "canonical". (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates, TV: A Girl's Best Friend)

The adventures experienced by River Song where she met her adoptive mother, her "sort-of" sisters, and various incarnations of the Master (including the War Master and Missy) were "probably" canonical. (WC: The Story of the Diary of River Song)

Behind the scenes

  • In the real world, canon is (as detailed on this page) a concept originally concerning religious texts, and later more widely applied to works of fiction, beginning with the tradition of Sherlock Holmes.
    • That the Time Lords and others such as the Sixth Doctor and River Song, whom are fictional characters, would thus consider canonicity a genuine property of their (fictional) universe, on par with "likelihood", should therefore be read as a borderline-fourth-wall-breaking, metafictional joke.

Information from invalid sources

This section's awfully stubby.

Information from NOTVALID: Who on Earth is... Beep the Meep needs to be added.