I like your description of canon as a rubber band: I think that's a very useful metaphor.
My one rule of thumb? Subtext is never the same as canon. Ever. ;)
I suppose. Of course, then if you come right down to it, there's very little other than names, dates, places, etc. that can really be considered "canon". Even those can be thrown right out the window, in certain cases, if you bring in the "unreliable narrator" argument to insist that the character who provided the names and dates was lying or had an ulterior motive.
When it comes to fanfic and canon, I'm willing to let people do what they like. I generally prefer fic that stays canon-friendly. (Unless it's porn, in which case: porn logic shall apply as always!) But if people want to write fic that conveniently ignores major tenets of canon, they're welcome to it!
What bothers me is when authors (or an entire fandom) get so attached to their personal version of fanon, they start to make things unpleasant for people who don't subscribe to their theory: like the poster I quoted in my entry.
There's a big movement in Sherlock fandom to 'woobify' Sherlock and erase any hints of darkness/unpleasantness from his character. (And naturally, John has to be there to comfort and protect him.) So you get the "But why does everyone insist he's asexual?" whining. First of all: everyone does not insist that. A large portion of the fandom are Sherlock/John shippers. Second of all: because Sherlock makes statements and exhibits behaviors that can be accurately described as asexual! Is it the only interpretation? No. But it is a canon-friendly interpretation, so quit your bitching!
Sorry. Apparently I am more attached to this character than I thought!
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Date: 2011-05-26 03:33 pm (UTC)My one rule of thumb? Subtext is never the same as canon. Ever. ;)
I suppose. Of course, then if you come right down to it, there's very little other than names, dates, places, etc. that can really be considered "canon". Even those can be thrown right out the window, in certain cases, if you bring in the "unreliable narrator" argument to insist that the character who provided the names and dates was lying or had an ulterior motive.
When it comes to fanfic and canon, I'm willing to let people do what they like. I generally prefer fic that stays canon-friendly. (Unless it's porn, in which case: porn logic shall apply as always!) But if people want to write fic that conveniently ignores major tenets of canon, they're welcome to it!
What bothers me is when authors (or an entire fandom) get so attached to their personal version of fanon, they start to make things unpleasant for people who don't subscribe to their theory: like the poster I quoted in my entry.
There's a big movement in Sherlock fandom to 'woobify' Sherlock and erase any hints of darkness/unpleasantness from his character. (And naturally, John has to be there to comfort and protect him.) So you get the "But why does everyone insist he's asexual?" whining. First of all: everyone does not insist that. A large portion of the fandom are Sherlock/John shippers. Second of all: because Sherlock makes statements and exhibits behaviors that can be accurately described as asexual! Is it the only interpretation? No. But it is a canon-friendly interpretation, so quit your bitching!
Sorry. Apparently I am more attached to this character than I thought!