Quote from: Xenomrph on Dec 13, 2023, 01:36:54 AMYou are very clearly not grasping what I'm saying lol
What is officially canon according to the IP holders *doesn't matter*. My opinion, my head canon, is absolutely more important to me than anything they have to say. My head canon does not have to be "official" and it absolutely is my opinion, and it trumps the "official" canon for me because, again, the official canon *doesn't matter*. It serves no purpose to the consumer. There is no "truth", it's all fiction.
Also the concept of "canon", biblical canon, absolutely was "that which is widely accepted as true". That's the origin of the concept.
But it doesn't matter, because what I choose to believe is more important for me than anything anyone else could possibly say.
And again, you choosing to follow "the official canon" is a personal choice, just like what I choose to believe. The official canon exists independent of you or me, but you are personally choosing to follow it. You are not obligated to do so.
You call it "fantasizing", I call it freedom of choice and maximizing my enjoyment of a franchise I like - and there is absolutely nothing the IP holders or you or anyone else can do to derail that. It's already fantasy - it's fiction, none of this stuff actually exists! If it became canon that Jones was actually Ripley's sister, and I chose to reject that, what, exactly, can you to do about it? Are you going to come take my Aliens toys away? Declare that I'm not a "true fan"? Say that I'm "wrong" in how I choose to enjoy a franchise? Tell me, what can you do?
I know a guy who believes with all his heart that Bishop put the egg on the Sulaco from Alien3. Any evidence I provide to the contrary, he does not care. He loves his theory, and it is what brings him maximum enjoyment out of the franchise. It is his head-canon.
Who am I to take that away from him, to tell him he's wrong and that he isn't allowed to enjoy a piece of fiction the way he wants to?
And yes, my Nad Max link supports what I'm saying - George Miller doesn't pay attention to the logic or timeline of his Mad Max movies because *it doesn't matter*. They're mythic tales and continuity isn't important. Mad Max might not even be a single person, he could just be a folklore legend that people assign the name to. You saw the phrase "alternate timeline" and fixated on it, without reading the rest of the article. Nowhere has George Miller ever said it's an alternate timeline.
Quite the opposite, in fact:
https://screenrant.com/mad-max-fury-road-movie-sequel-reboot-continuity-explained/
https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/listen-george-miller-talks-mad-max-continuity-practical-effects-and-more-in-1-hour-of-fury-road-interviews-272466/
If you choose to rationalize it as "alternate timelines", if that's what brings you the most enjoyment out of the franchise, then guess what? That's your head-canon.
Canon and continuity aren't synonyms - there is a defined biblical "canon" by the Catholic Church and the Bible is littered with continuity problems. Hell, even the Alien franchise has continuity problems, even within the things officially considered "canon".
The Warhammer 40K universe is chock full of continuity problems (some of it is even intentional!). The official line is "everything is canon, not everything is true." And Games Workshop actively encourages players to incorporate their own head-canon, even if it contradicts or overrides "official" media.
Shit, has Disney/Fox even said Aliens Dark Descent is actually officially "canon"? Maybe that's part of your head-canon, too...
You are very clearly not grasping the meaning of "canon":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_(fiction)QuoteThe canon of a work of fiction is "the body of works taking place in a particular fictional world that are widely considered to be official or authoritative; [especially] those created by the original author or developer of the world".[2] Canon is contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction and other derivative works.[3]
What you have in your mind is not widely considered, let alone official or authoritative.
Next, there's no such thing as a "head-canon," and for the same reason. That means even the idea of a "head-canon" is part of your imagination, and nothing more.
The fact that you admit that what you imagine isn't official means it's not canon, head- or otherwise. Put simply, you're imagining another timeline, and nothing more.
Next, the definition of "canon" doesn't point out that it should be accepted. Rather, it's considered as official. That means you can argue all you want that you don't accept what's shown, but it remains official and what you think simply part of your imagination.
Third, since you can imagine anything you want and no one can stop you, then nothing trumps you. The problem is that others can say the same thing. Meanwhile, whatever fuels your imagination turn out to be the same works allowed by franchise holders; the only exception is fan fiction, where creators can even contradict each other.
That's why what you keep claiming doesn't matter you keep talking about in this discussion.
Even your example concerning the Bible works against you. The books that make up the Bible were selected and approved by various councils across centuries. They did not spring from each person's imagination which just happened to coincide with each other. You're obviously an ignoramus concerning this topic.
Your example about
Aliens and the eggs also don't help because that's simply one person's opinion vs. another. Neither is canon until, for example, the franchise holders approve a work that explains how those eggs got on the ship.
The link you gave doesn't support your argument. You insist that that Miller used "unreliable[-]narrator folklore" but according to some sources there are production notes when the three movies were being made showing that they followed a chronology, and even anyone who saw the three movies can see the same. Meanwhile, what the source you gave doesn't support your point but instead excuses discrepancies by arguing that the new movie takes place in an alternative timeline. That means not only does your source not support your claim it's possible that you probably didn't even read it carefully.
Finally, the franchise holders don't have to declare something as canon. They just have to authorize its release or accept any licensing requests, and that includes this video game.
I'll make this simpler and at the same time remain on-topic:
Let's say you want to play
Aliens: Dark Descent but find out that it mostly goes against your timeline of the
Alien storyline, and you argue that the game needs major revisions because of that. The game developers disagree.
So, you can choose to revise the game yourself and release it unofficially, obtain a license from the IP holders to develop and release a new game that follows your timeline, or close your eyes and just imagine a game following your timeline.
The first and second options will cost you money, if not a lot, and if something goes wrong legally with the first option, then you can get into trouble. The third option is free, and in your mind, you can even find comfort in the fact that the IP holders can't stop you, and because of that you've trumped them. But why would they care? They don't earn anything from your imagination.
Given that, can you argue that the canon is inconsequential? Yes, but only if you have a lot of money to invest or waste to make a new, licensed game or receive legal permission to revise a present one, or you don't ultimately care what IP holders do. For the latter, does it matter if you're merely a consumer? Actually, yes, because you only live to consume, and what you're consuming--this game--you don't want. That means you have to be a creator, too, but one creating for an imaginary audience. In short, you have to fantasize that you own a franchise that you're developing and playing a game made by your company and released to gamers who, because they have the same beliefs as you, will adore you so much that you'll end up telling them, "You like me. You really like me!"
In which case, fire away, fantasist, but you should probably do so in a new thread.
