Difference between revisions of "Canon"

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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_%28fiction%29 According to Wikipedia], "In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. that are considered to be genuine, and those events, characters, settings, etc. that are considered to have inarguable existence within the fictional universe. In order for the fictional universe to appear cohesive, especially in fictions that contain multiple parts, both creators and audiences sometimes find it useful to define what has and has not "actually happened" in that universe. Usually items that are considered canon come from the original source of the fictional universe while non-canon material comes from adaptations, spin-offs or unofficial items, often in different media."
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{{update}}
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The term '''canon''' refers to all aspects of a fictional universe, like the [[Breeniverse]], that are considered official.  The canon of lonelygirl15 consists of events, places, people and things that are officially part of the lonelygirl15 storyline.
  
The term has been very popular with LG users speculating on whether or not charcters on YouTube are an official part of the LG universe or not.
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In traditional media the line between canon material and unofficial material is usually clear.  With novels, for example, only those penned by the original author would be considered canon.  With television shows, typically only the show itself is considered canon.  But with an internet production like lonelygirl15, the issue is more complicated.
  
The following list is highly speculative and the relative probabilities will probably change over timeThis list just represents an "educated guess' by the user community based on the current available informationTo provide a standard "litmus test" a character will not be declared official until they are included on the video list of lonelygirl.comAt that time they will be removed from this speculative list.
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==The Lonelygirl15 Canon==
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===Primary Canon===
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Initially, only [[Bree]] and [[Daniel]] and their YouTube accounts were known to be canonOther parts of the Breeniverse were known to be canon once confirmed via YouTubeFor example, Bree mentions her [[MySpace]] page on her YouTube page, so it is considered canonDaniel, however, has never mentioned the Danielbeast MySpace page, and it is not canon.
  
[[Image:Breeniverse.gif]]
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[[The Creators]] of lonelygirl15 have often toyed with whether or not characters are canon. When the characters of [[Gemma]], [[Jonas]], [[Jules]], and [[Taylor]] were first introduced, they posted videos just like unofficial spin-offs.  But when Bree ackowledged them as characters they became "canon" and all their videos prior to acknowledgement are considered canon as well.
  
=Lonelygirl15=
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This level is universally considered canon, and includes the series ''[[lonelygirl15]]'', ''[[KateModern]]'', ''[[LG15: The Resistance]]'', ''[[N1ckola]]'', and ''[[LG15: Anchor Cove]]''.
  
===Confirmed Characters===
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===Secondary Canon===
*[[Bree]]
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Certain official properties in the Breeniverse are considered canon in a more limited capacity - to the average viewer, "your mileage may vary", and it may only apply to certain timeframes in-universe. This designation mostly pertains to two specific situations:
*[[Daniel]]
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*[[Gemma]]
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When the first Gemma video appeared, it was unknown whether or not the character was an official part of the [[Breeniverse]] or just a fan video.  The editing style in Gemma's videos is similar to the editing in the lonelygirl15 videos.  The actress that plays Gemma was quickly identified through MySpace.com as an aspiring actress named Jackie, a pal of [[Jessica Lee Rose]] in real life. This connection convinced many that Gemma was canon.
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This was confirmed when Bree responded with [[Hi Gemma!]] and later when a Gemma video [[It's Not Your Decision]] was uploaded to the official lonelygirl15 account on [[Revver]].
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*The ''[[OpAphid ARG]]'', according to the Creators, was a 100% fan-created [[Alternate Reality Game]] which they liked so much that it was declared official.  With this announcement OpAphid, [[Tachyon]] and [[Brother]] became canon characters as well. Initially, it was stated that it was not necessary to watch OpAphid videos to follow the lonelygirl15 story.  Some fans considered OpAphid characters pseudo-canon.  But, after the video [[Miss Me?]] the Creators reversed their initial statement and announced it was necessary to watch OpAphid and that the characters and its storyline are canon, but that it is not necessary to play the OpAphid puzzles.
  
*[[Jonas]]
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:In April 2007, it was announced that OpAphid creator [[Glenn Rubenstein]] had parted ways with the production and elements of the ARG were quietly phased out of the storyline - their absence only noted in a [[Nikki Bower]] video. The [[Tachyon]] character would be mentioned in passing at the end of ''LG15: Outbreak'' following the announcement on August 26th, 2009 that OpAphid could once again be incorporated into the storyline. During this absence, the OpAphid characters were repurposed as a part of a new series called ''[[Redearth88]]'' that was not part of the Breeniverse.
Before officially acknowledged, many users thought Jonas was an official character because of his videos' high production value and editing style. This kind of unlikely and dramatic detail also pointed to Jonas being canon (although something like that is not something that couldn't happen to a character outside of the Lonelygirl15 story).  
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In Bree's [[Thanksgiving]] video she acknowledged Jonas: "Well, I feel silly. I thought about what you said, Jonas, and I realized I've been taking Daniel for granted. . . Thank you for reminding me what's important." This reference convinced many that he was canon, and this was confirmed with the release of [[Trust Issues]] on November 29, 2006 as an official lg15 video.  This is similar to the way Gemma was brought into the story.
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*''[[LG15: The Show Is Yours]]'' winners ''[[LG15: The Last]]'' and ''[[LG15: Outbreak]]'' fall under this category as well, as while they were considered primary canon during their respective runs, their stories will not inform the follow-up show ''LG15: Anchor Cove''. This is due to a number of factors, including the involvement of outside creators as well as large, unpopular narrative and mythology changes that occurred in ''Outbreak'' that would have direct impact on the main storyline of LG15. It should also be noted that [[Masonishappy]], the precursor series to ''Outbreak'', was initially produced as a series of fan videos and never had their canon status verified even during ''Outbreak'''s run.
  
===Probable Characters===
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Additionally, the character [[Nikki Bower]] may lie in this gray area as well. Presented as a viewer of [[TAAG]]'s video blogs, she was revealed to be played by [[Alli Danziger]], a personal friend of the Creators, but Nikki Bower has stated that while her character is not canon, she does have access to inside information. One of these include clues left by [[breeiswaiting]], an abandoned ARG by the Creators. [[Nikki Bower]] has also been known to break the fourth wall, such as when she held a contest to pick a name for [[Drew Avery|Bree's dad]] - which was later revealed as his canon name - and acknowledged the death of [[Maddison Atkins]].
*[[Nikki Bower]]
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Fans speculate that Nikki Bower may be canonical as she has discovered many filming locations with seeming effortlessnessMoreover, she uncovered the tell-tale [[watcher]] symbol, which was later incorporated into the series in Gemma's [[Someone's Following You]]. The video [[Mystery Movies]] suggested to some that Nikki is or is becoming canon.
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==Canon characters==
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The [[Lonelygirl15 characters|characters]] seen on screen are all considered canon charactersSometimes the characters interact with fans, like in [[Bree The Cookie Monster]] when Bree cooked the recipes of some fans or in [[Your Decision]] where [[GoodGollyItsHolly]] told Bree and Daniel what to do.  These fans are not considered canon because outside of their mention in the lonelygirl15 videos they do not have an ability to influence the storyline.
  
Speculation based on analysis of the [[Member Directory]], however, suggests that Nikki Bower is not officially connected with [[The Creators|the production team]]. Furthermore, Nikki herself has denied her own canonicity, although some fans have philosophically discussed how a canon character would be likely to answer such an accusation.
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==Spin-offs==
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A number of [[LG15 Spin-offs| spin-offs]], including [[Cassieiswatching]], [[Paulmark18]], [[Immant]], and [[Itscassie]], have been created around lonelygirl15.  Many of these series purport to exist in the [[Breeniverse]]. They react to Bree and Daniel as if they are real.  They are not, however, considered canon.
  
===Improbable Characters===
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Cassieiswatching and Itscassie are both based off of the canon character [[Cassie]]. The events in their videos, however, are not an official part of the lonelygirl15 storyline. Similarly, PaulMark18 is based off the canon characters [[Paul]] and [[Andrea]]. In the case of Cassieiswatching, the Creators explicitly denied responsibility for the videos and said that they are not canon. With other fan fiction series, the Creators have generally not commented either way.
*[[Immant|Dr. Immant]]
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Dr. Immant has established links with [[Orange Slurpee]], from his video [[Order Announcement: New Policy to Combat Misinformation]], but has not yet established any official connections with any of the LG15 characters. Analysis of the [[Member directory]] seems to suggest that Immant is not canon.
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===Highly Improbable Characters===
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*[[Orange Slurpee]]
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The clock in Jonas's house was set to approximately 7:11 in the video [[Trust Issues]]!
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Fans speculate that the repeated orange imagery in [[Breakfast In Bed]] was ominous foreshadowing of the impending threat of the [[Watcher]].
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=[[OpAphid]] - ARG affiliate of Lonelygirl15=
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===Confirmed Characters===
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*[[OpAphid]]
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OpAphid has been confirmed by the Creators as the official ARG. 
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[[The Creators]] explained that OpAphid is official, but they do not produce it:
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<pre>Dear Fans,
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We want to clarify the connection between OpAphid and lonelygirl15.  
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Simply put, OpAphid is supplemental material that adds to the lonelygirl15 experience….
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This was a 100% fan created ARG. We liked it so much that we decided to contact the creator
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and make it the official LG15 ARG.</pre>
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*[[Tachyon]]
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Daniel refers to Tachyon in [[Homeless]].
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===Disconfirmed Characters===
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*[[Cassie]]
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Cassie's relationship with LG15 is especially ambiguous. Bree mentions Cassie in [[Swimming!]] and OpAphid, the official [[ARG]] of LG15, has interacted with Cassie.  But The Creators have also officially disavowed the [[cassieiswatching]] ARG because they disliked how "dark" it became.
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Nonetheless, her mention in both LG15 and OpAphid suggests that Cassie may eventually join the host of canonized characters.  ''See [[What ever happened to that girl, Cassie?]].''
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[[Category:Meta-discussion]]
 
[[Category:Meta-discussion]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 20 July 2016

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The term canon refers to all aspects of a fictional universe, like the Breeniverse, that are considered official. The canon of lonelygirl15 consists of events, places, people and things that are officially part of the lonelygirl15 storyline.

In traditional media the line between canon material and unofficial material is usually clear. With novels, for example, only those penned by the original author would be considered canon. With television shows, typically only the show itself is considered canon. But with an internet production like lonelygirl15, the issue is more complicated.

The Lonelygirl15 Canon

Primary Canon

Initially, only Bree and Daniel and their YouTube accounts were known to be canon. Other parts of the Breeniverse were known to be canon once confirmed via YouTube. For example, Bree mentions her MySpace page on her YouTube page, so it is considered canon. Daniel, however, has never mentioned the Danielbeast MySpace page, and it is not canon.

The Creators of lonelygirl15 have often toyed with whether or not characters are canon. When the characters of Gemma, Jonas, Jules, and Taylor were first introduced, they posted videos just like unofficial spin-offs. But when Bree ackowledged them as characters they became "canon" and all their videos prior to acknowledgement are considered canon as well.

This level is universally considered canon, and includes the series lonelygirl15, KateModern, LG15: The Resistance, N1ckola, and LG15: Anchor Cove.

Secondary Canon

Certain official properties in the Breeniverse are considered canon in a more limited capacity - to the average viewer, "your mileage may vary", and it may only apply to certain timeframes in-universe. This designation mostly pertains to two specific situations:

  • The OpAphid ARG, according to the Creators, was a 100% fan-created Alternate Reality Game which they liked so much that it was declared official. With this announcement OpAphid, Tachyon and Brother became canon characters as well. Initially, it was stated that it was not necessary to watch OpAphid videos to follow the lonelygirl15 story. Some fans considered OpAphid characters pseudo-canon. But, after the video Miss Me? the Creators reversed their initial statement and announced it was necessary to watch OpAphid and that the characters and its storyline are canon, but that it is not necessary to play the OpAphid puzzles.
In April 2007, it was announced that OpAphid creator Glenn Rubenstein had parted ways with the production and elements of the ARG were quietly phased out of the storyline - their absence only noted in a Nikki Bower video. The Tachyon character would be mentioned in passing at the end of LG15: Outbreak following the announcement on August 26th, 2009 that OpAphid could once again be incorporated into the storyline. During this absence, the OpAphid characters were repurposed as a part of a new series called Redearth88 that was not part of the Breeniverse.
  • LG15: The Show Is Yours winners LG15: The Last and LG15: Outbreak fall under this category as well, as while they were considered primary canon during their respective runs, their stories will not inform the follow-up show LG15: Anchor Cove. This is due to a number of factors, including the involvement of outside creators as well as large, unpopular narrative and mythology changes that occurred in Outbreak that would have direct impact on the main storyline of LG15. It should also be noted that Masonishappy, the precursor series to Outbreak, was initially produced as a series of fan videos and never had their canon status verified even during Outbreak's run.

Additionally, the character Nikki Bower may lie in this gray area as well. Presented as a viewer of TAAG's video blogs, she was revealed to be played by Alli Danziger, a personal friend of the Creators, but Nikki Bower has stated that while her character is not canon, she does have access to inside information. One of these include clues left by breeiswaiting, an abandoned ARG by the Creators. Nikki Bower has also been known to break the fourth wall, such as when she held a contest to pick a name for Bree's dad - which was later revealed as his canon name - and acknowledged the death of Maddison Atkins.

Canon characters

The characters seen on screen are all considered canon characters. Sometimes the characters interact with fans, like in Bree The Cookie Monster when Bree cooked the recipes of some fans or in Your Decision where GoodGollyItsHolly told Bree and Daniel what to do. These fans are not considered canon because outside of their mention in the lonelygirl15 videos they do not have an ability to influence the storyline.

Spin-offs

A number of spin-offs, including Cassieiswatching, Paulmark18, Immant, and Itscassie, have been created around lonelygirl15. Many of these series purport to exist in the Breeniverse. They react to Bree and Daniel as if they are real. They are not, however, considered canon.

Cassieiswatching and Itscassie are both based off of the canon character Cassie. The events in their videos, however, are not an official part of the lonelygirl15 storyline. Similarly, PaulMark18 is based off the canon characters Paul and Andrea. In the case of Cassieiswatching, the Creators explicitly denied responsibility for the videos and said that they are not canon. With other fan fiction series, the Creators have generally not commented either way.