Re: Does it really matter?

Posted by Sean Dodge from 207.173.204.135 on September 02, 1999 at 01:17:32:

In Reply to: Continuity between the movies, books, comics, etc.... posted by ROB T. on September 01, 1999 at 22:40:53:

Continuity, when dealing with something wholly fictional, is really only important for one reason. To make sure that whomever reads, watches or plays a new storyline doesn't say "What the f**k? Indy can't do that." or "Indy wouldn't do that." or "Indy already did that."
If you have already decided that nothing counts except the 3 movies, then there's no problem. You obviously won't be reading, playing or watching anything else, or if you do, it will be with taken with a grain of salt.
To those of us for whom Indy is something more, a virtual person as it were, continuity is slightly more important. We of course want there to be more to the life and times of Indy, so we look for those stories that will fill in the gaps. On the Indy timeline chronology, linked below, there is a pretty comprehensive system of assessing the credibility of the various sources. (A note to Rob...Just because you don't like YIJC, doesn't mean you can dismiss them. Love 'em or leave 'em, they come from the Master himself)
The continuity of Indy's life becomes the lifeline for those of us who want to add more to the tapestry. The novels and video games and comic books become part of it, especially to the extent that they could not be produced without the permission of Lucasfilm. *As to the guidelines, I can't address the IJ novels, but I did read an interview with Timothy Zahn, author of the Heir to the Empire trilogy, and he said that he basically had to leave the characters pretty much the same as they were going in. That didn't stop him from giving Han and Leia twin children* I think it very telling that MacGregor chose to implement as many original characters as he could, e.g. Jack Shannon, Deidre Campbell in order to give himself creative freedom to kill them off or whatever. Bear in mind that none of the novels take place after the events in Temple of Doom.
When there are conflicts, and of course there are, we try to smooth them over, rather than take issue, after all, it's still just make believe.
When Rob MacGregor began writing the novels, he had only the 3 movies to use as a basis for Indy's history. When the YIJC came out, of course it created some big conflicts, but who cares?
Now, the fan fic writer knows, going in, that nothing he/she writes will ever be considered part of the canon. Nevertheless, we have an obligation to respect the chronology and observe the details as they are written. Ideally, we take the continuity of the character to heart, and don't end the story with a key character dead or pregnant or something totally anachronos. But even if we do...it's just make believe.
Still, like many others, I do take exception to stories which involve elements that cannot be rationalized into the Indy canon. A good example would be the "Long lost love child" plot which seems to keep turning up like a bad penny (Actually, the strict chronology ends with Last Crusade, so there's nothing to say that Indy doesn't have a whole slough of bastard children running around the world)
So what am I saying?
George Lucas, if he ever makes another Indiana Jones movie, will probably totally disregard everything but his own productions. He may not even completely regard those (Notice how Indy's faith in the supernatural seems to diminish by the start of each new adventure)
But we the fanfic writers should respect the whole chronolgy, especially anything officially licensed by Lucasfilm. This certainly includes the games.
The animated series is a pipe dream, and will never happen of course, but if it did, it would be "official" and we would be obligated to accept it. Likely, Lucas would give creative input to any stories, establishing the rules of engagement so that conflicts would be kept to a minimum.

Chronology of Indy

Follow Ups:

A clarification about what I meant... ROB T. 03:42:38 9/02/99 (3)
- Re: A clarification about what I meant... Sean Dodge(FKA Nick Kismet) 22:41:48 9/02/99 (1)
  - I thought... Mikal C Johnson (KtCym SOCAE) 06:21:59 9/03/99 (0)
- i.e. Mikal C Johnson (KtE Cym SOCAE) 06:49:31 9/02/99 (0)

Post a Followup:

Name:    
E-Mail:  
Subject: 
Comments:

: Continuity, when dealing with something wholly fictional, is really only important for one reason.  To make sure that whomever reads, watches or plays a new storyline doesn't say "What the f**k?  Indy can't do that."  or "Indy wouldn't do that."  or "Indy already did that."
: If you have already decided that nothing counts except the 3 movies, then there's no problem.  You obviously won't be reading, playing or watching anything else, or if you do, it will be with taken with a grain of salt.
: To those of us for whom Indy is something more, a virtual person as it were, continuity is slightly more important.  We of course want there to be more to the life and times of Indy, so we look for those stories that will fill in the gaps.  On the Indy timeline chronology, linked below, there is a pretty comprehensive system of assessing the credibility of the various sources.  (A note to Rob...Just because you don't like YIJC, doesn't mean you can dismiss them.  Love 'em or leave 'em, they come from the Master himself)
: The continuity of Indy's life becomes the lifeline for those of us who want to add more to the tapestry.  The novels and video games and comic books become part of it, especially to the extent that they could not be produced without the permission of Lucasfilm.  *As to the guidelines, I can't address the IJ novels, but I did read an interview with Timothy Zahn, author of the Heir to the Empire trilogy, and he said that he basically had to leave the characters pretty much the same as they were going in.  That didn't stop him from giving Han and Leia twin children*  I think it very telling that MacGregor chose to implement as many original characters as he could, e.g. Jack Shannon, Deidre Campbell in order to give himself creative freedom to kill them off or whatever.  Bear in mind that none of the novels take place after the events in Temple of Doom.
: When there are conflicts, and of course there are, we try to smooth them over, rather than take issue, after all, it's still just make believe.
: When Rob MacGregor began writing the novels, he had only the 3 movies to use as a basis for Indy's history.  When the YIJC came out, of course it created some big conflicts, but who cares?  
: Now, the fan fic writer knows, going in, that nothing he/she writes will ever be considered part of the canon.  Nevertheless, we have an obligation to respect the chronology and observe the details as they are written.  Ideally, we take the continuity of the character to heart, and don't end the story with a key character dead or pregnant or something totally anachronos.  But even if we do...it's just make believe.
: Still, like many others, I do take exception to stories which involve elements that cannot be rationalized into the Indy canon.  A good example would be the "Long lost love child" plot which seems to keep turning up like a bad penny (Actually, the strict chronology ends with Last Crusade, so there's nothing to say that Indy doesn't have a whole slough of bastard children running around the world)
: So what am I saying?  
: George Lucas, if he ever makes another Indiana Jones movie, will probably totally disregard everything but his own productions.  He may not even completely regard those (Notice how Indy's faith in the supernatural seems to diminish by the start of each new adventure)
: But we the fanfic writers should respect the whole chronolgy, especially anything officially licensed by Lucasfilm.  This certainly includes the games.
: The animated series is a pipe dream, and will never happen of course, but if it did, it would be "official" and we would be obligated to accept it.  Likely, Lucas would give creative input to any stories, establishing the rules of engagement so that conflicts would be kept to a minimum.

Optional:

Link URL:   
Link Title: 
Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Indyfan Forum ] [ FAQ ]