Fanon
The term fanon describes fictional works created by fans. Fan fiction, which is also written as fanfiction and often shortened to fanfic, is an unauthorized narrative penned by an admirer that unfolds within an already established fictional world, for example, Star Wars. Such narratives are not officially recognized by Lucasfilm and are, therefore, considered non-canon.
The word "fanon" is a blend of the words fan and canon.
Official Adoption of Fanon
Occasionally, authors of the Expanded Universe incorporated elements of fanon into their works. A prime example is the 501st Legion, a clone trooper unit named in homage to an actual charitable organization. This incorporation meant that the fanon, or at least specific aspects of it like the name, became integrated into the Legends continuity.
The What's The Story? contest provided a platform for members of the Hyperspace fan club to submit fan-authored background stories for chosen characters, with the best entries being declared as the official backstories for those characters.
On September 3, 2020, a user named gomjabbar posted on the blogging platform Tumblr, stating "every time a new Star War movie or show is announced all the fans are like 'OMG Glup Shitto is back 😭😭😭'." After this post, "Glup Shitto" rapidly gained traction online, becoming a term used within the Star Wars fandom to describe obscure characters with names perceived by some as odd. Certain fans have even started referring to characters that match this description as "their" Glup Shittos, highlighting their individual affection for or enjoyment of these characters. On August 2, 2022, Matt Martin of the Lucasfilm Story Group acknowledged the Glup Shitto meme, mentioning that he had used the term in an official memo.
Footnotes and Sources
External Resources
- Fanon entry on Wikipedia
- Star Wars Fanon Wiki , a wiki dedicated to fan-created characters and ideas
- Star Wars Fanon Wiki at the Star Wars Fanpedia