[i][b]SVMMA CANONICA[/b][/i] A Treatise and Discussion on Canon Policy for the Halo Universe [quote][/quote] [i][b]PARS PRIMA[/i][/b] I.[b] OVERTURE[/b] II.[b] PURPOSE[/b] [i][b]PARS SECUNDA[/i][/b] III.[b] A DEFINITION[/b] [i][b]PARS TERTIA[/i][/b] IV.[b] A NOTE ON CANONICAL HIERARCHY[/b] V.[b] PROCEDURES FOR AN EXCLUSIONARY ANALYSIS[/b] VI.[b] CONCLUSION[/b] VII.[b] ADDENDA[/b] [quote][/quote] [u][b]I. OVERTURE[/b][/u] To be oversimplified into unjustly bereft and inadequate terms, terms that, in the interest expediency and brevity, must for now suffice: one ought to perceive the Halo Universe as an expansive and detailed mythology, which is comparatively new by incarnation and arguably still in maturation with respect to canon that supports the main events of the Halo Trilogy, indeed a finished and written Canon, which is the keystone, ethos, basis, morality, and fundamentality of the entire "series"; i.e. the greater "Halo Canon" which refers to the totality of those objects veritably referenced by the name "Halo". The care, time, and ingenuity that were put into manifestation of this story have produced a result that is on par with classical works of the Greco-Roman epic tradition and implores, in part, a revival of therein contained themes; however not without an insight that does evince a modern relevance. Consequently, the story has been the focus of heavy scrutiny and research as one is naturally compelled to investigate the higher philosophical and real-world implications that are hidden within and obfuscated by the story's copious and puzzling array of allegorical references and symbols; whether they are literary, biblical, classical, historic, or original in nature. This continuous cycle of research and examination is assisted and advanced by a set of common standards that are pertinent to the objects being studied and establish a homogeneous environment preventing confusion and advocating collaboration. I wish to write about canon policy and its corresponding philosophy not only to spread my opinion of which I have put much fastidious mental effort and astute canonical study into concluding on the crucial matter, but also to clarify, at the very least, the arguments and differences people have in regards to the subject. In keeping with this mythological tendency, having been argued for above, the manifold nature of Halo's multifarious expressions and narrations throughout recent history has left an apparent canon of discord, with minor variations and inconsistencies between different renditions of the story, while obeying the overall theme and plot of the canon. By purely methodical and logical processes, this policy will discover the true standard of Halo Canon when possible, or, at the very least, provide a sound substantiation for the exclusion of those egregiously acanonical articles. [u][b]II. PURPOSE[/b][/u] At the time of this writing, it has been announced that Bungie will progress from Halo-related endeavors once they have finished their canonical revelation that aims to convey the events of The Battle of Reach in a form of an interactive media experience, colloquially, a "video game". Microsoft's 343 Industries, which has a notorious reputation amongst many for the repeated, merciless, and greedy butchering of our great Halo Canon for pecuniary benefit not to mention the full legal rights to the Halo Intellectual Property and franchise, will henceforth oversee and manage the future of the Halo Universe in its franchisal posterity - a fact that has many, including myself, frightened. The current atmosphere, occasioned by frequent unjustifiable castigations of the True Halo Canon to which recent asinine publications of 343 Industries; juvenile but facetious and variegated illustrations of alleged Halo canon whose florid and incongruous absurdity is, indeed, quite of Legend, subversive and imperious recompositions in place of previously written textual canon, or otherwise; are attributed, does provide the cause, purpose, and desire for me to publish this declaration of remedy and guiding direction back towards the proper course of things, a course of things that does no disrespect to the True Halo Canon, much unlike the customary [i]modus operandi[/i] of 343 Industries. The cause for this document is made more crucial to my personal perception when I read professions of despair and abandonment of Halo due to the recent perceived downfall - an abjuration so illogical yet disturbing I can but haste to submit this document for the isolation of damage that has already been done. Fortunately for us and future Students and Doctors of Halo Canon, there is good news contained in the following aphorism. The proceeding best conveys the entire purpose of and reason for this work: [i]An ideal canon policy is a sufficient countermeasure to any negative aspect or unwanted existence of any given non-Bungie product or publication that identifies with the Halo Universe; namely, potential future products from 343 Industries.[/i] To clarify, the term "canon policy" is herein defined as the set of reasons that compel an individual to include the according members as part of Halo Canon. How I define my specific policy, or "ideal canon policy", is quite complicated while concurrently dependent upon previously ascertained understandings, prerequisites that may or may not currently be had; I will refrain from providing a precise definition of this nomenclature at this point in time. I have devoted an entire section with the sole objective of defining this. Back to my original point which I italicized for emphasis above, I consider this fact to be self evident, easily inferred with basic analytical logic, and quite simple. My explanation of this follows. The greatest extent to which one would consider a member, by their interpretation, of Halo Canon would be those objects bearing the name of the Halo franchise; i.e., which overtly associate themselves with the Halo story in some way, shape, or form by means of marketing, labeling, or designation as such in a commercial, public, and published manner. It is certainly plausible that one may include other members, but that is outside the bounds of reasonability and is hardly ever an object of debate, so I will ignore this possibility. On the contrary, the most conservative possible canon policy is that that includes exclusively articles of canon directly authored by Bungie that are within the Halo Trilogy. This is because the Trilogy is the most original canon to appear under this name, as well as what I described to be the ethos and fundamentality of the universe, which is a position that I shall defend later. There is a very large and rapidly expanding chasm between these two ends, as more candidates for canonical acceptance become published. Now somewhere inclusively in between these two boundaries lay one's opinions on what they accept to be Halo and what they do not. Since Bungie has not laid out a specific policy or even an exclusive and complete set of canon represented by an official list, even if such a list were of relevance, the issue of "What global standard or greater means justifies my opinionated rationale of why I accept these items and also why I reject others" is raised. Surely one cannot include a potentially canonical article because of the feelings it invokes upon the individual, since that justification is extraordinarily ambiguous and in no way official, logical, or analytical in nature or derived from a standard that is implied or discovered, to contrast illustratively with the aforesaid proper and crucially important process. This is a trap that many of my past interlocutors with whom I have disagreed have fallen into since Halo is indeed a marvelous story that they, naturally, enjoy to parallel with their own lives. Nonetheless, between these two boundaries is that inclusiveness, as dictated by our policy, outside from which considered artifacts are designated to be acanonical and of a state that is to be ignored; thus removing any threat that 343 Industries poses to the purity and essence of established Halo Canon. To recapitulate, our canon policy finds that inclusiveness which is the True Halo Canon. But current beliefs are most heterogeneous among the community, and flawed self-policies do permit the ruining of our great and established Canon by new and unholy artifacts. These are more reasons that proclaim the need for a definitive canon policy extrapolated logically and from implications and patterns in the Halo Trilogy, considering any official word Bungie has made regarding their canonical manifestations. As stated, that is the purpose of this document - both to outline those specifications and defend, explain, and logically infer their meaning, truth or falsity, and applicable use. [b]Objection I:[/b] The said inclusiveness of Halo objects named the True Halo Canon cannot be come upon or dictated by those who are not in the position to do so or who do not compose them, i.e., it is the sole decision of those enabled by the business, legal, and financial arrangements that ensued the founding of the Halo franchise by Bungie Studios. Therefore, those that are Canon are so designated by officials such as Frank O'Connor of 343 Industries or Joseph Staten of Bungie Studios and the obverse, to give an example. Any document unapproved by these individuals or their colleagues purporting to select the real array of canon for the Halo Universe is at best flawed in purpose, arrogant in its proclamation of apparent authority, and to be ignored due to its lack of accreditation or approval by 343 Industries or Bungie Studios; at worst, entirely egocentric, misleading, and dishonest. [Edited on 01.29.2011 7:41 AM PST]