Fictioncan

Fictioncan is a theoretical construct used in literary and media studies to describe a self-contained, portable unit of fiction designed for preservation, analysis, and cross-media circulation. In this model, a narrative is treated as more than a single text: it is a container that can include the primary work, its worldbuilding scaffolding, licensing information, and records of related works.

Origins and concept: The term "fictioncan" emerged in academic discussions during the 2020s as scholars examined how modern narratives persist and proliferate across books, comics, games, and online media. It distinguishes official canon from fan-created concepts (fanon) by proposing a formal archival unit that can be stored, cited, and re-used in new contexts.

Structure and components: A fictioncan typically comprises the primary narrative text, metadata about setting and chronology, a worldbuilding schema, a character registry, licensing terms, and a derivative-work index listing fan fiction, adaptations, and community-generated expansions with provenance records.

Applications and critique: In archiving and digital humanities, fictioncans support reproducibility and cross-platform analysis, as well as collaborative storytelling. Critics note challenges in boundary setting between canon and fanon, potential scope creep, and copyright complexities in collecting and distributing all derivatives.

See also: canon, fanon, transmedia storytelling, fan fiction, digital archive.