Mistral said:
None of the above are canonical proof of that. I'm not even entirely sure that I'd use any of them for evidence as to why _I_ believe that Avon loved Anna, as they're too easy to counter. For example, Dayna's comment, "You killed someone he loved." That she _said_ it is canon; that we take it as evidence that Avon loved Anna requires that we _assume_ (i.e. interpret) that (1) she was being honest, and (2) that she knew what she was talking about.
Here's where authorial intent comes in. Remember this is a drama series. So if a character says that Anna was someone Avon loved, this is meant to be a big flag to the audience that Avon loved Anna. Even if this is contradicted later in the story-- because the presence of the initial remark is meant to be a hint as to how the relationship should be read at that point by the audience.
And anyway, Avon goes to great lengths, including subjecting himself to Federation torture, in order to revenge himself on the man he thinks killed her; in Countdown, his feelings convinced Del Grant that he loved her; his reaction in RoD when he learns she has betrayed him is profoundly shocked; she calls him "my love." All of which is going a little far for someone who was a nodding acquaintance, or even just a casual shag.
Shane
"Avon, you were my only friend..." --Blake
Arggh! Sent the wrong place. Sorry, Shane.
littles@lycos.co.uk wrote:
Mistral said:
None of the above are canonical proof of that. I'm not even entirely sure that I'd use any of them for evidence as to why _I_ believe that Avon loved Anna, as they're too easy to counter. For example, Dayna's comment, "You killed someone he loved." That she _said_ it is canon; that we take it as evidence that Avon loved Anna requires that we _assume_ (i.e. interpret) that (1) she was being honest, and (2) that she knew what she was talking about.
Here's where authorial intent comes in. Remember this is a drama series. So if a character says that Anna was someone Avon loved, this is meant to be a big flag to the audience that Avon loved Anna. Even if this is contradicted later in the story-- because the presence of the initial remark is meant to be a hint as to how the relationship should be read at that point by the audience.
Sure, Shane, but that's a different issue. We're talking about canon vs. not-canon. Authorial intent is clearly not-canon (and while my experience of fandom is still fairly limited, that's true of all the fandoms I've dabbled in.)
Think of it like this: when my mum puts together a jigsaw, she refers to the picture on the box to see what the finished puzzle should look like. Fine.
I almost never look at the picture on the box when I put together a jigsaw; to me, it's cheating.
In Playing the Game, one has to treat the B7 universe as a reality. Authorial intent is the outside of the box. It's fine if the intent is to analyse a television show; but in Playing the Game, it's cheating. Both approaches are fun for their enthusiasts; but to have a meaningful conversation, the participants have to choose one or the other.
Just IMHO, Mistral
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littles＠lycos.co.uk -
Mistral