retcon

v. to retroactively revise (a plot, storyline, character, event, history, etc.), usu. by reinterpreting past events, or by theorizing how the present would be different if past events had not happened or had happened differently. Also n. Subjects: English, Arts & Literature, Entertainment, Jargon

Editorial Note: Long common in comic books, but now used in historical fiction. Etymological Note: retroactive + continuity

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Citations: 1989 Robert Halloran Usenet: rec.arts.sf-lovers (Aug. 16) “Re: A New Star Wars Film?”: I’ll confirm that: Lucas retconned the opening credits after the release of TESB, once it was clear that the films were doing well enough that the first set would be completed. Had SW bombed, no one would have known the plans for a set of nine. 1989 Steve Simmons Usenet: rec.arts.comics (Dec. 22) “Re: Infinite Earths”: “Crisis On Infinite Earths” solved a DC crisis all right, but it wasn’t the problem of having multiple earths. It was the problem of 50 years of continuity complicating their existing characters.… “Crisis” let DC have good reason to retcon characters to whatever extent needed—heck, it practically demanded it. 2003 David Kipen San Francisco Chronicle (Aug. 10) “How representational work was overshadowed by abstract art”: In the useful and fast-spreading parlance of comic book fans, Dijkstra has boldly “retconned” most of 20th century American art history. That is, he’s given it a new “retroactive continuity,” rewritten it so that a discarded early movement suddenly becomes the consummation of everything that came before and a martyr to just about everything after.

Posted 11 May 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend