Tempus Omnia Iudicat
Doesn't seem to be a Take That! at all, just describing the fact that some people want to create fan works that are better than canon, especially in situations that aren't particularly liked by the fans. The reason why it's YMMV is because it's an audience reaction and Your Mileage May Vary on whether it actually is better.
"Thorough preparation must lead to success. Neglect nothing."
The description makes it seem like the trope is about the fact that canon was changed, not that it's actually "better". In fact, the only assertion that Better Than Canon is, in fact, better than canon, is the title. With that description, Changed From Canon would be more accurate.
she her hers hOI!!! i'm tempe
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Wouldn't that title be applied to most fan-fics, along with 99 percent of Slash Fic?
Tempus Omnia Iudicat
Which is exactly why this is YMMV: because different peoples interpretations of "better" are different.
I think you're missing my point.
I'm not saying "better is not YMMV". I'm saying "The description of Better Than Canon describes a trope that isn't actually about being better than canon. Which is wrong."
she her hers hOI!!! i'm tempe
Tempus Omnia Iudicat
"Better Than Canon refers to when fans (in their minds) start ignoring and rewriting aspects of a fictional canon in order to "improve" upon it."
That sounds less than something being Better Than Canon and more like just changing the canon to suit to change it to the way an author wants it. The fact that improve is in speech marks gives a rather negative vibe. The trope's description seems to indicate this about just changing the canon in order to "improve" it (in the author's mind), but it's used in some places as a fanfic that's, well, Better Than Canon. So what is this trope about? A fanfic author changing the canon in the idea to improve it (which isn't really YMMV IMO) or a fanfic being better than the actual story (definitely YMMV IMO).
If we are going to find a way to deal with Better Than Canon can we do it with Canon Defilement too? The two tropes are often thrown at each other, group A thinks X is better than canon, group b thinks it is canon defilement. They seem to be used as just a way of saying changes we like versus changes we don't.
Let's not rename just for the hell of it, people. Show misuse if you think there's misuse. I think the name's fine: it's when non-canon ideas (like fan-fiction or other non-canonical works) are treated, by at least one person, as 'better' than actual canon, right?
Star Wars gets this one a lot, and as a fan I will admit to at least some idle speculating along these ways. Kill Jar-Jar, Expanded Universe is better than the movies (at least sometimes), etc.
edited 13th May '11 8:03:58 AM by savage
Want to rename a trope? Step one: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Think of the mooks!
I'm starting to think this is the trope that will always make people unhappy.
Issues with this trope existed back when it was listed as Sasami Syndrome (which later got split into a subtrope that was then renamed Fan-Preferred Couple). I wish I could say I'm surprised that it's still coming up... but then, there have always been tropes that have been controversial, and will probably always remain so.
As for the name... this may be one of those "no name is absolutely perfect" scenarios that pop up every so often. Changed From Canon sounds like it could be an alternate name for Adaptation Distillation or Adaptation Decay.
Fact is, we probably could all play Warp That Trope Name (like Warp That Aesop, except it clogs up TRS), but we really should save renames for names that are completely obtuse (i.e. ones named after characters, particularly ones from lesser-known sources), completely non-indicative (like the original name for this trope), or even completely the opposite of the intended meaning (no examples come to mind immediately, but they've happened). In instances like this, where you can see logic behind the name even if it isn't the first thing that comes to mind, the name really should be left alone unless there's a trope that would fit the name even better.
Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.
Bump.
Why don't we just rewrite the description to be more in line with how people are using it? It will definitely still need to be YMMV, of course, but here's a try:
"Canon is the official, sanctioned works of a series. But writers are people too, and its impossible to please everyone. Sometimes, however, they make much bigger mistakes, either causing fans to ignore it entirely or cry that they ignored a plot point. Attempts to fix these "mistakes" are called Fix Fics, and vary greatly in their quality.
When a Fix Fic seemingly succeeds in correcting the mistakes of Canon, it is Better Than Canon.
This is a fandom's response to a work, not personal opinion. Personal opinion should go in a review for the fic in question."
edited 17th Jul '11 10:17:57 AM by Discar
No, personal opinions for that go in the reviews section.
edited 17th Jul '11 10:15:13 AM by SpellBlade
Fair enough, edited it to reflect that.
This trope has both had its examples culled and been marked as subjective. Why do we still have it? I don't see what its purpose is. Of course fans sometimes try to improve on canon, but that's not a trope; it's not fanspeak or anything, either.
Diagonalizing The Matrix
Well, even if it's bound to happen, there's no harm in having a write-up on it.
Pretentious quote || In-joke from fandom you've never heard of || Shameless self-promotion || Something weird you'll habituate to
I still like the idea of redefining this to be used as basically "Fanfiction that came out better than canon," which is how I've always seen it used. I posted a rough-draft in post 12.
Hammer of the Pervs
Anything going to be done on this?
"Did anybody invent this stuff on purpose?" - Phillip Marlowe on tequila, Finger Man by Raymond Chandler.
Why is this not on the YMMV index, even though it's marked as YMMV?
"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer
Why not 'More Enjoyable Than Canon?'
Because that name sounds dumb. 
someone
Looks okay right now. No need for examples. I don't think there's anything that needs to be done anymore.
something
And you're comment was just plain unnecessary. Why don't you come up with a name then?
someone
I think that he really meant "no need for a rename".
edited 9th Feb '12 10:07:25 AM by ThatHuman
something
I don't get it. Is it a Take That! at the idea of changing canon? I don't think it was intended to be that...
The description doesn't jive with the common use of, uh, "fan works that (i think) are better than canon". At all. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the page describes a completely objective non-YMMV thing.
she her hers hOI!!! i'm tempe