canon event

English

Etymology

Originating from the film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (released June 2, 2023) in which each universe's Spider-Man experiences certain "canon events" that lead to them becoming Spider-Man. Popularized on TikTok.

Noun

canon event (plural canon events)

1. (Internet slang) An unpleasant but unavoidable event which has a significant effect on someone's life or personal development. [from 2023]
   • 2023 June 15, Matilda Boseley, “’A form of acceptance’: TikTok’s new trend of ’canon events’”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-12-04:

     The format is simple enough: a few seconds of the poster's face looking regretful with an ominous tone from the film's soundtrack playing underneath. The text on screen describes how it feels to watch someone make a terrible or embarrassing decision, but are unable to do anything to interfere because it is a "canon event".

   • 2023 July 5, Jillian Giandurco, “What's Your Canon Event? TikTok Wants To Know”, in Bustle‎^[2], archived from the original on 2023-07-18:

     Sure, it feels like we had a new canon event every day during our teenage years, but early adulthood is filled with plenty of unavoidable life experiences, too.

   • [2023 July 11, “’Canon Event’ TikToks Use a ’Spider-Verse’ Phrase That Almost Didn’t Make the Film”, in The New York Times‎^[3], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-01-17:

     Those TikToks, a mixture of concern and schadenfreude, are a few of the thousands of videos powering a trend that has catapulted a new phrase into the pop culture lexicon: the "canon event," a pivotal moment that must happen in order for people to mature into their future selves.]

   • 2023 December 27, “Top 10 Films of 2023”, in The Harvard Crimson‎^[4], Cambridge, M.A.: Harvard Crimson, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 January 2023:

     Full of unexpected gore, off-color jokes, and gay canon events, "Bottoms" balances a refreshing authenticity with an unwavering ability to keep viewers on their toes.