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What Is The MacGuffin?
The
concept of a MacGuffin was created by Alfred Hitchcock. The
MacGuffin is an object that becomes a central subplot of the story that is
thought of as very important by the characters in the story. The
actual definition of the MacGuffin is not the issue, but how the characters
react toward it is significant. It
creates mystery for the audience and drives the story forward. The
critical element from the writers perspective is that it drives the story
forward and reveals the attitudes and point of view of the characters.
Hitchcock came up with the term based on a Scottish tale about two men one of them named Mac Guffin One man says “What’s that package up there in the baggage rack?”, and the other answers “Oh, that’s a McGuffin”. The first man asks “What’s a McGuffin?”. “Well”, the other man says, “An apparatus for catching lions on the Scottish Highlands”. The guy says, “But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands”, the other guy responds “Well, then that’s no McGuffin!”. So you see, a McGuffin is nothing at all.”
Hitchcock came up with the term based on a Scottish tale about two men one of them named Mac Guffin One man says “What’s that package up there in the baggage rack?”, and the other answers “Oh, that’s a McGuffin”. The first man asks “What’s a McGuffin?”. “Well”, the other man says, “An apparatus for catching lions on the Scottish Highlands”. The guy says, “But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands”, the other guy responds “Well, then that’s no McGuffin!”. So you see, a McGuffin is nothing at all.”
George Lucas often refers to R2D2 as the main force driving the story of Starwars. Then he jokes that he is what the movie business refers to as the MacGuffin. I generally think R2D2 is a poor example of a MacGuffin. Star Wars is a story about the journey of two androids. Both Anikan Skywalker and Luke both care about this robot. True that R2D2 is not the driving force behind the main theme of the Starwars trilogies. Rather than disagree let me say this is not a great example. The MacGuffin in Starwars was the blue prints for the deathstar, in my opinion.
While MacGuffins are typically thought of as a being used in action adventure movies, I find they work great in romantic dramas. One of the most successful romance story tellers of our generation, Nicholas Sparks, frequently depends on the MacGuffin to tell his stories. Although I suspect he doesn't realize he is doing it, but I find it as a great example.In the movie The Last Song, Hanna Montana is protecting turtle eggs which is the MacGuffin. These baby turtles are the driving force between the romance of the two leads in the object that brings them together. When Hanna gets in busted for steeling a local shop, the audience realizes that she is still a good person because of how she cares about those baby turtle eggs. As the audence we can relate to her because of how she takes care of those turtle egs even if she is mean to her dad
In my opinion a MacGuffin should be a mystery and an intangible object This object movies the story forward and is a tool to reveal plot points and characters motivations and attitude. I think every good story should include a MacGuffin especially dramas and love stories. Done properly it will help tie your subplots together and drive your tale forward one scene at a time Sense the days of Hitchcock some of the best movies have used this creative tool to tell their story
While MacGuffins are typically thought of as a being used in action adventure movies, I find they work great in romantic dramas. One of the most successful romance story tellers of our generation, Nicholas Sparks, frequently depends on the MacGuffin to tell his stories. Although I suspect he doesn't realize he is doing it, but I find it as a great example.In the movie The Last Song, Hanna Montana is protecting turtle eggs which is the MacGuffin. These baby turtles are the driving force between the romance of the two leads in the object that brings them together. When Hanna gets in busted for steeling a local shop, the audience realizes that she is still a good person because of how she cares about those baby turtle eggs. As the audence we can relate to her because of how she takes care of those turtle egs even if she is mean to her dad
In my opinion a MacGuffin should be a mystery and an intangible object This object movies the story forward and is a tool to reveal plot points and characters motivations and attitude. I think every good story should include a MacGuffin especially dramas and love stories. Done properly it will help tie your subplots together and drive your tale forward one scene at a time Sense the days of Hitchcock some of the best movies have used this creative tool to tell their story
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