Talk:MacGuffin

message: I have proposed a change from limiting the discussion of MacGuffins "in fiction" to their use "in a story." The edit was refused. Dictionary.com defines story as "a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader." An alternate would be "in a narrative."  
The way the article now reads, a user might assume that MacGuffins are found only in fictional narratives.  This is not supported by the Merriam-Webster definition of MacGuffin as a device found in either film or story. Fiction, while often interchanged with story, is a very limited range within story or narrative (which are equivalent).  (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative)  My attempt to edit comes from the awareness of MacGuffins in scriptural narratives. One of the editors of this page, Anita, seemed to discount the identification of MacGuffins in that genre because it was not fiction.  Perhaps my concern could be dealt with by a footnote that informs the user that MacGuffins are also found in all forms of narrative?  Or by the creation of another page that addresses MacGuffins in non-fictional narratives? Jeanninegrimm (talk) 13:35, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
replies: text: I rewrote the first line of the lead because I think it is about time someone cited the definition accurately.  The sources indicate the term originated in film and was extended to fiction in general.  This is a relatively recent term and has not yet been applied to nonfiction.—Anita5192 (talk) 19:00, 28 June 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Change from "in fiction" to "in a story" 

message: Setting aside the concerns of experts in pop-culture, let's not forget: the key feature of a narrative may be character (e.g. bildungsroman), or comedic wit (e.g Adams, Heller, Pynchon), or pure style (e.g. Finnegans Wake). And so on, and on.
Literature is peppered with vague motivations and mechanisms for why character X does action Y rather than action Z.
Analysis of the McGuffin is like asking why does Monet's Vetheuil 1880 hint at poppies rather than realise them in detail. The answer is: he just doesn't—and simply because that detail is not important to the work (particularly within the style being used). 
Regarding the genre of Realism, concerns with the McGuffin may be legitimate; but since most art is not Realism, any focus on the device needs to be taken in context.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1.152.105.179 (talk) 15:58, 29 September 2020 (UTC)
thread_title:  Requires input from an narratology-qualified academic 

message: The following source is oddly formatted ('Dr.'s for example) and I cannot find it on Google Scholar:
Dr. Marjory T. Ward, "King Arthur Revisited" in Dr. Andrew Keen (ed.) "​Proceedings of the Second History/Literature Conference on Medieval Literature"​
Also there is no date given! Google Search shows "Marjory T. Ward" only in reference to this article; ditto for "​Proceedings of the Second History/Literature Conference on Medieval Literature"​
I am removing it. If it can be found, please put back in. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2603:7000:3902:b10a:e14d:2b32:6670:9a60 (talk) 04:30, 4 June 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Source Check: Ward, "King Arthur Revisited" 

message: I am suggesting adding Character as MacGuffin as a subtopic for this article with the example of the Krista Taylor character in the movie Tar (sorry I don't know how to make the accent over the "a" in this editor). The plot revolves around the decline in popularity and social standing of the main character Lydia Tar which is caused mainly by her interaction with the character Krista Taylor who is never seen except from the back of her head in a couple of early scenes, and KT's suicide. Interactions such as emails between LT & KT, KT's character assassinations by LT and gifts from KT to LT are central to the story, though the KT character is never explored otherwise. Looking for feedback and if acceptable some suggested narrative for the article. Chandoga (talk) 13:32, 21 May 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: What sources would this be based on?  See WP:V. You need one for each person and the source needs to say specifically they are a MacGuffin. Anything else would be WP:OR. Richard-of-Earth (talk) 05:20, 24 May 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Character as MacGuffin