The McGuffin
Jan. 7th, 2004 07:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ivyficMcGuffin (n) - A device or plot element that catches the viewer’s attention or drives the plot. It is generally something that every character is concerned with. The McGuffin is essentially something that the entire story is built around and yet has no real relevance.
(definition ganked from http://sc.essortment.com/alfredhitchcoc_rvhd.htm)
I just watched the due South episode "Chicago Holiday" and noticed that the maid at the hotel is addressed as "Miss McGuffin" just as she throws out the matchbook/list - the McGuffin of this whole episode. I just thought that was a great in-joke. Shows the writers new their plot was created out of nothing. No disrespect to the writers - the term was coined by Hitchcock, who made some of his best films with McGuffins.
(definition ganked from http://sc.essortment.com/alfredhitchcoc_rvhd.htm)
I just watched the due South episode "Chicago Holiday" and noticed that the maid at the hotel is addressed as "Miss McGuffin" just as she throws out the matchbook/list - the McGuffin of this whole episode. I just thought that was a great in-joke. Shows the writers new their plot was created out of nothing. No disrespect to the writers - the term was coined by Hitchcock, who made some of his best films with McGuffins.