--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, story and theme are universal." description: "\"For me, story and theme are universal.\" — Bear McCreary" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg" --- # For me, story and theme are universal. ![“For me, story and theme are universal.” quote by Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg) > “For me, story and theme are universal.” [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Story and theme are fundamentally the same universal elements across narratives. **In simple terms:** Story and theme are the same universal ideas. Key Takeaway Recognize the shared core of narratives. Themes narrative universality creativity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - film criticism - literary analysis - education Key Concepts storytelling thematic analysis universality Questions to Reflect On - Do you see story and theme as distinct? - How does universality affect originality? A Different Perspective Some argue story and theme can diverge in interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Theme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-theme-1399494/) [Theme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme/) [Theme Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-universal-5589560/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) ## Related quotes > [I tend not to know what the plot is or the story is or even the theme. Those things come later, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-tend-not-to-know-what-the-plot-is-or-the-story-is-or-even-the-theme/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I'm not saying that every song has to be an all-time hit or the greatest ever music. That's not what you should set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-m-not-saying-that-every-song-has-to-be-an-all-time-hit-or-the/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [The way I do collections and what inspires me is a story or theme that gets to me...that says I know how to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/the-way-i-do-collections-and-what-inspires-me-is-a-story-or-theme/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [In a story, you have to have a theme and an angle, you have to have a beginning, middle and an end. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/in-a-story-you-have-to-have-a-theme-and-an-angle-you-have-to-have-a/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [When I'm thinking about themes for Elrond, Elendil, Isildur, these are characters that I think all fans have an idea where they're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/when-i-m-thinking-about-themes-for-elrond-elendil-isildur-these-are/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [The theme is the most essential component of a new series and I spend a lot of time developing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/the-theme-is-the-most-essential-component-of-a-new-series-and-i-spend/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [Sometimes if you can tell one personal story with a lot of sincerity, it can become a universal story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/sometimes-if-you-can-tell-one-personal-story-with-a-lot-of-sincerity/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [For me, it's very easy to write a horror movie that's just a succession of scary sequences, but it's hard to find horror movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehren-kruger/for-me-it-s-very-easy-to-write-a-horror-movie-that-s-just-a/) [Ehren Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehren-kruger/) > [For me, in any story that I take, the antagonist is more interesting and multi-dimensional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/for-me-in-any-story-that-i-take-the-antagonist-is-more-interesting/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [I'd read up on the history of our country and I'd become fascinated with the story of the Alamo. 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How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There's when a phrase circles in my head in a number of ways for any number of days, weeks, or months, and then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/there-s-when-a-phrase-circles-in-my-head-in-a-number-of-ways-for-any/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## More by Bear McCreary > [I think the thing that music can do is be unsettling. It is abnormal - music that's perceived to be different in an unresolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-think-the-thing-that-music-can-do-is-be-unsettling-it-is-abnormal/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [There are certain things I've always wanted to hear vido game scores do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/there-are-certain-things-i-ve-always-wanted-to-hear-vido-game-scores/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I grew up watching sci-fi and horror and dramas and playing video games. These are all things I enjoy doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-grew-up-watching-sci-fi-and-horror-and-dramas-and-playing-video/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [There was a time after doing 'Battlestar Galactica,' where I had my pick of projects that wanted taiko drums and ethnic vocals. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/there-was-a-time-after-doing-battlestar-galactica-where-i-had-my-pick/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [The showrunner relationship in television is what the director relationship in film, there's really no more important relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/the-showrunner-relationship-in-television-is-what-the-director/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I mean, I think everybody has fond memories of 'Masters of the Universe.' It was just one of the things in the '80s. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-mean-i-think-everybody-has-fond-memories-of-masters-of-the-universe/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [When you hit a string or a piece of metal or anything that vibrates, you hear the fundamental pitch that the thing is vibrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/when-you-hit-a-string-or-a-piece-of-metal-or-anything-that-vibrates/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [Galadriel is driven by a sense of justice, if not a sense of revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/galadriel-is-driven-by-a-sense-of-justice-if-not-a-sense-of-revenge/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [The great thing about scoring sci-fi shows is that you basically get to make up the rules, because you're creating a self-contained universe; when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/the-great-thing-about-scoring-sci-fi-shows-is-that-you-basically-get/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [It's hard to take a series of intervals that we all recognize, and arrange them in a way that is not so simplistic, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/it-s-hard-to-take-a-series-of-intervals-that-we-all-recognize-and/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I approach everything from the same perspective which is character and story, which then influence the musical style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-approach-everything-from-the-same-perspective-which-is-character/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I understand fans being hesitant to embrace 'The Rings of Power.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-understand-fans-being-hesitant-to-embrace-the-rings-of-power/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [On a network show, you can get six days to score an episode. On 'Outlander,' because it's premium cable and because of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/on-a-network-show-you-can-get-six-days-to-score-an-episode-on/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to work Mark Hamill in creating the 'Child's Play Theme.' He dove into the experience head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-was-thrilled-to-have-had-the-opportunity-to-work-mark-hamill-in/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [At first glance, I was nervous that 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' would be difficult to approach... It ties together a cinematic universe that spans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/at-first-glance-i-was-nervous-that-marvel-s-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) [Explore all 112 Bear McCreary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) ## More Me quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [I do whatever entertains me. 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Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) [Browse all 36,324 Me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, story and theme are universal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bear McCreary" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Me" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/bear-mccreary-4348_me_for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal-707_707749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For me, story and theme are universal.” — Bear McCreary", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bear McCreary", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For me, story and theme are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/for-me-story-and-theme-are-universal/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```