LOST - the perfect collision between the intellectual world, and the world of pop culture.
With its beautiful, emotional and spectacularly brilliant execution of mystery, science-fiction, comedy, tragedy and deep characterization on an unprecedented scale, Lost is a grand adventure story unlike any epic portrayed on the small screen. And unlike most other shows, Lost appears to have no ceiling to its understanding, at least not that I can see. I am still trying to understand its meaning. Not of its storyline, but rather, its effect on popular culture, science fiction, literature, philosophy, history and even physics. But it's the unique personal journey I find myself on as a consequence of those 121 episodes that fascinates me most.
You see, Lost is a story about me. It's also about you, and in turn, the people you know. The myriad of "one degree of separation" connections on the show are a metaphor for the connections we have in our own lives as well as with the characters themselves. It is most certainly not a coincidence that they were all so deeply entwined. Lost taps deep into the fibre of our being. We have strong connections with the characters because they are us. The words on the image above spoken by Jacob during his infamous speech were intended just as much for the viewers as they were for the Candidates.
Changing the TV Landscape
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How can I say that I'm an observer? I'm a participant in this process. I'm having to spend a huge amount of time trying to figure out what's going on... It's non-linier storytelling. (Pearson Moore - Author) |
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Lost single-handedly lifted the standard of what we expect from television. It managed to make a seemingly inanimate Island its central character in a way that really is believable. It rewards, more than any other show, generously on each re-watch. It is a masterpiece of demonstrative drama, one which never catered to the lowest common denominator by spoon feeding every detail. Instead, it dared to respect our intelligence and ability to work things out for ourselves. Lost required us to be active participants instead of passive attendants and portrays characters in a way that facilitates a greater connection with viewers by making them all flawed, failing and messy. We find great comfort in this because these are attributes we all share.
It is a TV show that intentionally disorients us so as to break us in much the same way as the characters in the story in order to come out at the other side an enlightened version of our former self. It tricked us into believing we were watching a six season mystery adventure before boldly turning it around in the final minutes to reveal it was actually about so much more.
Lost is both groundbreaking and inspiring. It's a TV show where the most important question is not "how do they get off the Island?", but rather "why are they there in the first place?"
It Only Ends Once - Everything Before That Is Just Progress
Why am I here? Does life matter? Do I have a special purpose? Can I make a difference?
Like most people, I often feel lost in my own life. It is all too easy to feel isolated in a culture where conformity is the norm. Lost reinvigorated my passion for learning. For growing. For maturing, and ultimately to accept the non-conformist within. In doing so, I re-discovered what I'd always known... that life really is awe-inspiring.
It is precisely because we are lost, that Lost endures. It challenges us to think critically, puzzling out the mysteries, thinking about everyday philosophy while engaging with the characters of the show. Yet that is just the beginning.
Whilst I mourn the end of Lost, I take solace in its ongoing contribution to who I am. Lost is not done with me nor am I done with it. I know the book of Lost will never be closed because the definitive judgement of its meaning will never be achieved. With Lost (as in life), it really is all about the journey, rather than the destination.
Lost is much more than just a TV show. It will live within me for the rest of my days. It is my companion in life. A window into all that is bad and good. It is for this reason that I do not need to experience the flash-sideways to know that Lost is my constant.
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