Intentionally Lost

[eldritchhobbit]

I mused previously about the naming of the John Locke character on Lost. Now, as of last night, we have Rousseau on the island, as well. So it is intentional! Now we know where all good political theorists go (and all good science fiction/fantasy genre stars, as well: at this point we have Lord of the Rings, Millennium, Harsh Realm, Crusade, and Babylon 5 represented by the cast -- am I missing anything?). Obviously, they don't die or fade away: they end up together on an island. I say good for the political science student-turned-scriptwriter who is obviously having so much fun with this. I'll be anxious to see what the series' final position on humanity's "state of nature" actually is. Clearly, giant polar bears are somehow key. And so, of course, is golf.



In other news, registration is now open for two science fiction/fantasy-related conventions I'm excited about attending this upcoming spring and summer as a guest speaker. The first is MidSouthCon 23 (April 1-3, 2005 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA). Last year was my first MidSouthCon, and I had a marvelous time with the enthusiastic, welcoming group there and the terrific panels and events they sponsored. I'm already looking forward to April!

The second con is HyperiCon 2005: A Speculative Fiction Convention (July 17-19, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA). This is a new event, desperately needed here in Music City, and it is being organized by a class act group of experienced fans. I hope all who can will take part and help HyperiCon become an annual Nashville tradition.



And now for my quotes of the day, in the spirit of yesterday's post:

"The power of the world works in circles, and everything tries to be round."
Black Elk

"I'm already in
Circles and circles and circles again
The girl's in circles and circles, got to stop spinning,
Circles and circles and circles again..."
from "Cloud on my Tongue,"
Tori Amos

Comments

Or ... deux

[(Anonymous)]

But back to the character construct stuff:

I think elements from some of these test subjects real lives have been mined from their memories and included virtually in the reality construct in order to give the testers leverage to create inter-relationship stresses that would take too long to create between strangers or via any sort of external stimuli.

What the heck am I talking about? Well, the air marshall, for one. The only guy who's actually damaged in the "crash" and who creates crushing moral choices for Kate, Jack AND Sawyer? I think he is a construct modeled on a real person (the air marshal who was actually taking Kate in), but the guy on the island isn't one of the test subjects -- if he were, he, too, would have escaped unscathed.

And the black woman, pretty sure. Where the heck did she go? And her statement of her husband still being alive? Doesn't that seem awfully foreshadowing to you?

As for more major characters, I think Walt is a construct. I think there IS a real Walt (who may or may not have been on the plane), but I think (both) the Walt on the island (and his dog) are constructs to observe a parental dynamic with Michael. I am looking forward to Michael's "back story" episode and wonder if we won't see that Walt didn't get on the plane with his dad ... something that might be a "what the F***? -- then who is this?" discovery moment (similar to Locke's wheelchair reveal) that will start the plot-beneath-a-plot elements that I see in the show.

I also think Jin is a construct to put pressure on Sun. I think we might well find that she DID leave him and was on the plane alone, but the construct put him back in her life to explore the dynamics he creates, especially in isolating Sun from the others. I also wonder if Michael and Sun weren't somehow involved pre-crash (those long looks seem oddly intimate, don't they?) but the testers have adjusted that element of their memories, perhaps to see if it will re-emerge or to explore the dynamic of it re-emerging with Jin in the mix.

I'm up in the air about Boone (isn't he too "pretty" and doesn't he prompt a lot of the moral dilemmas into action -- the swimming rescue, the theft of water, the sister's asthma?); but if he IS real, then I'm pretty sure Shannon is virtual. Her princess attitude seems out-of-line stereotypical, and her sudden onset of asthma seemed AWFULLY convenient, especially considering the moral pressure it put on Jack and Sayid in terms of situational ethics.

I hold out possibility that both Claire and Hurley could be constructs as well, although they could easily also be real. Claire doesn't seem "different" enough at this stage to be an archetype, and being pregnant, she presents such a convenient element to prompt protective instincts, that I suspect her; but other than this, she's done nothing to make me suspect she isn't as she presents. Hurley certainly could be an exploration into the bigotries of size, but he could also be a program "help" button to assist in the survival elements of the program navigation by nudging them in the direction of survival so the tests can continue. Push comes to shove though, I tend to think Hurley is real. Claire is 50/50 for me at this point.

Danielle is obviously a surviving subject from a previous test.

That was what I was GONNA say, if your your journal hadn't made me edit it. ;)

Dodger

Re: Or ... deux

[(Anonymous)]

Great analysis, "anonymous"!

On the other hand, what if it is something else entirely different that we've NEVER seen on TV or the movies that is really behind "Lost"? I mean, what is really outside the "box"? I don't have any idea what that might be. I leave it to those of you with more brains and creativity than me to ponder and post. In the meantime, enjoy the show.