Let me preface this blog entry with the fact that I have watched Season 1 and probably four episodes of Season 2 and I believe Lost to be one of the silliest shows ever made. I think they had a plan, a la Sopranos, that would play out over a small number of episodes and it would make sense. Popularity caused them to create more ideas and these ideas spun out of control and became what the masses call "brilliant." Let me also point out that the masses are, for the most part, far from brilliant.
So how will this mess end? When I first watched the show I was struck by the silly symbolism. A man named John Locke who represents individuality and self governing, who believes we are innately good, unless faced with evil. Sounds like a famous philosopher named....John Locke! How original. I wondered if they'd throw in a character, maybe, his protagonist and call them Rousseau or maybe Hobbes. Little did I know until recently, but there was a Rousseau. How original. Then there is the whole biblical stuff where a guy names Jacob chooses a candidate to take over for him. It's Benjamin. In the bible, Benjamin takes Jacobs body and as people love to say yadda yadda yadda.
So we have philosophical symbols, religious symbols and of course the titles which pay homage to The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. So what does it all mean? When I first saw it I thought a few different tales were being told. Maybe it's a modern day version of Alice in Wonderland. I don't think they would go into such a strong religious debate on regular television, so I don't think the ending will have anything as interesting as the true philosophical debate as to whether or not government and public religion is a cause for evil (to contradict Locke's feeling that these are inherent and should be practiced privately). I thought about it over and over and came to the conclusion that the way this all ends is a chess game, between Locke and someone else.
It just seems to me that the real debate is the philosophical differences between the real John Locke and those of say Hobbes or Rousseau. While this might sound offensive to some, if this is the case, I have a problem with the writers thinking the average television viewer would have any concept of their beliefs. This may in fact be why it has been so well received. I did a google search before writing this and apparently a few others (after watching every episode) have guessed that it may indeed be a chess game, with the final line being "check mate." Many believe Hurley will be the main character and he's playing chess with his doctor's in a psych ward and this has all been his imagination. I would hope the producers don't go that route. It's been done already, and better, by St. Elsewhere and Newhart. Like I said, I've only seen the first season and a handful of episodes. I wouldn't know the character Rousseau, Benjamin or Jacob if they sat on my lap.
Or maybe Locke is playing chess against the Angel of Death in a modern day telling of Bergman's The Seventh Seal (which everyone should see because it's brilliant). Maybe they all are doomed from the beginning and it's just playing out as they enter the next world. That might be seen as too easy. I guess nobody will be sure until next week. I won't be sure until well after, as I have no plans to watch the finale. I've made it this far in life without succumbing to the silliness. Why become part of the mindless herd that follows and waits with bated breath for all these monotonous series to play out? I'll be watching a game and I'm sure someone will be sure to call me and text me to tell me I'm wrong. I look forward to it.
So how will this mess end? When I first watched the show I was struck by the silly symbolism. A man named John Locke who represents individuality and self governing, who believes we are innately good, unless faced with evil. Sounds like a famous philosopher named....John Locke! How original. I wondered if they'd throw in a character, maybe, his protagonist and call them Rousseau or maybe Hobbes. Little did I know until recently, but there was a Rousseau. How original. Then there is the whole biblical stuff where a guy names Jacob chooses a candidate to take over for him. It's Benjamin. In the bible, Benjamin takes Jacobs body and as people love to say yadda yadda yadda.
So we have philosophical symbols, religious symbols and of course the titles which pay homage to The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. So what does it all mean? When I first saw it I thought a few different tales were being told. Maybe it's a modern day version of Alice in Wonderland. I don't think they would go into such a strong religious debate on regular television, so I don't think the ending will have anything as interesting as the true philosophical debate as to whether or not government and public religion is a cause for evil (to contradict Locke's feeling that these are inherent and should be practiced privately). I thought about it over and over and came to the conclusion that the way this all ends is a chess game, between Locke and someone else.
It just seems to me that the real debate is the philosophical differences between the real John Locke and those of say Hobbes or Rousseau. While this might sound offensive to some, if this is the case, I have a problem with the writers thinking the average television viewer would have any concept of their beliefs. This may in fact be why it has been so well received. I did a google search before writing this and apparently a few others (after watching every episode) have guessed that it may indeed be a chess game, with the final line being "check mate." Many believe Hurley will be the main character and he's playing chess with his doctor's in a psych ward and this has all been his imagination. I would hope the producers don't go that route. It's been done already, and better, by St. Elsewhere and Newhart. Like I said, I've only seen the first season and a handful of episodes. I wouldn't know the character Rousseau, Benjamin or Jacob if they sat on my lap.
Or maybe Locke is playing chess against the Angel of Death in a modern day telling of Bergman's The Seventh Seal (which everyone should see because it's brilliant). Maybe they all are doomed from the beginning and it's just playing out as they enter the next world. That might be seen as too easy. I guess nobody will be sure until next week. I won't be sure until well after, as I have no plans to watch the finale. I've made it this far in life without succumbing to the silliness. Why become part of the mindless herd that follows and waits with bated breath for all these monotonous series to play out? I'll be watching a game and I'm sure someone will be sure to call me and text me to tell me I'm wrong. I look forward to it.
Um Locke , jacob and rousseau are all dead
ReplyDelete