Anonymous |
Man vs Nature
Nov 13 2006, 4:58 PM EST
I subscribe to your theory but I think the questions being posed are somewhat broader. In my opinion the creators are exploring the nature of being and the construction of man's social existence. You point to philosophers like Locke, Hume and Rousseau whose perspectives are, in part, borne out by the actions of their characters but for me Hobbes is the elephant in the room. The passengers of flight 815 find themselves in a Hobbesian 'state of nature'. There is no map for the social world they construct. In this light, the use of the terms Self and Other and the threat conflated with the latter is of interest. Why does a more co-operative order not emerge?
Some other interesting questions are posed. Many of the flashback scenes present our heroes in brushes with law enforcement but in the absence of a authoritarian/puritanical legal code there would seem to be potential for these characters to be re-habilitated.
Power and knowledge imbalances between the groups, the emergence of hierarchy and the emphasis on individual capabilities all reflect the narrative of human history. It is interesting to ponder whether the society the passengers of flight 815 construct is a functions of the values and norms they have inherited from epistemology and the national traditions of the US.
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Anonymous |
RE: Man vs Nature
Dec 12 2006, 9:02 PM EST
The Buddhist references in this show permeate everything. The interconnectedness of every crash survivor, the dependant origination of their presence on the plane. The number 108. The Dharma Initiative. Illusions (BSM). Desire. Grasping for control. The concept of "starting over in a new life" as "reincarnation". Locke, the Bald Buddhist Monk in the group, repeats instructions to "Let Go" and goes with the flow of things. And one thing that Buddhism is huge on...Karma from your past life having a direct effect on suffering in your present circumstances (i.e. Fate) until you rectify your misdeeds. Every character in this show has some dark past...except for Locke, who's only really significant struggle is with forgiveness.
This show is certainly a commentary on the human condition, marrying eastern and western philosophy seamlessly. It's smart stuff.
I'm looking forward to where it is headed, but I'm not really attached to any particular outcome. It is what it is. Just a meaningless TV show.
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