Lost in Postmodernism

I never really got into the X-Files when I was growing up. I did see the X-Files movie, which I enjoyed even with only a basic understanding of the show, although surely I would have got more of the inside fan stuff if I watched the show.

While reading the article It’s the Libidinal Economy, Stupid: The X-Files and the Politics of Postmodern Desire I was continually reminded of the show Lost, a show I have become fairly obsessive with over the past year. It seems to me that there are some striking parallels between the two shows as postmodern television programs.

Speaking “postmodernly”, the format of Lost allows for many television references, both inside and outside of the show. The flashbacks of the characters that take place during each episode allow the writers to delve into varying television genres. Just as it seems The X-Files lends itself to self-reference to itself as a TV show and other genres of shows that have existed since television was invented.

The multitude of characters on the show often allows each flashback to parody different genres of television. Commonly the show will veer into medical, courtroom, family-melodrama, fugitive, or comedic farce in the flashbacks of particular characters on the show.

In addition to referencing familiar television norms, Lost in later seasons will reference itself in ways akin to The X-Files. The “Jose Chung” episode of The X-Files referred to in the article reminded me of many aspects of Lost. In particular the Rashomon motif in Lost, which provides the audience with new views and intricacies from the crash scene that began the series.

One particular episode of Lost in the third season called “Expose” parodied the show itself. While generally considered one of the worst episodes by fans, including myself, it defiantly used postmodernism as its’ basis. In this episode we see the death of two basically unknown characters, which were introduced earlier in the season and then not heard from for weeks. The show begins with one of their deaths and the characters on the island commenting on how they had no idea who these people were. Referencing the fans of Lost own confusion of who these characters were.



The episode also has a flashback explaining the entire linage of these two characters arrival on the island, in the Rashomon manner, showing how they had been on the island all along despite never being major players in the plot.

Before arriving on the island, the female character Nikki is revealed to be a television actress who is killed as a guest star on a show called “Expose.” She comments to the director of the show that everyone knows what happens to guest stars on TV shows. This whole exchange and exercise of self-reference foreshadows her death as a guest star on Lost.

Considering that the storyline of these characters had little to do with the storyarc of the season and the mytharc of the entire series, it seemed to only serve as an outlet for the writers to parody themselves and the nature of the show Lost.

Check out lostpedia for more info! Fansites!