Adam Osman Hodin

Paper 3 Prospectus

Prospectus

Overview
Television and mass media have been plagued with the guise of being detrimental to
society. With its accessibility and ubiquity, the television has grown to become a staple of
modern society. However, the propagation of the television has delivered the public a reputation
for being overly obsessed with mindless entertainment. Those who call for the end of the
television preach about it’s deleterious effect on our attention span and ability to comprehend
intellectual concepts. Television has taken the position once held by books as the primary
vehicle for ideas and opinion, but why hasn’t it received the same credibility as literature?
However, over the years, certain television shows have gambled with their audience’s capacity
for introspective thought. One such such show that risked to challenge its viewers is the
television drama LOST.

Questions
● What is the relationship between a television show and it’s audience? (ie. what does the
the audience expect to receive from the show, and what are the show’s intentions?)
● Why is it important that television programs avoid complacency?
● What do programs, such as LOST, aim to achieve by creating such programs?
● Why should the public care about the television they’re watching?

Argument
The cult following behind the program LOST demonstrates society’s calling for more
insightful entertainment. Although LOST has endured the test of time, it is highly regarded
amongst both scholars and the general public. LOST put forth a unique form of storytelling that
borrowed heavily from such literary minds as Kurt Vonnegut and Virginia Wolf. Understanding
the characteristics of the a cult TV drama can help to illuminate the emotions felt by the fans.
Professor David Lavery highlights the dynamics of such relationships in his textbook called The
Essential Cult TV Reader. Several T.V. and Film scholars have recognized LOST for its impact
in society and television history. Noted Film and T.V. Scholar Robert Pearson collects many of
her and other’s opinions regarding LOST in her book Reading Lost. LOST proves to be a
television equivalent to many literary endeavours that try to tackle the realms of human suffering
and enlightenment.