Trauma, Fear, and Paranoia: Lost and the Culture of 9/11

Abstract

One of the most popular television shows of the last decade, Lost (2004-2010) confounded many of its viewers with its twisting, convoluted plotlines. This article is an exploration of the many elements of the show over its first few, dynamic years that ultimately weave together to form a subtle, subversive image of post-9/11 American society. Through an examination of specific characters, and the cast as a whole, as well as various distinctly terroristic and apocalyptic components of the show’s plot, Lost is revealed as both a reproduction and a critical re-imagination of the American response to the events of September 11th, 2001. Lost becomes not merely an artifact of post-9/11 American society but a means through which viewers are invited to see ways in which our world can grow and change.