Comments on: Parallels in LOST and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” – Part 4 – Cycles and Salvation http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html Reading Pop Culture Like an English Teacher Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Parallels in LOST and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” – Part 1 – Narrative http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-408 Parallels in LOST and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” – Part 1 – Narrative Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:59:02 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-408 [...] Part 4 will tackle both series underlying quests for redemption and the seeming cyclical narrative p... [...] [...] Part 4 will tackle both series underlying quests for redemption and the seeming cyclical narrative p… [...]

]]> By: Parallels in LOST and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” – Part 3 – Course Correction and Ka http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-405 Parallels in LOST and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” – Part 3 – Course Correction and Ka Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:57:36 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-405 [...] my next (and final) installment of LOST and The Dark Tower parallels, I intend to look at the occurrence of cyclical narrative and how [...] [...] my next (and final) installment of LOST and The Dark Tower parallels, I intend to look at the occurrence of cyclical narrative and how [...]

]]> By: Ben Miller http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-114 Ben Miller Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:52:17 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-114 My wife lovs LOST, I never really got into it. After reading this, I'm willing to give it another shot. You have presented the material very well. Thanks! My wife lovs LOST, I never really got into it. After reading this, I'm willing to give it another shot. You have presented the material very well. Thanks!

]]> By: Phil http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-113 Phil Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:48:03 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-113 I think that's a very interesting point (about societies) and I also find it really interesting that both the DI and Flagg's Vegas were undone by the addition of "outsiders." Again, really enjoyed your LOST series - it's always nice to read stuff from an educated mind pertaining to my favorite show. :) I think that's a very interesting point (about societies) and I also find it really interesting that both the DI and Flagg's Vegas were undone by the addition of "outsiders." Again, really enjoyed your LOST series – it's always nice to read stuff from an educated mind pertaining to my favorite show. :)

]]> By: Trey http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-112 Trey Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:46:45 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-112 Hey there! I came across your blog through a google search. Found it very interesting and your posts are comprehensive. Hey there! I came across your blog through a google search. Found it very interesting and your posts are comprehensive.

]]> By: Beej http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-111 Beej Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:18:30 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-111 I feel the exact opposite, actually, about "The Dark Tower." I felt that it was the beginning of the series which kind of wandered and then finally found feet and rushed to a conclusion. <br /><br />To be honest, I really haven't even thought through anything regarding "The Stand" and LOST. I see the existential fight between good and evil on the surface and parallels in how neither faction really knows if they're on the correct side, but past that, I'm at a loss. I've just not spent any time thinking of the two together. <br /><br />One aspect that I think warrants much deeper inspection (next year's PCA paper, perhaps?) is the way communities are formed and governed. There are unique communities set up in LOST and "The Stand" where traditional forms of government are tried, at least superficially, but approach failure because of human nature. The Dharma Initiative and Flagg's Las Vegas come to mind as the strict, rules-driven place, while the Denver Free Zone has a lot of parallels in leadership with Stuart Redman and Jack Shephard both not really wanting the responsibility of leading, but having to take it anyway.<br /><br />There's more I'm sure, but that's just off the top of my head. I need to think about this a lot more...<br /><br />Thanks, Phil! I feel the exact opposite, actually, about "The Dark Tower." I felt that it was the beginning of the series which kind of wandered and then finally found feet and rushed to a conclusion.

To be honest, I really haven't even thought through anything regarding "The Stand" and LOST. I see the existential fight between good and evil on the surface and parallels in how neither faction really knows if they're on the correct side, but past that, I'm at a loss. I've just not spent any time thinking of the two together.

One aspect that I think warrants much deeper inspection (next year's PCA paper, perhaps?) is the way communities are formed and governed. There are unique communities set up in LOST and "The Stand" where traditional forms of government are tried, at least superficially, but approach failure because of human nature. The Dharma Initiative and Flagg's Las Vegas come to mind as the strict, rules-driven place, while the Denver Free Zone has a lot of parallels in leadership with Stuart Redman and Jack Shephard both not really wanting the responsibility of leading, but having to take it anyway.

There's more I'm sure, but that's just off the top of my head. I need to think about this a lot more…

Thanks, Phil!

]]> By: Phil http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-kings_05.html/comment-page-1#comment-110 Phil Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:21:29 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/07/parallels-in-lost-and-stephen-king%e2%80%99s-the-dark-tower-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-cycles-and-salvation.html#comment-110 Really good series...Personally, I cringe when I hear the LOST/Dark Tower comparison - if only because of the way the Dark Tower meandered toward an ending. <br /><br />I'm a big fan of King, and I'm curious to hear what kind of comparisons you draw between LOST and The Stand. The writers have said that there is always a copy of The Stand in the writer's room. I see a lot of parallels between Dark Tower and LOST, but when I try to describe the show to someone who hasn't watched it, my first question is "Have you read The Stand?" I think I do so because, since Season 2, we've been hearing, "We're the good guys" from one side or another. The events of late Season 5 really drive it home for me. Jacob and his enemy are such close representations of Mother Abigail and Randall Flagg in terms of their light and dark nature. Obviously this is a much longer topic to discuss, but I figured I'd bring it up and see what you thought. Really good series…Personally, I cringe when I hear the LOST/Dark Tower comparison – if only because of the way the Dark Tower meandered toward an ending.

I'm a big fan of King, and I'm curious to hear what kind of comparisons you draw between LOST and The Stand. The writers have said that there is always a copy of The Stand in the writer's room. I see a lot of parallels between Dark Tower and LOST, but when I try to describe the show to someone who hasn't watched it, my first question is "Have you read The Stand?" I think I do so because, since Season 2, we've been hearing, "We're the good guys" from one side or another. The events of late Season 5 really drive it home for me. Jacob and his enemy are such close representations of Mother Abigail and Randall Flagg in terms of their light and dark nature. Obviously this is a much longer topic to discuss, but I figured I'd bring it up and see what you thought.

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