I am Smokie 2

Feb 21st 2008

I wrote a theory before the start of S04 called I am Smokie if you want to have a look it would really help the following make sense!

Basically I believe the island is a surveillance technology trial facility. Meaning, some organisation has a goal to eventually replace the worlds need for cctv, judge, jury, police force.

When one of the islands pieces of technology is thoroughly tested and approved it will be implemented in the real world. Or maybe it already has? Meaning for us, the viewer, we are privileged to be watching, through the flashbacks an individuals memory of an event. Who is watching with us?

I know the flashbacks can simply be seen as a story telling device but I think they are more significant there is a big difference between viewing the flashback as 'fact' or 'memory'.
Incidents on island spark memories and this is what we are seeing.

Evidence to take the memory theory seriously came very early in S01 In Jack's crash Flashback

Pilot part 1): The pilot has switched on the fasten seat belt sign..." In Charlie's crash Flashback
Pilot part 2): "The Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign..." In Kate's crash Flashback
Pilot part 2): "The Captain has switched on the fasten seat belt sign..."

Note the minor differences in the remembered language. This was not a production error. It is a clue to the flashbacks validity in detail. This is evidence from the outset that memories matter.

What on the island is reading the memories?? I think there are a numerous pieces of equipment on the island that were built for the purpose. In My I am Smokie theory, I figured that smokie is one of these devices for surveillance memory assessment, plus instant judgment.



I propose the Hurley bird is also a piece of airborne surveillance equipment. Acting differently to smokie, The bird/birds may act a bit like the pre-cog's in Minority report.
The birds can sense human stress patterns and swoop to the scene to record the events.



(As a completely out there thought maybe Walt's stress signals are very strong thus the bird like equipment malfunctions around him?? Crash and burn? Room 23?)



It's not too crazy a thought when you bear in mind that Vegas Casinos have surveillance equipment that monitors body language and stress patterns.

But beyond the smaller individual pieces of technology, It may be possible that the island itself contains the ultimate piece of surveillance technology. An all seeing eye, possibly in the form of a quantum computer. (Incidentally a quantum computer could behave exactly like a giant magnet) Could this be why Daniel the Quantum physicist is there to fix a piece equipment?

When the swan imploded it is like Desmond vividly was given access to his memories, he re lived his past that was stored in the quantum computer. Have a look at the following picture of the Widmore office scene, the office inverts, look at the desk and the walls.

The Picture frame change in the ghost buster scene changes because what we are watching in theory is a constant Computer generated render of a memory, not the actual events. As I mentioned in the I am Smokie theory. These contradictions could either be showing us that a) Detail in memories can be erronous, (flight attendant announcment/picture frames) or b) Some people know the island can download your mind and are presenting false memories to infiltrate.

So that is my thought behind the blatant picture change scene, no parallel worlds, no instantaneous time travel just an incorrect background render by the surveillance machines.

The Progression of Surveillance technology in the western world should be an important debate point, I for one would love for Lost to go in this direction. I think it is highly plausible that the writers are keen to slowly bring these issues to the mass public via the medium of a hit TV show.

Wasn't the shows brief to create a drama like 'survivor' or 'castaway', I can imagine one of the writers saying "Wouldn't it be great if as many people would care about real political issues rather than who will be voted off survivor this week".

Eyeland.

Prepare for the Masterworks of science fiction!