Island of contradictions…
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By ProfOzone
- Island of contradictions…
- Created: May 13, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.15: Left Behind
- Status: Current
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The show has gone far out of its way to suggest that the island is, at least on a practical level, invisible to the outside world and folks only end up stranded on it by accident. Naomi has confirmed this notion for us recently. Also, Desmond tried to leave the island by sea and was only brought back, while Michael and Walt were given a very specific heading to take in order to escape and we still don’t know how they’ve fared.
However, the Dharma Initiative claims to have selected the island specifically for its unusual properties, suggesting that they had some way to find and research the island before deliberately landing on it. They also seem to have no trouble coming and going as they please.
Here are some possible solutions to this contradiction:
A) The island didn’t actually have unusual properties until some time after the DI arrived.
B) The “invisibility” and “snow globe” aspects of the island were not among its unusual properties until some time after the DI arrived.
C) The island was detected somehow by luck and its properties were eventually uncovered through prolonged observation.
D) An indigenous person left the island and somehow agreed to bring the DI to the island.
E) The existence of the island (or some island like it) was predicted by some geological theory and instruments that look for just such islands were built and employed to find this one.
F) The DI could have been “summoned” to the island by some person or force, making sure that the island would be noticed and easy to get to and from for as long as the “summoning” force or person deemed the DI and its activities useful.
There are probably more, but the point is that something must explain this contradiction. I’m not sure which one of the above is correct. With the “incident” that was mentioned in the orientation film, A and B seem possible. Perhaps people naturally assume something like C or E. The latest hijinks with Jacob might lead some to entertain F. The one that matches best with the pattern of history, though, is D.
As always, I’m curious to know what the rest of you think.
this sort of resembles my theory, about the islands black hole effect. isnt it just like a black hole? when juliet was brought to the island she was strapped down and sedated just for a ride in a submarine. it seems to pull all in and is linvisible, just like a black hole, it sucks all in, even light so it becomes indeed invisible. maybe the dharma could controle this, but when the “hostiles” took over they could have learned. thats how walt and michael escaped. they let him. theres many resemblences that i might not have mentioned too.
With E. What if Penny used those same intruments to find the island as Dharma did. In the final episode of Lost season 2. There are the two guys in the tent and they call her once they have detected a natural anomoly or something strange. Maybe Dhrama did that too.
sirK: Well, if the island was “black hole” enough to prevent light from escaping, it wouldn’t simply be “invisible”. There would be a red-shifted event horizon where the island ought to be, and everything that has crashed on the island would appear frozen in it. At least, that’s my understanding of how black holes work.
kat: I’d never heard that… that would be a version of option “C”… but the question remains… how did he get off the island? He just accidentally found the right heading? Or someone else accidentally found him and rescued him?
108: Indeed, that is one of the strengths of option E… it ties into Penny and the guys she had monitoring such things.
Good list of posssibilities Prof. I wonder if there is any special reason Dharma used a boat to travel to the island. Of course it might just be so that others could not easily follow them. But maybe there is something more. My reasoning is that the others now have Desmonds sail boat but according to Ben the sub was the only way off the island. Of course he could be lying so that john didn’t blow that up also but then why the whole deal about his people needing the sub for the illusion that they could go home. Woudn’t they still have that with the sail boat?
These are all very good points, Prof!
kat… OK, but… then how was his landing there the way that the island was discovered? Sorry… I’m confused. I presume someone from the wreck was rescued then? Or managed to escape the island?
Kat - I agree I think the two events must be related. My Theory on this is that before Dharma arrived the island was at peace, Jacob had complete control and also had the ability to let the island be seen/not seen. Once Dharma came they some how managed to capture Jacob in the old fasioned human way ‘ If I dont understand it I’ll fk it up’. which created hosility. The original islanders got pissed at this and with the help of Ben and some other Dharma employees who didn’t agree with the actions of Dharma kicked some ass to release Jacob. I think it will come about that when Dharma first arrived the hositiles were anything but.
There are studies being conducted into the illusion and practicality of invisibility being achieved with magnetic fields. (Look up the Philadelphia Experiment) We know that inside the hatch was a huge electromagnet. What better way to keep people from finding your laboratory? It’s just unlucky that, being a huge magnet, the island tends to attract metallic objects, planes, helicopters, etc.
Also, anyone who has played the Lost Experience, knows that Hanso Foundation was looking into life-extension programs. Richard Alpert hasn’t aged since the 70’s…
Prof! did you read my comments on your “the night naomi landed” theory? On the 2x15 episode we get to see Aaron’s room and there is this toy…with four planes around a silver star that i think symbolizes the 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes in which the island becomes visible. Also, note that it is only at this moments that people come in and out from the island, including the others. I think at any other time of the year the island exists as an isolated “universe”.
Your previous theory would also explain the location of the black rock in the middle of the island, if the island materialized under the ship…
Interesting notion, leo… no, I hadn’t seen your comment… by now that post is so buried! I’ll take a look…