An earlier podcast recap revealed that Tufts University offers a class based on Lost. This week, The Boston Globe posted an article covering this unusual one-credit course. The course's title, "The Future is Lost: Economic, Social, and Technological Impact of a Cult (and Cultural) Phenomenon," makes it sound far more advanced than simple TV watching. Rather than discussing the Kate-Sawyer hookup, the students analyze Lost as they would a novel.
Lost fans also make it into the course's discussion topics. Students examine what effect, if any, that fan blogs and comments have on the overall outcome of the show. They also discuss the decline in viewers that the show has experienced this season. Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have been aware of the course for several months, and even held a conference call with the class recently.
The course definitely sounds like an enjoyable way to earn college credit. There are probably TV shows that are more deserving of academic analysis, but Lost does bring up some legitimate social issues. Damon Lindelof is scheduled to participate in a panel on Arab and Muslim television characters this May.
Do you think Lost's content merits an entire college course? Would you take the course? What TV shows would you want to study? Feel free to list your dream TV course schedule in the comments section below.
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