LOST-Theories.com

It’s just a step to the left…

— raygun

Every since LOST debuted, I have always been intrigued by the inter title sequence - the block letters LOST spinning towards the viewer out of focus, moving through the point that it is in focus, yet continuing beyond that point out of focus once more. This visual is paralleled by a sound effect that combines multiple layers of sound and only achieves a type of clarity at the visual moment of focus. My theory is that this short sequence is, in fact, a journey in itself.

Inter-titles, or title cards as they are often referred to, serve to give the viewer more information than is presented on screen. Modern television programs use an extended version of the inter title to set up the story for new viewers and establish the mood for the returning audience. Often they describe through action or words the motivation for the main characters, or the situation that preceded the events that have occurred before the current episode.

In keeping with my earlier theory that time passes differently on the island, I suggest that the LOST inter title represents in short form a journey through time toward a desired destination, but unfortunately continuing past to some unknown time “beyond”. I make no assertion here as to when the starting, desired, or ending points in time actually occur (have occurred? will occur?). I simply suggest that LOST refers to that time beyond the point of focus. The motion of the letters takes the viewer along for the ride from our time to their time. In reverse fashion, the end-of-episode LOST title card abruptly returns the viewer back to our time.

For what it’s worth - In searching for correlations between time and focus, I stumbled upon this “Universal Time Theory” posted online by a blog-theorist named Brady Lewis: http://www.psychonoble.com/archives/articles/96.htm In Lewis’ theory, you can note some very interesting correlations to questions and theories about time posted here. I cannot determine when this was posted, or vouch for how credible it is, but it is worth reading.

Key episodes

#	Title	Aired	Central character	Theories
1.2	Pilot, Part 2	9-29-2004	Kate, Charlie	205
1.1	Pilot, Part 1	9-24-2004	Jack	363

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