'Lost' wants to school us at 'Lost University'

I admit, "Lost" fans, that I came close to pulling a Jack Shephard and hurling myself off a bridge when the dreaded phrase "new ARG" started spreading across the interwebs last week. My aversion to alternate reality games is well-documented here on the blog, so lest I start twitching uncontrollably, let me refer you to my recent diatribe against them.

The cause for the frenzied posting about a new ARG? The launch of Lost University, a site which prompted dozens of "Lost" sites to scream "ARG" like Captain Jack Sparrow in the hopes of landing the "scoop" on this new game. Problem was, no one seemed to look at the site long enough to realize that it was in fact just a really big viral marketing scheme, NOT a new ARG.

Before continuing, here's an embedded video giving you the general gist of the endeavor.

Interested in hieroglyphics? Latin? The philosophers name-checked in the show? The scientific theories behind some of the show's sci-fi? Looks like you can learn about all this and more. Think "Cliff Notes" but with more Jeremy Davies. Yes, THE Jeremy Davies. While the information dropped in these courses may have bearing on the action of the show, I'm going to give a big WARNING DANGER WILL ROBINSON here about taking anything in Lost University as having a direct bearing on the events to come in the show. The Latin course may allow us to answer the question "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" just like Richard Alpert, but it's probably not going to give us a canonized response to "Why do The Others speak Latin?"

I'm actually very intrigued by Lost University, but let's all repeat after me:

Lost University is not an ARG. Lost University is not an ARG. Lost University is not an ARG.

Let's go to the source of all knowledge in the known universe, Wikipedia, for a brief definition of an ARG:

ARGs are predominantly, if not exclusively, played out over the internet and not via a media player that is  only in a small fraction of homes. So the fact that Lost University is coming to Blu Ray of all forums should be the biggest and clearest warning sign that the goal here is interactivity, not cooperative narrative continuity building towards a pre-ordained conclusion. If anything, Lost U. looks like a chance for people interested in the heady topics embedded within the show to learn more about them without the heavy burden of exposition within the show. We as devoted audience members learn about relevant topics, and the show doesn't have to spend half of each episode making people talk about them. Sounds win win to me.

While all ARG sites have been owned by ABC, you had to really dig into the fine print to find their presence. With Lost University? It's right up there on the top! No suspension of disbelief at all! While "The Lost Experience" broke down the fourth wall and eventually claimed that "Lost" was a show that falsely praised a real-life, super evil Hanso Foundation, Lost University is mixing the real world with the fictional one with tongue firmly planted in cheek. C'mon: the school mascot's a polar bear! That's amusing as hell. (Also, I want the school hoodie something fierce. Well played, ABC marketing. Well played.)

I'm sure that Lost University will be web-based as well as Blu Ray-based. If this were only a service available to those lucky enough to own a Blu Ray player, that would be weak sauce indeed. Without knowing the details surrounding the implementation of Lost University, I would say the Blu Ray edition would connect to the central server, plus offer additional content. Maybe there will be a Blu Ray exclusive class. (Might I suggest "Advanced Orientation Film Editing"?)

Most intriguingly, Lost University could take advantage of BD-Live, the Sony feature which allows for things like live chats with friends, on-screen interactive games, and the ability to use a webcam/microphone to upload your own commentary for others to hear. (Because let's face it: you've long hoped you could record your own commentary track to such classics as the Paul Walker/Jessica Alba epic "Into the Blue.") In Lost University, imagine not only taking an online quiz to see which of your friends is the biggest "Lost" geek, but also have the ability to literally talk smack at the same time? Wasn't that why Al Gore invented Blu Ray technology?

As the enrollment date approaches, I'll keep you posted on the inner workings of Lost University. Personally, I'm looking forward to it. My mother has been begging me to go back to school for years. She's gonna be so proud of me. And then, confused. And then, sad. Oh well. Could be worse.

It could be an ARG.

Ryan invites you to join the hundreds already in Zap2It's Guide to Lost Facebook group. He also encourages you to subscribe to the Zap2It's Guide to Lost Twitter feed and Zap2it's main feed for all the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.

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