Postmodernism can be defined as the rejection of the idea that certain unambiguous truths or grand narratives exist (such as capitalism, faith or science) and as the belief that there are multiple ways of understanding anything, be it culture, philosophy, art, literature, film, etc., or even television... Television reflects the mass society we live in and some shows show many of the archetypes of postmodernism that they have become prevalent in other art forms. Postmodernism can be useful for understanding contemporary television and can help us relate to the ever-changing world in which we live. Television shows such as ABC's Lost (ABC, 2004-2010) dabble in questions of intertextuality, questioning grand narratives and, among others, a manipulation of time through the use of flashbacks, flashforwards and, uniquely for Lost, flash-sideways. The television show Lost displays many of the key traits found in the works of postmodernism. The show follows the lives of survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific. There, they must face an unknown monster, an unpredictable group of previous occupants, strange inhabitants of the world, polar bears and others, as they attempt to survive and attract help. In this basic synopsis of the show it is clear that the show incorporates a large degree of generic hybridity, from the beginning it has displayed elements of science fiction, mystery, drama and the action-adventure genre. This is also prevalent in the show's publicity, the various genres showcasing the exhibits can be found in an early trailer for the first season of the show, originally broadcast on Channel 4 in 2005, directed by surrealist artist David LaChapelle. The trailer presents the...... middle of paper ......tives through the questioning of absolute truths such as established facts (science) and faith, intertextuality through a mass of references, the manipulation of time through a non-linear process of narrative and generic hybridization through the complex layers of the show. Works Cited • Barthes, R (1977). Musical text image. 14th ed. London: Fontana Press. p.146.• McCarthy, E. (2008). 15 Questions for Lost Bosses Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and 40 Revealing Answers!. Available: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/4260693. Last accessed 8 April 2014.• Nelson, R. (2009). Modernism and postmodernism in television fiction. In: Creeber, G Televisions: An Introduction to the Study of Television. 2nd ed. London: British Film Institute. p.90.• Obara, C. (2014). LOST Paleyfest 2014 reunion panel. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D6-y7Dtby4. Last access 6 April 2014.