To Conform or Not to Conform?
Looking around the world today, we see all different types of people, wearing all different types of clothes, working all different types of jobs. The diversity of the world we live in is what makes this nation such a special place. Now, imagine a world where everyone looked the same, dressed the same, and followed the same routine. The animated short film, “The Lost Thing,” showed this type of world; a world where all the people wandering the streets seemed to look the same and conform to the type of person they thought they were supposed to be. Tan pants, white coats, short hair. When any sense of fun was viewed, it was crushed before the blink of an eye. It was a town of work and no play, and of seriousness and no smiles. People who were viewed as different were ignored. Anyone who was viewed differently was not important to the rest of society. The narrator was different, he paid attention to the different creatures. The Lost Thing was one of these “people”. He was a large red creature in a sea of uniformity. All the people of the area wore neutral clothes and worked in a barren town. No one seemed to have any idea of who the Lost Thing belonged to.
The narrator talks about all of these stories that he has to tell, but some that are so horrible he can’t repeat. He could be referencing times when people who did not follow the status quo were punished. For example, the boy’s parents followed along with the conformity and did not have any interest in keeping the creature. They were more concerned about how dirty the creature was going to make their house. Maybe they were more concerned about what other people would think rather than the well being of the creature.
When the man wants to find The Lost Thing a home, he at first brings him to The Federal Department of Odds and Ends. The dark and dingy warehouse did not seem like an enjoyable place from this loving creature. The person that appears around the corner and sends them on their way is someone standing up to the standards of the area, although he seems anxious and whispers his thoughts as though he is in fear of who may hear him.
People who break away from the norm today, may still be looked at as odd in one way or another but, for as much diversity as we have, there are still traces of uniformity. Girls seem to all want the same brand name clothes and boys all try to look athletic and tough. This film is trying to express the idea that being different may not be so bad. The Lost Thing eventually finds where he belongs. He doesn’t fall to the knees of the others in the town. The creature holds his ground and eventually all the loneliness he was feeling is turned into joy and pure happiness.