The oceanic is a sensation of unity, eternal connectedness, and oneness with the universe. The sensation can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and it is a pervasive one which has affected many people throughout the ages; however, while the desire for this sensation and evidence of its existence are vast, it often goes unnoticed. In this paper, I explore the oceanic sensation in two contemporary visual texts: the film Thelma & Louise and the television show Lost. An understanding of the oceanic contributes valuable insights into the meaning, historical significance, and popular appeal of these two works, and, in turn, the use of the oceanic in these works can contribute to a greater understanding of the oceanic sensation itself and to its presence in contemporary texts. Hopefully, this work will inspire a greater awareness of the oceanic sensation. By recognizing the sensation in our aesthetic works, we will be able to more readily identify the oceanic in all areas of life. Thereby, we can bring recognition to the oceanic in society in order to incorporate the oceanic's positive transcendental qualities and guard against its potential harm.
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