Encyclopedia Titanica

Titanic in Motion Pictures

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The RMS Titanic disaster, which unfolded on April 14, 1912, has given rise to countless mass media reconstructions down through the years, both biographical and fictional and in a variety of forms, including novels, films, poems, songs and theatre shows. This disaster coincided with the rise of a revolutionary new mass media form we now know as cinema, which we will see has had a major role in shaping the way in which the Titanic‟s history lives on in contemporary culture. This thesis explores the way in which cinema narratives have been used to retell the „story‟ of the Titanic and the aftermath in which the tragic real-life events surrounding the sinking of the liner, and its film legacy, are fused and commodified by the tourism sector.

by Damien Crean
Key Points

The dissertation, Titanic in Motion Pictures by Damien Crean, explores how the RMS Titanic disaster has been represented in cinema, from its emergence as a narrative device to its lasting cultural and historical impact. It examines three significant films—La Hantise (1912), A Night to Remember (1958), and James Cameron’s Titanic (1997)—to trace the evolution of storytelling, technological advancements in filmmaking, and the commodification of Titanic’s legacy. The work highlights how cinematic narratives have shaped public memory and perception of the Titanic, blending fact and fiction. The study also delves into the ship’s “afterlife,” including the influence of Titanic films on cultural tourism, particularly the Titanic Belfast museum. Through this analysis, the dissertation underscores cinema’s power to reconstruct history and its role in the commodification of historical tragedies.

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Titanic Films James Cameron Titanic (1997 Film) La Hantise (1912 Film) A Night to Remember (1958 Film) Silent Movies Cultural Tourism

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