The Titanic as a Metaphor

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Even so many years after its release (and a 3D release), the Titanic movie still remains one of the most re-watched movies of all times (according to my students, at least).




For the most part, those I've encountered tend to remember Titanic as either

(i) a sappy Romance that crosses all social and economical boundaries, completed with memories that transcend time, OR
(ii) a reminder of Maritime and Boat safety regulations.


Few knew, however, that director James Cameron, saw the Titanic as a metaphor for climate change:

"There’s something about the Titanic. For me, it’s so much more than just simply an exercise in forensic archaeology. Part of the Titanic parable is of arrogance, of hubris, of the sense we’re too big to fail. Well where have we heard that one before? [Video of a sea of burning oil platforms] There was this big machine, this human system that was pushing forward with so much momentum that it couldn’t turn and couldn’t stop in time to avert the disaster. And that’s what we have right now! But in that human system, on board that ship, if you want to make it a microcosm of the world, you have different classes, you know you have first class, second class, third class. Well in our world right now you’ve got developed nations and undeveloped nations. You’ve got the starving millions who are going to be the ones the most affected by the next iceberg that we hit. Which is going to be climate change. We can see that iceberg ahead of us right now but we can’t turn. We can’t turn because of the momentum of the system – the political momentum, the business momentum. There are too many people making money out of the system. The way the system works right now, those people who frankly have their hands on the levers of power aren’t ready to let them go. And until they do, we aren’t going to be able to turn and miss that iceberg we’re going to hit. When we hit it, the rich are still going to be able to get their access to food, to arable land, to water and so on. It’s going to be the poor, it’s going to be the steerage, that are going to be impacted. It was the same with the Titanic. I think that’s why this story was always fascinating. Because it’s a perfect little encapsulation of the world and the whole social spectrum. But until our lives are really put at risk, the moment of truth, we don’t know what we would do. And that’s my final word."

Source: http://montreal2012.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/james-cameron-the-titanic-as-a-metaphor-for-climate-crisis/



Another metaphor for Titanic comes in its final analysis: Eternal Distinction

Titanic is a movie of distinctions. The Rich vs Poor; tea-drinkers who hold delicate teacups compared to lower-decked beer-slurping thugs. The Educated vs Simple; of classically-entertained folk contrasting against roguish games. The Famous and the Unknown. The Upper Deck vs The Lower Deck.

Yet after the Titanic sank, at a time when people were scrambling for news of the ship that crashed on its maiden voyage, the newspapers only published two columns: those who were Saved, and, those who were Lost.

It reminds me of Jesus Christ.

In eternal distinction, EVERYTHING - class, education, entertainment, associations - starkly pales in comparison to whether one Made it or Didn't. Human presumption of all that matters cannot replace our worth and value in the eyes of God.

Titanic is then, a metaphor for the inevitability of death, and we are all on the Titanic.

All things of this world will eventually fade, but we have a high priest in heaven - Jesus Christ - who loves us - regardless of our looks, money, background, achievements (or lack of them), our past, our mistakes, and any future mishaps we may have. Jesus Christ came to demonstrate that God is for us, and not against us (Romans 8:31), and that there is nothing, NOTHING, that can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  -  John 3: 16-17