TITANIC OBSESSION
Call me weird, old, whatever, but I saw Titanic 3-D BEFORE The Hunger Games. My obsession started well before I met Rose DeWitt Bukater and Jack Dawson. The hunger for Titanic was insatiable!
The fever started in fourth grade, as I dutifully worked through the SRA box.
I found the tragic story of the Titanic and felt my first heartbreak learning that really bad things happen. I was immediately taken by the hope everyone held for this unsinkable ship’s maiden voyage that ended in a devastating irony. The SRAs taught more about catastrophic numbers of people than individual stories of those onboard the ship that disappeared.
Photo thanks to TitanicUniverse.com
In my teenage years, I felt my way around life leading with my heart. Despite the distraction of horses and boys, when National Geographic shared that Titanic was found in recognizable pieces, I was fascinated by not just the discovery, but the spaceship-like pods that located the wreck. That may have been the first time I let my mind wander to the bottom of the ocean.
Check out www.nationalgeographic.com
More than 10 years later, the movie premiered. Say what you want about James Cameron creating two false characters when so many amazing true stories were on board, but Rose and Jack served the purpose of seamlessly traveling to all parts of the ship so you intimately got to know the Titanic and were just as unwilling to let go of the ship as you were Jack and Rose. Through their interactions with other characters, we received many more amazing and heart-wrenching stories from that trip.
When my ex suggested that perhaps I was so obsessed because I’d possibly been a reincarnated passenger, I stopped talking about my obsession out loud. I broke my silence when my son asked to have a Titanic birthday party for his 7th birthday after seeing a chilling exhibit about the Titanic on board the Queen Mary.
I revisited Titanic in 3D and although I could tell you all the scenes by heart, with costumes, I still worried that Jack wouldn’t be able to pull Rose in from the back of the boat starting their fateful journey. Now I can’t wait to see it again with my son.
Yes there aren’t many of us who’ve escaped this icon on 20th century culture. PS. I haven’t seen or even thought about SRA cards for thirty years, wow.
I know, right! Takes us waaay back! I’ve heard some people blame them for our love of Cliff Notes! Thanks for wandering by!
I think I’ve mentioned recently somewhere (on my own blog I think!) that my children’s great-grandfather (on their father’s side, not mine) was a passenger on the Titanic, he survived, so we always take quite an interest in Titanic related things. I loved the film too, and really want to see it in 3D. I didn’t really understand either why people made a fuss about them inventing a couple of characters when there were so many interesting true stories – you might as well say that about any fictional films that have the backdrop of a real historic event. If you want just the facts then watch a documentary!
I think I do recall you mentioning that and it’s Such a unique piece of history to have been a part of. What a great gift that he survived! Thanks for wandering by!
I think i have over watched Titanic that i dont wanna watch it again.. even if in 3d.
I understand and thought I might get restless in the long haul but I love seeing my favorites on the big screen again! Thanks for wandering by!
Don’t blame you. I loved the movie. 🙂
I grew up hearing stories about the Titanic, and that made me a bit obsessed about it, too. My granddad was just a little boy when the ship sank in 1912, but remembered how some people (his superstitious Irish family included) were afraid of the survivors. He said they had a haunted look about them—that they were like walking ghosts no longer attached to this world.
It took me a long time to appreciate the film Titanic because, honestly, I’m not that fond of Leonardo DiCaprio. But I have to give credit to James Cameron for his attention to detail and bringing out a human side to the people onboard the ship. We tend to focus on the deahs of more than 1500 people and almost forget that they were real humans with real emotions.
I hear that a lot about survivors, like survivor’s guilt. But I can only imagine how many people may not have been strong enough to fight their way back to living after almost being swallowed by death. Thank you for wandering by and sharing your perspective!