Throughout Biel\u2019s second part titled \u201cMemories\u201d I was particularly struck by the idea of recovery.\u00a0 While I believe in many of the narratives about Titanic fascination, something about the 1985 recovery effort seemed disturbing.\u00a0 In the past twenty years, the rediscovery of the Titanic has drastically altered public perception.\u00a0 Instead of remembering the tragedy, society seems to have depersonalized the loss of so many lives.<\/p>\n
Living relatively close to Woods Hole, I find it very hard to imagine the entire world focusing on this small Massachusetts town. \u00a0Robert Ballard represented the frontier of man, venturing into the unknown.\u00a0 The symbolic nature made this small town and researcher much more than they intended.\u00a0 Yet, should Ballard be elevated as an explorer, frontiersman, or simply an opportunist?\u00a0 Biel even makes Ballard out to be someone is troubled by his prolific success.\u00a0 The idea of using someone else\u2019s tragedy into profit seems almost dirty and wrong.\u00a0 Nevertheless, society remains addicted to the Titanic. Based on the references to Titanic buffs, Titanic memorabilia, and even the recreation attempts today, we are drawn to it despite the catastrophic nature.\u00a0 The Titanic even has a permanent exhibit at the Luxor in Las Vegas, right next to the Jabbawockeez and Carrot Top. \u00a0The Titanic has a cultural draw.\u00a0 Nevertheless, my fascination with the world\u2019s obsession makes me wonder what is next.\u00a0 Are we drawn because of the length of time it took us to uncover the artifacts, the fact that we know so little about the ocean depths (more about space than the ocean floor), the popular appeal through the media (movies, plays, and books) or because it is the biggest failure of modern technology.\u00a0 As AJ <\/a>notes Biel brings in every detail for metaphoric comparison. The promotion of the Titanic has historically been for significant promotion of policy change.\u00a0 However is it possible that our society sees tragedy and just tragedy and revels in uncertainty?\u00a0 There seems to be an eerie comparison between the mysteries surrounding the Titanic and the search efforts for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.\u00a0 Certainly it seems that the uncertainty about location and the troubles can be related to the Titanic.\u00a0 The longer the mystery, the more interest grows.\u00a0 Similar to what Biel implies, maybe only when technology uncovers technology\u2019s failures will we accept what happened.<\/p>\n On a side note, I thought Biel\u2019s afterword about modern phrases about Titanic usage was very well thought out.\u00a0 Considering the word alone has \u201cbecome a facile, all-purpose reference point for negligence, incompetence, obviousness, or futility\u201d has Titanic fever spread because of the word or the tragedy.\u00a0 Had the Titanic been named something else, something more original and not a common adjective, would the word still live in infamy?\u00a0 The word has not changed definition, but through the negative connotations, now the word has a new meaning.\u00a0 Politicians, students, and professionals use the word often only as a negative word for size.\u00a0 Nevertheless, the word still has the same definition.\u00a0 Does this help with the memory of this tragedy or diminish the meaning?\u00a0 By only using the word \u201ctitanic\u201d as a metaphor colossal failure, we not only ruin the word but disrespect the event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Research Update:<\/p>\n As an extension of my blog post, I will update the progress of my final paper.\u00a0 After reviewing several primary and secondary sources, I was surprised at how accurate the preliminary damage reports were for the Great New England Hurricane.\u00a0 Nevertheless, my general thesis stands unchanged.\u00a0 Essentially, while the US Weather Bureau and the media overlooked this storm, ultimately nothing could have changed the destruction.\u00a0 The Storm was unlike anything that has ever hit the area and, in reality, nothing could have prevent the coastal destruction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Throughout Biel\u2019s second part titled \u201cMemories\u201d I was particularly struck by the idea of recovery.\u00a0 While I believe in many of the narratives about Titanic fascination, something about the 1985 recovery effort seemed disturbing.\u00a0 In the past twenty years, the rediscovery of the Titanic has drastically altered public perception.\u00a0 Instead of remembering the tragedy, society … <\/p>\n