Discuss the ways in which Carmeron has used Binary Opposition to create meaning in the Titanic

extract From Titanic = http://learning.chalfonts.bucks.sch.uk/mod/mplayer/view.php?id=21341

In this lesson we watched the film Titanic to find examples of binary oppositions these are the notes I made because for homework we were to answer the following  question:- Discuss the ways in which Carmeron has used Binary Opposition to create meaning in the Titanic. The answer is below:

In this extract from Titanic, Cameron uses binary opposition to convey juxtaposition of old and new. This is shown in the very first establishing shots as the structure of the film denotes that it is set back in time because we see the shot of the sunken Titanic dirty decomposed under water (old). This connotes that the ship will sink, as then the director chose to show us how it sinks so goes to where it all started, at Southampton in England, on the crowded dock after fading out of the sunken ship to a new clean version of the same ship. This also connotes that the setting of the film is most likely to be on the Titanic. It was good that Cameron used Binary opposition as that way the audience can see the difference between what the ship was like when it was new and the brutal destruction and devastation that will occur for how it became old. Structuring the film this way creates suspense and tension as the audience now already know at is going to happen which the director chose to do as we know most of the people boarding will die.

The next part of the extract involves introducing a character; rose who is played by Kate Winslet this is iconic because she is a British actress who is synonymous to romantic movies and usually plays the love interest in films. The Binary opposition is conveyed through Rose and other characters. she arrives in a gold platted car that denotes that she is wealthy because gold is a very expensive gem and cars were a minority because of the cost as well as era. In addition, the first thing we see of rose is her hand in a white glove this connotes that she is a virgin because white is symbolic to purity and cleanliness, this is quite significant to the rest of the film as we find she isn't as pure as people think. Moreover, she expects someone to help her out of the car because she is an upper class lady. After that we see her hat stand out because its purple which is the symbolic colour of royalty which reinforces the connotation of wealthas this is indexical to the king or queen who are rich. However, Roses mother is wearing green which connotes jealosy as it is symbolic. This is good because it helps the viewers understand the characters personalities and relationships with Rose before the dialogue. Also the characters moods are different as Rose seemed bores whereas her fiance and her mother seemed to be excited. This is seen through mise-en scene - facial expressions of the characters for example Rose has a blank ungrateful look whereas the fiance smiles but thene this rienforces the binary opposition through what they are wearing, because the both the fiance and the mother are wearing rather dull clothing green and grey; this connotes bordom and Rose is wearing purple which is vibrant this signifies excitement. Therefore, the audience uderstands that they may change into their clothings mood.

Cameron uses another Binary opposition, when the passengers are boarding the ship, of the working class and the upper class, because on one hand the working class is boarding at the bottom of the ship where it’s coloured black which connotes dirt. On the other hand, the upper class is boarding on the top of the ship which is white which connotes cleanliness and purity. This is because people in the upper class inherit the money they have and therefore do not have to work. Whereas the working class work in mines and factories and cannot afford more than three outfits which are hamydowns so are worn and dirty compared to what Rose wears. Also, the working class have to go through health inspections before boarding in case they have lice. Whereas the upper class do not need to do this because they are expected to be clean and healthy. Continuously, the working class are wearing browns and blacks which connotes that they are dirty because they cannot afford to have vibrant coloured clothes that have to be died. This is good because the director made a real contrast between the rich and the poor because the rich tend to stand out more.

The next Binary opposition we come across is light and dark in the transition from the high up at the ships horn which has really bright light to down in the saloon which is murky and dull from the cigar smoke and dim lighting. This reinforces the binary opposition of upper class and working class because Rose is rich and Jack is poor because the men are wearing clap caps which are iconic to the working class. There is a separation of setting as Jack (the male protagonists) another character is introduced who is played by Leonardo Decaprio this is iconic because he is an American actor who is usually the Love interest in Romance films. It is good that the lighting is murky in the saloon because it could also connote that the characters are doing something mischievous – gambling and it connotes that the future is bright for the people boarding the Titanic.

The last binary opposition in the extract of Titanic is Jack and Rose or Freedom and captivity. As on one hand the audio of Rose form the future telling the story of the Titanic “it was the ship of dreams to everyone one else, me it was a slave ship taking me back to America in chains. Outwardly I was everything a well brought up girl should be, inside I was screaming.” The audience is made to feel sympathy through the juxtaposition of how Rose should be and how Rose is actually feeling. On the other hand Jack can do whatever he wants e.g. gamble his life away or drop everything and go travelling because Jack is an anti-hero. This is good because it shows the audience understands that the Titanic is a narrative as it has a traditional beginning of Romance Hollywood studio system, the series of events of this include:

• Location
• Character
• Transition
• New location
• New character

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