Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster

by Kevin S. Sandler (Editor), Gaylyn Studlar (Editor), Laurie Ouellette (Contributor)

On April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg off Newfoundland. Taking more than 1,500 souls with her, Titanic sunk on what was intended to be the glorious maiden voyage of the biggest, most expensive, and most technologically advanced ship ever built.

In 1997, James Cameron’s Titanic, the most expensive and technologically advanced movie ever made, hit theaters. In 13 weeks, it became the highest-grossing film in North America, and shortly thereafter, the first motion picture to earn a billion dollars worldwide.

The cultural studies and film scholars who have contributed 13 essays to this collection ask the key question—Why? What made Titanic such a popular movie? Why has this film become a cultural and film phenomenon? What makes it so fascinating to the film-going public?

The articles address everything from the nostalgia evoked by the film to the semiotic meaningfulness created around “The Heart of the Ocean” diamond that figures so prominently as a symbol in the film. Contributors address questions of the representations of class, sexuality, and gender; analyze the cross-cultural reception of the film in nationally specific contexts; examine the impact of strategies for marketing the film through music; and  cover the implications of the budget toward the film’s success. Finally, the contributors address the film’s multi-faceted relationship to genre, history, stardom, and contemporary social and economic means.

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 1999

Reviews

[Dann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster is an eclectic collection of 13 essays analyzing different aspects of this extraordinary film that became a cultural phenomenon. Some of the topics discussed include the critical reviews, the exorbitant budget and record breaking box office, the use of music and soundtrack synergy, Leonardo DiCaprio’s built-in fan base, and the myth of American classless society. Unfortunately, it’s questionable whether many of the authors actually like or appreciate the film, and several use the opportunity to push their liberal politics. Also, the writing style used is often very dry and analytical; reading like academic papers. Still, a number of interesting points are made, and they provide a wealth of information about the film’s production, release, and cultural impact. Yet overall, Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster is monotonous read that doesn’t share the enthusiasm for the film that the general public has.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little disappointing that there wasn't a lot of truly unique insight into what is, admittedly, my favourite movie of all time. However, a few of the essays are interesting, especially the one on music, but many of the essays are laboured and say nothing more than what we already know (young females drove the success of the movie, repeat viewing, etc.)