The Titanic. Hope and Glory review.
A tape is playing, their voices muffled, jarringly juxtaposed against the sounds of noisy children's voices, the morse code machine blaring distractingly. I think it needed headphones.
There is an installation of a cabin, belonging to a millionaire and his wife. One of the original chairs is on display, tattered and worn with time. Despite being first class passengers, the owners of such a luxurious cabin did not survive. Next to the cabin, there is a white dress. It outlived its wealthy owner. Next to the installation of the millionaires cabin is an installation of a 3rd class cabin. There are thin wooden bunk beds. A wash-station stands at the foot. It shows the stark contrast between the rich and poor.
The titanic had many immigrants onboard, seeking a better life in America. People's hopes and dreams all set flight, and then quite literally, sunken beneath the depths. Behind me, their names are written on the wall. Out of 2,228 passengers, 1,523 died.
I wonder how relevant this exhibition really is. We could rewrite the names for centuries, but once we have learned our lessons, doing so changes nothing. But the band still played whilst the ship went down. The poor still struggle, whist the rich live gaily on. And all must meet the same fate in the end. Though more 1st class passengers survived than 3rd class. Society still respects and helps the wealthy.
The Titanic; hope and glory
whilst many lessons have been learned, society still hasn't really changed. A modest exhibition looking at the lives of both the crew and passengers aboard the Titanic.
A thoughtful response, to the human cost of migration for both wealthy and poor, looking for better lives.