Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster (Updated Edition)

by Steven Biel | Nonfiction |
ISBN: 0393340805 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 1/5/2014
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, January 5, 2014
I've long been entranced by the Titanic and her fate, and have read a number of books about it, including Walter Lord's classic A Night to Remember, the intriguing poem-format The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic, and the charming Pig on the Titanic. I came across this trade paperback at Barnes and Noble, and it looks intriguing - an examination of the disaster as a "cultural history"...

The book examines the tragedy with more attention to its historical and cultural context than many other treatments I've seen. It examines what else was going on in the world at that time, and considers whether - and why - the sinking was used so extensively as an indication of fate, hubris, and/or the end of an age, when the tumult of the labor movement, the suffrage movement, and seething racial inequality all combined to make it a time of transition in any case. It was very daunting to read about hate-crime lynchings that occurred on the day the ship sank, and to realize that even if there had been no sinking, those events might not have received much press...

I was also taken aback by the hit that the suffragette movement took, what with the "women and children first" business; it was apparently seen by a great many people as a powerful reinforcement of "the proper order of things", with men protecting women - who should be grateful. [It never seems to have occurred to these folk that true equal-rights advocates might have opted for a more logical way to choose who should have first access to the boats - wage-earners with young children, for example, whether male or female...]

Some of the fallout from the event included some very tasteless ads - turns out manipulative ads are far from new. I was astonished to see a Travelers Insurance ad using the Titanic - and a lot of emphasis on the "Women and children first" aspect - to push life insurance! It even included a line about the men waiting to die on the sinking ship: "may we not think... that the minds of some of these men dwelt with satisfaction upon the help that would come to their families from TRAVELERS?" {shudder!}

The author examines popular culture as well, touching on the many songs, stories, books and films inspired by the sinking, from those that appeared as soon as the first news came in to an afterword about the James Cameron film (which wasn't out yet when this book was first published). And he gives a nod to The Onion as well, via its version of the front-page news: "WORLD'S LARGEST METAPHOR HITS ICE-BERG". There's a lot of truth in that!

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, January 10, 2014

Released 10 yrs ago (1/10/2014 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm putting this book in the Biographies of Things bookbox; see the bookbox journal for the full list of my choices and contributions. Hope someone enjoys this!

Journal Entry 3 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Wednesday, January 15, 2014
I've always been intrigued with the history of the Titanic---can't get enough!

Journal Entry 4 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Well, this book is nothing if not well-researched. Still, there wasn't really a lot of "new" here. Anyone who knows the history of the eras, and has studied the history of the Titanic, will already have come to many of Biel's conclusions on her own. On the other hand, I can't imagine this particular book being very interesting to someone who is brand new to Titanic history and mythology. Much backstory is needed to understand most of the references and most all popular beliefs about what happened during the Titanic tragedy are dispelled here anyway.

The poem about "Votes for Women/Boats for Women" is one of my favorite bits (see page 30). As one who is very much against most of the philosophies behind the suffragist movement, as well as the more modern feminist movements, I found the irony hilarious. I was also surprised at the number of black folk songs that were written about the disaster. I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Titanic historian, but I'd never considered how the event affected the black community who were treated as lower class citizens of the time.

At the very beginning of the book, I was reminded about my feelings after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US. I wrote, "I wonder how many people felt the same way about the Titanic as I felt about 9/11---how could this happen to us?" I felt like an attack on America was not possible---like it was not allowed. Later, on page 153, Second Officer Lightoller echoed my thoughts: "I know what the sea can do. But this is different...because we were so sure. Because even though it's happened, it's still unbelievable. I don't think I'll ever feel sure again. About anything."

I can't say that I'm glad I read this...but I don't think it was a waste of time either. My feelings on it are mostly indifferent. I think there was just a bit *too* much research---too much quoting---for my tastes. But, then again, it was expected coming in. I'll be saving this one out to release. I'd like to put it back into the Biography of Things bookbox if it makes another round.

Journal Entry 5 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bookbox in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Thursday, February 27, 2014

Released 10 yrs ago (2/27/2014 UTC) at Bookbox in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing into the Books About People bookbox.

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)

Journal Entry 6 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Sunday, May 25, 2014
This came home in my Books About People bookbox. Will release soon.

Released 9 yrs ago (7/9/2014 UTC) at PaperBackSwap.com in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)

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