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Kevin Iskandar

Sociology 1

Prof. Mozzini

7/14/2017

Project 1: Video/DVD Analysis

For my first project, I have decided to focus my research based on a very famous movie,

called Titanic. The movie is released in 1997 and can be considered as one of the highest

grossing movies of all time. It has received much love and great support from viewers all over

the world.

This movie itself retells the story of RMS Titanics tragedy, a British ship that sank in the

Atlantic Ocean in 15 April 1912 after crashing an iceberg. RMS Titanic ship surely represents a

remarkable human achievement. Titanic ship is well respected because it is very technology

advanced at that time. Thus, this tragedy is very surprising for many people. It is estimated that

more than 1500 people drowned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, the film-

maker effectively implements an element of romance in the movie. The lead character Jack

coincidentally meets a first-class passenger called Rose and fall madly in love with her. It might

be considered a forbidden love since they both come from different social classes. Unfortunately,

the ending of this movie is sorrowful since Jack eventually drowns in the ocean to save Rose.

This movie can be interpreted in various ways according to the perspectives of

Durkheim, Marx, and Comte. These people are widely recognized as highly influential

sociologists. Furthermore, this movie can be analyzed through sociological perspective theories

that include functionalist, conflict, and interactionist.


Emile Durkheim will analyze this movie through a functionalist approach. This means

that Durkheim sees it as different elements of society that contribute as a whole. Individuals

work together cooperatively, thus society functions as a whole. Each element within the system

is dependent on each other. An example would be how the RMS Titanic depicted in the movie.

Inside the ship, there are lots of ship crews that are assigned different positions with their own

responsibilities. The captain navigates the ship, chefs cook for the guests, and janitors help to

maintain a clean environment. Their jobs are dependent on each other so that Titanic, a great

human achievement, can be made possible. Furthermore, Durkheim is specifically interested in

the deviance that is portrayed in the movie. In this weeks module, we have learned that deviance

is described as a violation of established cultural, social norms, or codified law. According to

Durkheim who is a functionalist, he believes that deviance is essential in describing a successful

society. Deviance does not necessarily mean a bad thing. The deviance depicted in this movie is

when Jack, a third-class passenger, challenges the norm by going to the upper deck, where all the

first-class passengers stay.

Karl Marx is a well-known sociologist that develops the conflict theory. Marxs theory

suggests that society is held by competition. Authority, dominance, and power are factors that

drive this competition into conflict. If Marx watches this movie, he will be mostly focused on the

inequality within the society. The one that has more power will even be more powerful, and the

weak will get suppressed. The separation between social classes is realistically portrayed in the

movie. For instance, people inside Titanic is segregated into two groups: rich first-class

passengers and poor-third class passengers. Through the perspective of a conflict theorist,

the movie vividly portrays the unfair treatment between that bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat are sociological terms that are highly associated with the conflict
theory. Bourgeois refers to a collection of wealthy people who have the power to control the

society. In this case, it refers the first-class passengers. On the other hand, proletariat refers to a

collection of poor people that rely on the wealthy people for survival. In this case, the third-class

passengers. In this case, it refers to the third-class passengers. Both groups receive different

treatment. As depicted in the movie, the ship crew allow first-class passengers to board the life-

boats while blocking the third-class passengers to access the life-boats. In addition, Jack and

Rose fall in love in each other even though they are from different social classes. The

relationship is perfect example to show inequality between the rich and the poor. Karl Marxs

perspective can be used to analyze why third class passengers are left to drown.

August Comte is also a highly influential philosopher and sociologist. Comte will see this

movie an element of social statics, in which the social order remains the same and preserved.

Comte will be interested in studying the feelings and emotions of characters. According to

positivists like himself, Comte believes in the laws of society and how this can help to make a

positive change. In this case, Comte will see Jack an important person who initiates a positive

change in the society. It is shown in the movie that he has the courage to save the third-class

passengers and give them equal chance of surviving. He tries to reduce the unfair treatment

between the two social classes and attempts to bring justice.

The paradigm that is most represented in my video is the conflict theory. It has been

discussed through Karl Marxs perspective. This is because the concept of inequality and power

plays a huge role. In the movie, the separation between social classes is realistically portrayed.

We can tell that the passengers are divided and segregated in different classes. When evacuating

the ship, first class passengers are prioritized to get to the life-boat. This explains many of the

third-class passengers that are left to drown inside the Titanic. There is also a romance going on
between a rich, first class passenger called Rose and a poor, third class passenger called Jack.

They come from completely different backgrounds which means that their love is somehow

impossible. In the end of the movie, they do not end up together. The inequality between the

rich and the poor gives a strong evidence that the conflict theory is most represented.

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