The Titanic was more than a ship—it was a floating showcase of Edwardian confidence, luxury, and social hierarchy. This course explores life onboard through the lens of fashion and art, revealing how clothing, taste, and visual culture expressed class, aspiration, and power in 1912. Drawing on a major European exhibition and visual material from both history and film, we examine what passengers wore, the art they admired, and the artists connected to the voyage—some of whom were lost with the ship. We also separate historical fact from cinematic myth, including claims about famous artworks onboard. Through fashion, painting, and popular culture, the course uncovers why Titanic still captivates us more than a century later.
COURSE OUTLINE
- The Titanic as a symbol of Edwardian optimism, hierarchy, and modernity
- Life onboard: class divisions, social rituals, and first- vs third-class experience
- Fashion at sea: 1912 travel wear, couture, and status signalling
- Art and taste in the transatlantic world: popular painters and cultural influences
- Artists and artworks lost with the Titanic
- Myth, memory, and cinema: how the Titanic story has been reshaped on screen
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Describe the social and cultural context of the Titanic’s voyage
- Identify key features of Edwardian fashion and what they revealed about class and identity
- Recognise major artistic styles and figures influential in 1912 transatlantic culture
- Distinguish between historical evidence and popular or cinematic myths surrounding the Titanic
