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The Titanic and the art of myth

2003; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 15; Issue: 3-4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/08913810308443591

1933-8007

Stephen Cox,

Travel Writing and Literature

Abstract The myths engendered by the Titanic disaster suggest the essentially literary character of myths, the importance of individuals in their creation and consumption, the frequent insistence of their consumers on literal‐historical truth, and thus the importance of discerning whether, and why, the creators of a myth distort the truth. The myth of the Titanic should be understood as a literal‐historical myth with an especially strong literary character and claim to truth; a myth whose interest has not been exhausted by time because it raises perennial existential issues, and more superficially because it reflects the widespread assumption that disaster is readily avoidable and can be explained only by reference to stupidity or malfeasance.