Discuss the ways in which Cameron has used Binary Opposition to create meaning in Titanic

 In this extract from titanic, Cameron uses binary opposition from the start in order to show the division of class through the use of colours within the ship, the establishing shot is a view of the titanic. The ship is black on the bottom and white on the top, we see the lower class escorted onto the bottom of the boat which is symbolic of their class. Whereas, the upper-class are put onto the white of the boat which is symbolic of cleanliness, better facilities and being more important than the lower deck. Moreover Cameron’s use of colours to distinguish between classes is apparent through their clothing colour, Rose is entering the boat wearing white and purple; purple symbolising royalty and importance. Jack however is wearing dirty, scruffy clothing. This contrast and the use of iconography here is important to connote class; by Jack wearing a flat cap we assume him to be of the working class.

Binary opposites are used through Rose and Jack’s arrival onto the boat; Rose enters the scene in a gold plated car with her while gloves on which symbolises elegance and wealth, as well as being helped out of her car along with her family. Straight after this shot the camera jump cuts into a scene of a window panning into the bar where jack is, the window could show a division from Rose and Jack as their lives juxtapose one another. The camera zooms into a bar where you see Jack playing a gambling game around a table to win the tickets to the Titanic last minute. Jack is dressed in rags with a rolled up cigarette in his mouth which further represents his class. Jack is sat around in a bar with people of the same class as him which suggests the idea that the classes wouldn’t mix. When Jack wins the tickets he is running through the crowd, dodging people to get the boat in time which is binary opposite to Rose as the crowd move out of the way for her, the audience is made to realise the importance of class, emphasising the division of Rose and Jack.

When Jack and his friend enter the boat he is asked if he had been “checked” which signifies the lack of trust, symbolic of their class. Conversely when Rose and her family enter the boat they are allowed on without questioning moreover, allowing their pets on without checks; this emphasises the treatment of the lower class and highlights the binary opposition between Jack and Rose’s class. The non-diegetic music used within the establishing shot of the Titanic is heroic and emotional as though the Titanic was seen as a miracle, which is used in order to help to audience emphasise with the characters excitement. The introduction to Rose and her family is slow, classic music which could symbolise the purity and moralistic nature of their family. Contrastingly to Rose, Jack is introduced with Irish folk music which symbolic of drinking and bars therefore reinforcing the stereotypical expectations of the lower class.