The RMS Titanic 100th Anniversary: Legacy and Legend
When the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on April 15th, 1912 it was the largest civilian maritime disaster in history. One hundred years later, public fascination with this event continues to grow, fueled in part by the 1985 discovery of the Titanic wreck off the coast of Newfoundland. Since that time, recovered artifacts, new scientific information and detailed historical studies have painted a vivid portrait of the ship and the lives of her passengers, both during the initial days of the crossing and in their agonizing last hours.
In this series, experts in the field explore critical questions relating to the enduring Titanic legacy. What are the sources of the on-going public fascination with this particular tragedy? How do scientists discover, retrieve, and preserve shipwreck artifacts? How did the Titanic, hailed as an unsinkable ship, finally go down? Who "owns" theTitanic and what are the legal ramifications of shipwreck discovery? And perhaps most relevant as we mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, what will the future bring for the ship and her remains?
Feb. 22 The Titanic Disaster: Metaphor for Modernity
Rather than fading from memory, interest in the Titanic sinking has only grown over the years, spawning a cottage industry of books, tours, exhibitions, seminars, cruises, movies, and television programs that both reflect and feed an intense public interest. This lecture explores the many reasons that, one hundred years later, this tragic event continues to have such extraordinary appeal. Kimberley Riley, PhD is a cultural historian and an award-winning teacher and coordinator for the Odyssey program.
Feb. 29 Journey to the Bottom of the Sea: Marine Archeology Today
How do marine archeologists research and search for submerged sites? What do they do when they find them? This presentation offers an introduction to the basics of marine archeology examining the latest techniques and tools used by scientists to locate and explore shipwrecks. Susan B. Langley, PhD is currently the Maryland State Underwater Archeologist and also a professional diver, who has worked at a wide range of locations from the iceberg-filled waters of Labrador to the Atlantic coastline.
Mar. 7 Titanic: A Forensic Analysis
Using the latest scientific techniques this session speculates on the manner in which the ship flooded, sank and broke apart, creating a fascinating chronology of the Titanic's final hours. William Garzke is a naval architect, working for the company that designed the superliner S.S. United States; he has investigated the Titanic sinking and other naval disasters.
Mar. 14 Who Owns the Titanic?
Shipwreck discoveries such as the Titanic or the Atocha make headlines the world over, conjuring up images of valuable artifacts and historical treasures. But after the initial excitement, the question remains: who owns these sites and who controls their future? Ole Varmer is an attorney-advisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specializing in the protection of underwater cultural and historical sites.
Mar. 21 Titanic at 100: Exploration and Preservation
Dr. James Delgado, Director of the Maritime Heritage Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and chief scientist on the last dive mission to Titanic describes his extensive experience exploring the shipwreck site and discusses how best to preserve and share the ship's legacy for future generations.
Coordinator: Kimberley Riley, PhD, is a cultural historian and an award-winning teacher and coordinator for the Odyssey program.
$125.00 (5 Sessions)
Wednesdays, Feb. 22-Mar. 21, 2012, 7-8:30 p.m.
For more information, visit: https://orchid.hosts.jhmi.edu/Odyssey/index.cfm?Semester=Spring&AcademicYear=11-12&DeptID=11.
