Titanic: A Night to Forget
For a century the sinking of the Titanic has attracted intense interest. Yet there have been many keen to keep the tragedy out of the media.
Even before the sea closed over the stern of RMS Titanic on the morning of April 15th, 1912 the task of representing the sinking – its tragic hubris, its lessons for society and above all its human cost – began in earnest. Within 40 minutes of the fatal collision the first portrayal of the disaster sparked across the airwaves in Morse code: ‘CQD [Come Quick, Danger] CQD CQD CQD CQD CQD MGY [Titanic’s radio call-sign] Have struck an iceberg. We are badly damaged. Titanic. Position 41º 44' N, 50º 24' W.’ Ever since this first broadcast the story of the Titanic has been told and retold in books, articles, films, TV and radio broadcasts, sound recordings, the visual and dramatic arts, exhibitions, computer games, websites, official and unofficial inquiries, in the courtroom and in dedicated memorials across the world.
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