The costuming of the film is very interesting. Through out the entire film most of the passengers aboard Titanic are dressed in the finest suits and gowns. Jack Dawson is the minority here. He wears tattered button downs and trousers shamelessly. In the scene that I chose to analyze the boat is sinking. Even in a time of immense crisp the majority of the ship is still dressed to the nines beneath their life jackets. This creates the sense of inferiority that Jack would feel in this situation. It also helps audiences understand how inappropriate Jack and Rose's relationship would have been.
The color palate of the film greatly adds to the dreary, doomed feel of this part of the film. As the boat is sinking it is night time so the set is already dimly lit. To add to the dark nature of the film all of the characters are dressed in neutral colors such as black, brown, or maroon. This gives the impression that all of the people on the boat are destined for fatality. Also, during the sinking scenes there are no longer shots of the grandiose interior of the ship that was carved from white marble and cast in gold. There is only the hard metal exterior of the ship that furthers the feeling of unavoidable demise.
The meticulously planed setting, color palate, and costuming portray the perfect situation and help convey the deeper meaning of the film. They help viewers to understand the classism and forbidden love that is laced in the film all the while upholding a feeling of doom and dread.
