Titanic and Examination of Its Rational Nature Based on Mark Knapps Relational - Assignment Example

Titanic and Examination of Its Rational Nature Based on Mark Knapp’s Relational Development Model Watching Titanic unfold provides the actual picture of a rational story developed on the basis of a true story engraved with love and romance besides the epic nature of its contents. The story proves rational based on its development and content featuring the actual events that occurred with a twist that gives it a modern approach to filming. The relational aspect that Titanic provides anchors on a love that disrespects social boundaries between Kate Winslet featured as Rose and Leonard DiCaprio featured as Jack Dawson. The development of the relationship between the two provides a study piece for the Mark Knapp’s relational development model that bases on a number of perspectives reliant on a ten-step process that is majorly consisting two phases. The details of the study below explain the relationships in the film based on the Mark Knapp’s model. For the effective development of communication, all the steps involved in the theory need doing. The steps will have each done at a time to provide for a strong and effective relationship. Despite the nature of the relationship, Mark Knapp believes that at one time it dissolves as detailed in the last phase that deals with coming apart. The film provides a true picture of these as will be reveled further in the essay. The Phase on Coming Together: The first phase of the model is the coming together part that details the five major steps that involve the initiation, the experimentation, intensifying aspects, integration and bonding of the people. The initiation stage provides for the first impression made that involves meeting for the first time and creating an impression on each other. In the film, Jack first sights Rose from a distant and the friends discourage him considering the social class differences between the two. Despite these, an opportune time presents itself as Rose attempts to jump off the ship from which Jack pulls her over making the first impression on each other. The stage of their first meeting details initiation stage as per Mark Knapp. This stage forms the basis of every relationship. The second stage provides for experimentation through which the two parties start learning each other and get more comfortable. This stage leads to the third stage on intensifying in which experimentation continues. The stage provides for the clarity of any mutual coordination in the development of the relationship and will have a consideration of an emotional affection developing with attachment between the parties. The mutual connection between Rose and Jack works to provide for their continued development in the relationship. This provides a difference in the experimentation phase that only focuses on superficial topics, which deal with discoveries of interest that both Rose and Jack attach to their love for Art. The self-disclosure deepens in the third stage of intensifying. Secrete tests too manifest in this stage with featuring through endurance, public presentation aspects, separation, and third party involvement, triangle tests that may prove constructive or destructive to the relationship. The introduction of a third party to the relationship between Rose and Jack nearly ruins their relationship as the Mother proves to dislike the development. The fourth stage involves integration stage. The stage provides for the mutual connection that allows the relationship to move to the next stage. It makes the maintenance stage that the relationship undergoes. The couple starts sharing the elements of their individual social life. More connections develop with a more solidifying relationship deeper self-disclosure in which secrets on sex and others feature (Rothwell, p.228). Discussion of their future plans too come to life as evident between Rose and Jack that indicates their intentions to disappear together when the ship docks. The last stage of this phase provides on bonding through which the exclusive nature of the relationship is featured. Public displays of the relationship come to life. Marriage seals the deal in this stage, and other bonding aspects too are associated with this phase. Coming Apart: The coming apart stage details the phase in which the relationship starts having challenges and may crumble. The phase also involves five stages the last of Mark Knapp’s model. The stages involve differentiating, circumscribing, stagnation, avoidance, and termination. The differentiating stage holds the emphasizing of the differences between the two parties involved in the relationship. The parties start having realities of their similarities disintegrate. Changes in attitude and individualistic approaches emerge in this stage. This is followed by the “beginning of the end” in which the parties start creating their own space. The stage is circumscribing, and the parties start seeking time alone. The next stage in the coming apart phase is the stagnation stage in which the patterns that the relationship held start developing into ruts.teh rate of irritation becomes high with one each party feeling the need to have privacy. Avoidance kicks in marking the second last stage of the model by Mark Knapp. Physical, separation followed by emotional that leads to mental separation occurs. The people start spending their time alone and with others not with each other like initially. The different parties focus more on themselves and less on each other party’s needs. After which the relationship leads to termination stage in which the relationship starts cutting connections. The termination stage provides for the indication of the end of the relationship with less connection. Happiness ends and the relationship comes to an end to avoid any further frustrations. Relating the coming apart stage to Titanic, one discovers that the relationship between Rose and Jack ends in a less dramatic manner. The death of Jack provides for the coming apart phase of the relationship. The relationship does not undergo more antagonisms like that described by Mark Knapp. On normal circumstances, many relationships undergo all these phases with many ending up as Mark Knapp describes. These provide for the development of relationship and understanding these provides one with major approaches to building relationships and avoiding them from collapsing. Mark Knapp believes that each relationship has an end and the struggle to maintain it only proves futile. Work cited: Rothwell, Dan. In the Company of Others (4th Edition). Oxford University Press. p.228 Read More