Based off of class discussion of Taxi Driver the only thing that everyone seems to be on the same page is that everyone in the film is "scum". No good, dirty, New York scum. I didn't really think to much of it until the end of the film and recapped on all the characters and their traits. I remember specifically one scene where all the taxi drivers are together drinking coffee on their break at the Belmore Cafeteria. Wizard begins describing a couple customers he had a successful midget and beautiful blonde women, based on the commentary they are biased and jealous. One of the other cabbie's talks about a couple "fags" he picked up. I wasn't around in 1970's that may have been normal to address homosexual men as but regardless the way the cabbie describes them and how they should go to California shows the kind of person he is. At 44:56 the Wizard at least has the opinion of this is a free country do what you want in the privacy of your own home which you can't argue with.
I found it interesting when Travis arrives to cabbie break spot. He appears hesitant when he walks in and orders his coffee and slice of cake. He walks over to sit down and the African American cabbie asks Travis for five dollars he owes him. Travis pulls out a stack of cash, all singles except for a 20. When he sees the 20 he quickly crumbles in his right hand puts it in his pocket. It seems like he didn't want them to notice but I can't imagine he didn't. He easily had 50-100 dollars in one dollar bills and pays his cabbie back. It's evident that these people are the closest to Travis's friends in his life. It is typical in most cases that the majority of your friends would come from your work place. The cabbie after Travis pays him signals a hand gun gesture toward Travis after Travis asks if he could talk to Wizard, that's something a friend does.
I am a strong believer of show me 10 of your friends and I will show you who you are. On top of all the issues Travis has of his post traumatic stress disorder this is who he associates with. In his free time not drinking a cab, going to porno theaters and doing everything to avoid sleep. On top of his lifestyle of heavy drinking, excess pill taking, he hangs around cretins who hate everything. They hold nothing but negative conversation to share amongst each other until there half hour break is adjourned they have to go back to cabbing people they will just talk about in a negative fashion at there next coffee and cake break.
I actually never considered Travis's company having an affect on him, so I think it's interesting that you pointed that out! Collectively, they do seem like a pretty negative bunch- definitely not a people that would offer Travis a surrounding far different from his own insane mentality, but rather they're a group that reinforces whatever entertained ideologies in Travis's mind.
ReplyDeleteBut, Travis does appear to be detached whenever in they're company. It appear as if he's not too fond of them in the first place. With that in mind, how much of an impact could they really have on him then? or how much of a reflection of him are they?
I really liked how you tied in your belief of "show me 10 of your friends and I'll show you who you are." Even if Travis' coworkers were taken out of the picture, who is Travis most associated with? The people he is driving. Who is he driving? The scum of New York City. He is in the mix of it all, and actually, because of his job, he is doing "the scum" a service. He is helping them out, driving them from A to B. What does that say about Travis?
ReplyDeleteI second on your comment about the "show me your 10 friends" I think his plays pretty well into knowing who Travis is. It kind of paints cab drivers as men of no real aim, which in that aspect is something I disagree with. But without a doubt, it is one of those jobs that you have some unique stories to tell--I know from having to used to work at a gas station. There is something interesting about the whole break scene that you point out, especially the location its-self; very run down looking, along with the other places he frequents-such as the adult cinema. It makes me think of this movie also as an expression of NYC during that time, which (from doing some on line reading) had a rundown and dirty feel to it.
ReplyDeleteI have never thought about the only time Travis hangs out with the other cabbies is on their breaks when they are talking about negative things. He doesn't ever hangout with them other than that. He doesn't have positive interactions with anyone for a long term period.
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