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Gender Stereotypes In Taxi Driver

Decent Essays

The famous line “You talkin’ to me?” was spoken by Robert DeNiro in the 1976 film Taxi Driver. Robert DeNiro’s character, Travis Bickle, experiences life in the big city as a taxi driver. As the movie progress he encounters people and situations that affect Travis both physically and mentally. Martin Scorsese directed the film making it a great success in the 1970’s. In order to make the film successful he utilized a series of film elements. Scorsese made use of camera components, repetition of music, gender stereotypes, character development and old-fashioned references. Through the use of these film components, Scorsese accomplished a renowned film that continues to be spoken about in the twenty first century. Taxi driver captures the …show more content…

By using panning it exhibits setting, important props to the scene, and detail. One reoccurring theme Scorsese displayed in his film was jazz music. After most important scenes a specific jazz melody would play to tie all the events in the film together. For instance, after Travis had drank coffee with Betsy the jazz music would play. The jazz rendition would also play in the background while he narrates the story. Although the main importance of inserting the jazz music after most scenes and in the background during narration, Scorsese also added the music for dramatic effect. As Travis left the prostitutes home he saw her pimp walking towards him from a dark hallway. The jazz music suddenly became more dark and frightening implying that he was the “bad guy” in the situation. The reoccurring theme of the jazz rendition was a significant film aspect that both tied the events of the film together and proposed a change in tone of the film. Scorsese film Taxi driver displayed distinct messages through gender stereotypes, old-fashioned references and character development. Throughout the film sexual references towards woman had been made not only through the dirty movies but through characters as well. The audience often sees Travis return to a diner where all of his taxi friends are eating. Every time the camera shows his friends talking they are always talking about women in

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