+2
Lets examine that in the context of this article. Bickle is partially characterized by a general lack of political awareness (among other subjects). This behavior I say is him being apolitical. The article suggests that Bickle is a reflection of a right wing backlash from the days of LBJ, Jimmy Carter, etc. Much the same way Dirty Harry was. If Bickle being apolitical is a political act, it would be hard to put him in that category of right wing backlash. Given my experience with right wingers, they make a conscious decision about there politics. One can certainly disagree with them and think they have missed the mark on their political conclusions, but they are people who are dialed into politics and are VERY political. Dirty Harry had very strong feelings on crime coming from a member of law enforecement who tend to be very conservative. Kersey developed very strong feelings on crime after his family is victimized changing his pervious stance of non violence and librealism. Bickle is not. He is detached from politics in the same way he is detached from everything else in life. Kind of a big thing his isolation and detachment from society. Even when he decides to attempt to kill Palantine and with the motive left very ambiguous. There is no crystal clear explicitly stated motive, just the fact that an idea is brewing.
And even if his apolitical stance is a political statement, we can still only speculate on his motive. Dirty Harry had a clear motive. Kersey had a clear motive. Dity Harry and Death Wish had political feelings toward the movie. Taxi Driver... not so much.
Of course this is coming from someone who sees loneliness and isolation as essential to the film so an article about Taxi Driver without this seems to miss the point of the film entirely.
Last edited by The Gunslinger45; 09-25-14 at 09:36 PM.