Teddy David
Prof. Luke Vasileiou
12/2/2010
ENG 103
Mean Streets
The movie Mean Streets portrays the life style in New York City at the time it was released. In the decade of 1970s New York City was facing an economically, social and political issues. Let us take crime (in terms of social concept). For example, in the 1970s the crime rates were high. The economy was not good; family had to move from one apartment to another because they could not afford the rent payment. At the time, the nation was in the Vietnam War which not only affected the country but New York City as well. Does the movie follow step by step the reality of the city in terms of social and economical event?
The economy in New York City during the 1970s was bad. The city borrowed money to pay the government which made the situation even worse “Borrowing to pay for government operations was not part of the solution to New York's earlier fiscal crisis. It was part of the problem, a practice from the early 1970's that helped put the city (and, to a lesser degree, the state) into that deep hole” [The New York Times]. The “deep hole” refers to a high debt not only in New York City but the state as well. In the 1970s New York City reached its lower point in history. There were crisis, lots of crimes and homeless “The 1970s were a low point in city history as a fiscal crisis almost pushed it into bankruptcy, crime rates soared, and homeless people crowded sidewalks as public services crumbled” [Reuters].
Due to the economy there were issues in New York about teachers' salary. The average teacher was thirty-four years old- according to the Teachers Associations [TA]. “In 1973-74, in New York State, the average teacher was 34 years old, had taught for 8 years, and earned an average salary of $13,371” [West Genesee, teachers associations]. And the New York State Teachers Retirement System created Tier 2 in 1973. “In February, 1979, the cost of living was 7.9% and the West Genesse Teachers Association dues were $155 per year. The average Teachers’ Retirement System member during the 1978-79 school year was 60 years, 4 months of age, had 25 years, 4 months of service, had a final average salary of $21,322.63, and a retirement allowance of $11,315.29” [west genesse teachers association]. In the 1970s there were 65 teacher strikes in New York City.
The highest percent of the rent regulation went to Manhattan and the rest of poor neighborhoods did not receive any benefit at all “search shows that 75 percent of rent regulation's benefit goes to Manhattan tenants below 96th Street, and that poor neighborhoods get virtually no benefit.” [The New York Times 1997]. Charles Morries, who published a book called The Cost of Good Intentions considers the 1970s as a “terrible decade” “I am still researching the terrible decade of the 1970s for my book on the transformation of the city's economy” [Crain's new York business]. During Richard Nixon's presidency there were economic changes “During his presidency, many economical changes would erupt questioning his leadership ability. In the early seventies there would be a nationwide rail road strike and a postal strike” [US history]. The inflation during the seventies was terrible “There was a mix of a high demand and a low supply of things such as jobs, houses, cars etc. The reason for this high inflation was because no one wanted to take office as the Federal Reserve chairman” [US history]. This inflation did not only affect the nation but also the cost of living in New York City. There was rents decontrol. In the 1970s vacancies decontrol was tried in New York and according to The New York Times the situation turned worse after the trial “Bob Herbert (column, May 5) argues that when vacancy decontrol was tried in New York City in the early 1970's, it was a ''disaster'' for tenants. Yes, rents rose 52 percent, but mainly on apartments that hadn't
had an increase in almost 20 years” [The New York Times 1997]. The occupied households in New York were 5,913,749. The statistics shows that 4,378,187 men were employed and 164,365 were unemployed. This means that there were 96.4% employed and 3.6% unemployed. Despite the economy and social issues the rate of employment was high.
Gross Rent (Housing Units With Cash Rent)
Paying cash rent:
632,136
Less than $30
1,903
0.3%
$30 - $39
6,699
1.1%
$40 - $49
17,314
2.7%
$50 - $59
30,306
4.8%
$60 - $69
47,547
7.5%
$70 - $79
55,414
8.8%
$80 - $89
56,177
8.9%
$90 - $99
52,343
8.3%
$100 - $119
78,129
12.4%
$120 - $149
77,323
12.2%
$150 - $199
80,017
12.7%
$200 - $249
47,180
7.5%
$250 - $299
29,384
4.7%
$300 or more
52,400
8.3%
The chart shows how the rent payment was increasing and the percentages were unstable. Family could not afford the payments.
During the early seventies a few problems occurred in America regarding politics. There were strikes and wars that affected the country politically. “Oversea wars were ended and relations with the European powers were improved. Other problems were the Arab oil embargo of 73, the water gate scandal, and Nixon's presidency” [US history]. During the early seventies many issues regarding politics aroused “Nixon pulling out of the Vietnam War was a huge one. He also did a lot to get better relations with China and the U.S.S.R. he didn't do very much domestically but he did plenty foreign work” [US history]. There were lots of issues going on during the seventies.
In the 1970s there was lots of violence in New York. “At 4 p.m. one Saturday last month, a tall, thin, eighteen-year-old youth called Judd was standing on Daly Avenue in the South Bronx fingering the butt of the sawed-off shotgun that jutted from the top of his dungarees. Flanking him on either side were two other young men, Mike and P.I., both seventeen, both with pearl-handled .22-caliber pistols in their belts. All three wore the colors of a Bronx street gang called the Black Assassins”[New York news & features]. According to the magazine “. . .Without much notice, it seems, street gangs have again become a problem in New York City, this time on a scale with a potential for violence that may be unprecedented”. The police were powerless --according to The Digital Journalist-- “Crime was rampant, and the police were powerless to stop it. Random killings by the 'Son of Sam' made New Yorkers even more fearful”[The Digital Journalist]. New York City was very dangerous back in the 1970s.
According to The New York Times the 1970s were the worst period in Harlem's history because of poverty. As we can see, the economy was not the only problem that the nation and New York City as well were facing, there were social issues like crime especially Gangs in the streets.“ By some measures, the 1970s were the worst period in Harlem's history. Many of those Harlemites who were able to escape from poverty left the neighborhood in search of safer streets, better schools and homes”[New York Times, March 1, 1978 ].
The movie Mean Streets was released in 1973. First the movie portrays the social concept. In the first scene Johnny Boy an irresponsible guy who was Charlie's girlfriend's brother was walking and as soon as he crossed the street a sudden explosion occurred. The next shot sequence of the bar there was a man doing drugs in the restroom, the next shot was the women dancing almost naked. Charlie, is torn between the life of the streets [and trying to help Johnny Boy with his problems] and the life his uncle can give him. He is also deeply religious, patterning himself after St. Francis of Assisi—testing his faith and seeking penitence for his sins on the streets. The testing of this faith takes the form of Johnny Boy and his sister Teresa. Charlie's uncle doesn't want Charlie to keep company with either of these people [Johnny Boy because he seems to be so unstable, and Teresa because she is an epileptic]. Charlie was looking the woman dancing and says “she is beautiful but she is black”. There was racism even though the rate of black employed was high. According to the Employment Status for Black Population the employed in New York was 146,549. Which percentage would be 52.8% that percentage means that black people had more opportunities than decades before.
Michael who loaned money to Johnny was in the bar with Charlie drinking while waiting for Johnny Boy. Johnny who was a trouble maker walked in accompanied with two women and Charlie took Johnny to a private place to talk about the money he owed to Michael. Charlie told Johnny that Michael was mad at him because he did not pay the money the last Tuesday. Johnny tried to justify himself he said that he did not pay Michael because he had too many things to spend the money to pay rent, and to give some money to his mother. I noticed that Michael was desperate to receive his money back. The first two shots of the movie the message is all about the money. Despite the bad economy, they were in a bar spending money on glass of whiskey.
Johnny Boy slept in Charlie's apartment. The apartment was not big; in the shot, the bedroom seems small. The neighborhood seems to be part of low class. The building entrance was dirty and prostitutes down the streets. Charlie and the gang went to a pool hall and they were talking about business with the pool manager who owed them money. The manager invited them to drink a couple of glasses and Johnny asked the manager to put down the music and he pointed where a group of girls were standing listening to the jukebox. The manager said “hey the girls like the music loud” and Johnny said “girls? You called those gangs girls!” and started to make fun of him and called the pool manager “asshole”. The manager felt offended “hey we are not going to pay... we are not paying” the manager said. “Hey I did not say anything!” Michael said and the manager said “we are not paying because this guy- pointing to Michael-this is a fucking mook” then Michael said that he could not call him a “mook”. “I cannot?” asked the manager and a few seconds later he punched Michael in the face and then Johnny punched the manager. The costumers who were playing pool got involved in the fight and at the end all of them ended up fighting. Two police officers calmed them down and was about to arrest Charlie's group. “Davis... Davis this is very embarrassing, how long do we know each other?” the manager told the police man and then he gave him some money and the police did not arrest the gang and the manager as well.
The movie portrays the violence in modern America and foreign characters “made his first feature length filength film in 1968, and scored his first success with Mean Streets (1973). Oftendealing with violent and obsessive aspects of modern America and focusing on Italian-American characters” [EBSCOhost]. At the time in New York City there were lots of violence “Snipers hid in wooded patches just off Oread Avenue. Piano wire hung at head height in darkened alleyways. Arson was rampant. Police fell under gunfire. At times, they shot back — twice with deadly results. Blacks were angered by the inequalities that persisted. Radicals were protesting an unjust war, the draft and the Establishment. Adding fuel to the unrest were drugs and the fact that Lawrence was the halfway point for those in the counterculture traveling from San Francisco to New York” [LJWorld].
I believe that the producer wanted to show the reality of the city through the movie. The movie is about mafia and violence. In more than seven shots we can see fights, business and a few sex scenes. Maybe the producer wanted the audience to watch the reality of the city through the drama. According to the statistic of the average $ gross rent by race for renter-Occupied units, the Black Renter Occupied Housing Units were 135, 312. The poverty status of white family shows 231,125 above poverty level which was 89.7% in the 1970s. Below poverty level were 26,561 which was a 10.3%. The 1970 was a difficult decade for New York City.
Johnny Boy and the others guys showed irresponsibility. For instance, Johnny Boy was in a roof with a shotgun and was shooting like crazy. He did not think about the consequences or the problem he was making by shooting.
The charts below show the rate of employment/ unemployment during the 1970s:
Employment/Unemployment Status For Male Population
Male 16 years and over In Civilian labor force:
409,853
Employed
390,508
95.3%
Unemployed
19,345
4.7%
Employment/Unemployment Status For Female Population
Female 16 years and over In Civilian labor force:
331,888
Employed
316,312
95.3%
Unemployed
15,576
4.7%
Both male and female employment rate was higher than unemployed percentage. Johnny Boy who could get a job put not effort to get it. Instead, he borrowed money and he paid $ 10 out of $2,000.
These charts show the rate of employment/ unemployment by race.
Employment/Unemployment Status For White Population
White Population 16 years and over In Civilian labor force:
557,915
Employed
533,160
95.6%
Unemployed
24,755
4.4%
Employment/Unemployment Status For Black Population
Black Population 16 years and over In Civilian labor force:
155,613
Employed
146,549
94.2%
Unemployed
9,064
5.8%
Like I mentioned before, the movie portrays a little bit of racism. When charley was in the bar watching women dancing he said “she is beautiful but she is black”. The charts show that even though in the 1970s black population had more opportunities there was favoritism toward certain race: The white population. The employment status for white population was 533,160 [95.6%] while the employment status for black population was 146,549 [94.2%].
Gross Rent Payment Method
Total renter occupied:
639,307
Paying cash rent
632,136
98.9%
Without payment of cash rent
7,171
1.1%
The chart shows the payment method. As we can see the paying cash rent was 98.9% which means that out of 639, 307 renters occupied 1.1% was under the method of without payment of cash rent.
The movie Mean Streets follows step by step the reality of the city. Crime, Drugs, mafia, and business those concepts identified the 1970s as the worst decade of the city. What made the movie interesting was how the producer wants us to see the society. The film was well received by most critics “Pauline Kael was among the most enthusiastic critics; she called it "a true original, and a triumph of personal filmmaking" and 'dizzyingly sensual'. Other critics like Dave Kher of the Chicago Reader said 'the acting and editing have such original, tumultuous force that the picture is completely gripping'. Vicent Canby of the New York Times reflected that 'no matter how bleak the milieu, no matter how heartbreaking the narrative, some films are so thoroughly, beautifully realized they have a kind of tonic effect that has no relation to the subject matter'” [Wikipedia]. The film was definitely great.
References
Stockwell, Jamie. "New York City and Crime 1970."Washington post November 29, 2002: n. pag. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
Gralla, Joan. "New York City fears returns to 1970s."Reuters. www.reuters.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
Castellano, Vicent. "West Genesse Teachers' Association ."The New York Times. www.reuters.com, May 10,1997. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
David, Greg.Crain's New York business. www.reuters.com, May 10,1997. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
"American Politics 1970."UsHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
Weingartin, Gene. "Issue of New York magazine."New York News and features. N.p., March 27, 1972. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
"New York Times." N.p., March 1, 1978. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
Tannenbaum, Allan. "The Digital Journalist." New York in the 70s: a Remembrance. N.p., February 2004. Web. 23 Nov 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment