@article{ART003401382},
author={Park Sang Wan},
title={A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver},
journal={Journal of Popular Narrative},
issn={1738-3188},
year={2026},
volume={32},
number={3},
pages={249-286},
doi={10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007}
TY - JOUR
AU - Park Sang Wan
TI - A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver
JO - Journal of Popular Narrative
PY - 2026
VL - 32
IS - 3
PB - The Association of Popular Narrative
SP - 249
EP - 286
SN - 1738-3188
AB - Recently, various forms of private sanctions have been occurring in Korean society. With this issue in mind, this paper provides a comprehensive examination of the patterns of vigilantism agency as depicted in the drama series Taxi Driver.
First, the Taxi Driver series is characterized by a consistent basic narrative structure. Through this narrative structure, information presented in reality is reconstructed into a recorded story, and as the series progresses through seasons, the meaning of vigilantism agency expands from personal recovery to social cure. As the fictional narrative takes on a cyclical nature, vigilantism agency come to be perceived not merely as justified or necessary, but as an inevitable act that simply must be carried out.
Furthermore, the Taxi Driver series is characterized by variations in various narrative elements across seasons. What is ultimately reinforced through these omissions, additions, and modifications is the significance of vigilantism agency namely, that it serves the public interest by upholding justice and embodies a fairness recognized by all members of society. However, even though it is packaged as an act for the common good, the question of whether it is truly the right thing to do is downplayed.
Ultimately, the vigilantism agency in the Taxi Driver series can be summarized, season by season, as conceptual emergence, logical establishment, and `the dissemination of that logic. While the foundation is the emotion of anger, as the series progresses, that anger shifts from the victim to the observer, and a moral justification is added. Consequently, the possibility arises for the emergence of new agents of vigilantism. These are the anxious members of the public who arbitrarily judge the actions of others to morally justify their own behavior.
KW - Revenge;Anger;Vigilantism Agency;Narrative Cycle;Justice;Taxi Driver
DO - 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
ER -
Park Sang Wan. (2026). A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver. Journal of Popular Narrative, 32(3), 249-286.
Park Sang Wan. 2026, "A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver", Journal of Popular Narrative, vol.32, no.3 pp.249-286. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan "A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver" Journal of Popular Narrative 32.3 pp.249-286 (2026) : 249.
Park Sang Wan. A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver. 2026; 32(3), 249-286. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan. "A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver" Journal of Popular Narrative 32, no.3 (2026) : 249-286.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan. A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver. Journal of Popular Narrative, 32(3), 249-286. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan. A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver. Journal of Popular Narrative. 2026; 32(3) 249-286. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan. A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver. 2026; 32(3), 249-286. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
Park Sang Wan. "A Study on the Patterns of Vigilantism Agency in the Drama Series Taxi Driver" Journal of Popular Narrative 32, no.3 (2026) : 249-286.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.3.007
