Discuss whether the Euro zone crisis has had an effect on the European Essay

Discuss whether the Euro zone crisis has had an effect on the European integration project - Essay Example Bank of England referred this crisis as â€Å"the most serious financial crisis at least since the 1930s, if not ever,† in October 2011† (Kenny, 2012). This paper explores the history of European integration first and then explores whether Eurozone crisis has any effect on European integration. History of European Integration Second World War has changed the history of Europe immensely. In fact, Europe has been divided into distinctive ideological segments as a result of WW2. Eastern Europe came under the control of communist regime whereas Western Europe was occupied by democratic regimes or capitalist countries after WW2. Moreover, one portion of Germany (East) came under communism whereas another portion of it came under capitalism immediately after WW2. It should be noted that capitalism and communism would never travel in parallel directions. So, tensions between communist East and capitalist West of Europe started to intensify after Second World War. Prominent poli ticians and scholars of Europe such as Winston Churchill realised that the progress of Europe would never be possible if one part of it function in one direction and other part in opposite direction. Thus, the call for regional integration started immediately after the end of WW2. Moreover, the theories of Federalism and Functionalism, put forward by prominent scholars gave momentum to the integration process of Europe. â€Å"The term â€Å"regional integration† means combining parts into a whole, according to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary† (Dosenrode, 2010, p.4). Europe was functioning as parts after WW2. For example, the whole Germany was functioning as East and West under two contrasting political ideologies. The fall of Soviet Union during the latter parts of twentieth century gave momentum to the regional integration process in Europe. The introduction of principles such as perestroika and glasnost by former Soviet leader Gorbachev helped the Soviet Unio n and other communist countries to expel communism from their territories. Majority of the Eastern European communist countries including East Germany embraced capitalism or democracy after the fall of communism in Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall has been destroyed and the two Germanies became united once again. All these incidents encouraged the regional integration process in Europe in one way or another. Moreover, the progress of Untied States towards prosperity made the European leaders aware of the necessities of a European Union (EU) to enhance their potentials for economic progress. The first pillar of EU was constructed in 1951 in the form of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) by the six countries; Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands. Since then, a series of incidents happened in the integration process of Europe. â€Å"The EEC Treaty, signed in Rome in 1957, brings together France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries in a community (E EC) whose aim is to achieve integration via trade with a view to economic expansion† (Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, EEC Treaty - original text, 2010). The 1960 Stockholm Convention resulted in the formation of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (Convention Establishing The European Free Tra

Analyzing the american beauty movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analyzing the american beauty movie - Essay Example American Beauty Film Several symbols have been used in the movie ‘American Beauty’; the screenwriter utilizes color red throughout the film. For instance the first appearance of Annette Bening, reveals her love for roses where she’s shown cutting red roses. Allan Ball the script writer uses color red in this movie to represent the concept of life force. The concept is used symbolically since by nature, it responds towards defying revealing nature of suppressive sub-urban life. This can be seen of first appearance of Annette Bening, where she’s cutting red roses. The activity is symbolic of cutting life force after which she reveals her emotional and spiritual control, during painfully stilted family dinner. The music background used in the scene where rose petals are seen floating everywhere assist in the creation of mood on the fact that the scenes are dream sequences, hence fantasy involved. However, American dream is represented through beautiful roses a s well as luxurious furniture. Lighting variations utilized is considered excellent, since there are no sign of major distractions from actions or conversations within various scenes. Green and somber soft light is utilized in the scene where Ricky’s father beat him up on the face. Afterwards, Ricky is seen wiping blood from his face with reflection through the mirror (â€Å"American Beauty†). ... On the issue of life force, Kevin Spacey is revealed as incapable of repressing sex as part of his sub-urban life force. This is revealed through his fantasies, where the object of his lust, Mena Suvari, is shown floating on bed of red rose petals, and in some instances soaking in tub covered with roses. In "visual pleasure and narrative cinema" Laura Mulvey presents interesting facts regarding sexual imagery on both men and women. A good example is on page 837 under the header, â€Å"Woman as Image, Man as Bearer of the Look†, where the concept as represented on this film is achieved. Elaboration on this aspect is found on the final encounter between Kevin Spacey and Mena Suvari where they are almost involved in sexual encounter; there is vase of red roses shown. Further, Mulvey uses a critic’s opinion of women in cinema through summary on the facts, ‘women only matter in film because of what they mean to the hero i.e. the man’ (Mulvey 837). On the same no te, Peter Gallagher depicts Annette Bening’s pent-up sexuality through bus stop posters having red background. Spacey uses red for the purposes of depicting rebellion based on individuality representing uncivilized impulse. The hot-rod of Spacey’s boyhood dreams is also represented by bright red color. Red is further used by Chris Cooper, the psycho ex-Marine to represent sexuality and assertion of individuality, the event on kissing between her and Kevin Spacey is crowned by bright red car in the background. Assertion of individual’s uniqueness in this film is represented in numerous ways making only few overcome the quest for freedom from control (â€Å"American Beauty†). Red is used as symbol of individualism