Regional cooperation between the western Balkan countries is the key factor that will lead those countries towards the EU perspective. Improving relations of the Western Balkan countries is a goal that should be fulfilled. The improvement of these relations is a commitment made by the countries themselves at the EU-Western Balkans Summit of Zagreb (2000) and Thessaloniki (2003). Regional cooperation is the way towards regional economic prosperity, social and economic stability.

It is very obvious nowadays that the responsibilities and benefits of the western Balkan countries are tied to the development and bilateral cooperation. Cooperation is an issue applied in different fields, the ones of cross-border nature, to political understanding, addressing to a social and socio-economic prosperity.

Regional cooperation is an important strategic approach of building positive relations. The Western Balkan countries should be opened to collaborate towards a sustainable economy, regional collaboration and partnership as factors of vital strategic importance of building positive relations among them.

I will do the analysis of the impact of such collaboration in in the economic cooperation, achieving economic stability and identifying the respective competitive advantages, strengthening regional market integration and mutual elimination of non-tariff trade barriers. In specific, in this paper I will focus on bilateral economic relations between Albania and Serbia in the frame of integration process.

INTRODUCTION

“We note increasingly stronger support among the countries of the region for the development of regional ties. It is very encouraging that the areas of trade, energy and transport are among those where regional cooperation is the most substantial. Economic development is crucial if the region is to produce the jobs needed for its people. Further efforts are needed to increase trust and cooperation between peoples and countries. In the area of justice and home affairs, the countries need to enhance regional cooperation to achieve results.

Extended regional cooperation in south-eastern Europe is essential, regardless of the different stage of integration of the various countries, and an important criterion for the European course of the western Balkan countries. The stability, prosperity and security of the region are of significant interest to the EU. The EU will continue to foster all endeavours to promote regional cooperation.”

Perhaps the most tangible achievement of all lies in the fact that most of the Western Balkan countries are on a path towards European Union accession, something that seemed far off in the 1990s. It is incumbent upon us not to understate the serious challenges that lie ahead, both in terms of macroeconomic stability and even more so with regard to longer-term development. A key contribution of this book is to underscore the incomplete reform process in the region. We should be worried about this, as without further reforms the lackluster growth of recent years could become the norm, imperiling the convergence of living standards towards Advanced European levels, and denying employment opportunities to many in the region.

ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

According to David Lipton, IMF first deputy managing Director, he transition from socialism to capitalism and democracy was less smooth than in other parts of Emerging Europe. But once the war ended and peace returned, these countries did more than rebuild: they began a transformation into market economies, liberalizing prices, privatizing many state- and socially-owned enterprises, and building the institutions needed to support a market economy.

On his report analyses the main economic developments and achievements in the Western Balkan countries, and lays out the key macroeconomic policy challenges for the future. While the collapse of communism 25 years ago marked the start of the transition to market economies for all Emerging Europe, the economic transformation of the Western Balkans really got going only after the conflicts that engulfed the region in the 1990s subsided. Hence, the past 15 years are the main focus of this report. The report is structured as follows. The overview chapter surveys the key findings and policy recommendations. Individual analytical chapters then focus in depth on the following key thematic issues: growth and structural reforms, macroeconomic developments and policies and the role of the IMF in the economic transformation, and the financial sector. Each analytical chapter concludes by outlining the key challenges that the Western Balkans face and suggests possible policy responses. Given that the Western Balkan countries are following the path previously taken by New Member States to become members of the European Union, the analysis relies heavily on comparisons between these two subregions. In compressing the experience of more than 17 countries over 15 very eventful years, the report inevitably focuses on broad themes, and cannot do justice to the nuance and diversity of individual country narratives. While the report highlights the role of the IMF during the economic transition, the Fund is only one of a number of agencies that have supported these countries over the past 25 years. In particular, the IMF may have taken a lead role in the early phases of transition, but for some Western Balkan countries the prospect of accession to the European Union has also been an important catalyst for reform. Other key players include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Central Bank, European Investment Bank, and World Bank, as well as bilateral country donors and private and voluntary sector institutions. But whether external assistance comes from the IMF or others, its impact pales in significance to the importance of domestically-driven reform and development, which is the principal subject of the report. The report was prepared by a team from IMF headquarters in Washington DC, IMF offices in the region, and the IMF’s Joint Vienna Institute (JVI). The views presented are those of the authors.

REGIONAL COOPERATION

Regional cooperation is a principle of the highest importance for the political stability, the security and economic development of the western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo, under the auspices of the United Nations, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999). Many of the challenges facing the western Balkan countries are not only common to them but also have a cross-border dimension, which involves their regional neighbours.

Since the enlargement of 1 May 2004, the EU and the western Balkans have become even closer neighbours, and so the situation in the western Balkan countries, their progress on the road to European integration and their present and future relations with the EU really are of immediate concern to the EU itself. When Bulgaria and Romania become EU members, the entire western Balkan region will be surrounded by Member States of the European Union. This will have important repercussions for both the countries of the region and the EU in a number of areas, in particular where the free circulation of goods, services and persons are concerned. These challenges have to be addressed in the broader context of south-eastern Europe.

The different set of reasons – political, economic and security – for which regional cooperation in the western Balkans is crucial, are closely interlinked: for instance, regional stability and security are needed for economic development, which in turn favours stability and security in the region.

Since the Stability Pact was founded, the heads of state and government of the south-eastern European countries have met regularly for consultation. At the Bucharest Summit in February 2000, they adopted a ‘Charter on Good Neighbourliness, Stability, Security and Co-operation in South-eastern Europe.’ A range of co-operative relationships has replaced bilateralism. Most Stability Pact projects and activities were proposed and are carried out by two or more countries of the region.

Previously every country of south-eastern Europe had a big brother outside, and most of the countries of Europe had a preferred partner in the Balkans. That was the reason for many conflicts, sometimes even proxy-wars, or a reason why conflicts in the Balkans became wars in Europe. The Stability Pact is the political answer to this outdated political approach from the nineteenth century. The Pact has created an upward spiral of mutual trust and practical steps. But both sides are still mistrustful, watching to see that the other side delivers, gives indications of confidence-building and that the conditions are fair. Seems that the region is about to choose a positive and successful path: day by day, the Pact is building the new, wider Europe.

Why did the Western Balkans converge more slowly? One possible explanation is that the closer physical distance of the New Member States to advanced EU economies may have offered advantages in terms of access to markets and investments, and facilitated the transfer of knowledge. These relative advantages are only recently partially offset by improvements in infrastructure links between the Western Balkans and Advanced EU economies. Yet even after controlling for the physical distance, econometric evidence suggests that, except for the postwar recovery period, the pace of convergence in the Western Balkans has been slower than in the New Member States. This is partly due to the absence of convergence within the Western Balkan region, because poorer countries such as Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to grow significantly faster than the richer countries, such as Croatia. What other factors may have constrained faster convergence? There is a growing literature on the impact of structural factors on convergence, though mostly on larger panels of countries. Findings suggest that domestic financial development speeds up convergence and that human capital is more important to growth for countries that are less developed. Better institutional infrastructure and selected labor market reforms have been shown to facilitate convergence at the regional level (Che and Spilimbergo 2012). Reform priorities for sustaining convergence have been found to vary with income levels. Empirical evidence suggests that in lower-middle-income countries, priorities should be reforming banking and agricultural sectors, reducing barriers to FDI, increasing competition in product markets for a more vibrant services sector, improving the quality of secondary and tertiary education, and alleviating infrastructure bottlenecks. In upper-middle income countries, boosting productivity growth would require deepening capital markets, developing more competitive and flexible product and labor markets, fostering a more skilled labor force, and investing in research and development and new technologies (Dabla-Norris and others 2013). Finally, a survey of various studies that focus specifically on the transition process concludes that institutional quality and market liberalization policies to promote private sector growth have a positive impact on economic growth, despite their initially disruptive effect. In line with these findings, the analysis here shows that improving the quality of governance, and developing market-oriented institutions, a strong human capital base, and deeper financial systems help poorer countries catch up. In contrast, the dominance of the public sector in the economy hinders the catching-up process. And the Western Balkans have lagged behind the New Member States in these areas. In light of the critical importance of economic transformation, the next section explores progress to date.

The implementation of the economic collaboration is the way towards progress, standing for a multilateral agreement successfully applied in those countries. This framework should be assisted and monitored. This monitoration should include evaluation of the economic outcomes as far as provide a full vision of the potential benefits and on reducing the trade costs and increasing trade.

ADVANTAGES AND POTENTIAL DRIVERS TO REGIONAL MARKET INTEGRATION

Reforms are considered potential drivers to regional market development and integration.

1. Institutional Reforms.

The protection of property rights is a common problem in most of the Western Balkan countries, particularly relative to the EU average, though to a lesser extent in FYR Macedonia. Indicators related to corruption and government inefficiency also point to reform gaps in most countries. Compared to NMS, inefficient government spending appears to be an important constraint in Serbia, Albania, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Serbia, and to a lesser extent in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro, reform needs are large in areas linked to corporate sector performance. Specifically, this includes the strength of reporting standards, efficacy of corporate boards, and protection of minority shareholders. Encouragingly, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, and Montenegro score relatively well in terms of burden of government regulation, even compared to the EU average. For Croatia and Serbia, however, the gaps in this area remain large.

2. Infrastructure.

The analysis of specific reform gaps within the broader infrastructure pillar suggests that the Western Balkan countries have had a mixed performance when assessed vis-à-vis their peers. In terms of overall quality of infrastructure, Croatia ranks better than its New Member State peers, while the largest overall quality gaps exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. All Western Balkan countries, except Croatia, lag behind the EU by a wide margin. The gap analysis points to important reform potential in railroad infrastructure in Albania, FYR Macedonia, and Serbia. Compared to the average EU country, road and air transport infrastructure gaps are large in all countries, though to a lesser extent in Croatia.

3. Goods Markets Efficiency.

The results of the analysis suggest that the Western Balkan countries impose a relatively low tax burden on businesses. Total tax rates are well below those of NMS and EU average in FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Similarly, all countries but Bosnia and Herzegovina perform well or are broadly at par in terms of procedures and time to start a business. Gaps in competition policy, measured by the intensity of local competition and the effectiveness of anti-monopoly policy, point to potential reform needs in this area.

Gaps in trade barriers, tariffs, and impediments to foreign ownership and foreign direct investment (FDI) are relatively moderate in most Western Balkan countries, but almost always negative. Rules on FDI and foreign ownership seem to be stricter in Croatia and Serbia. Agricultural policy cost seems to be a significant burden for the economy in Croatia and Serbia, and to a lesser extent in Albania.

Labor Market Efficiency Performance of regional labor markets, when benchmarked against New Member State peers, is relatively mixed, as measured by indicators on the flexibility of setting wages, flexibility of hiring and firing, and redundancy costs. All of the Western Balkans lag behind their peers in at least one of these three areas. Croatia has relatively more inflexible hiring and firing rules, and stronger tax disincentives to work but relatively more flexible wage setting. The labor tax wedge is also relatively large in Serbia. In contrast, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina score lower in terms of flexibility of wage setting. Most of the Western Balkan countries (except Albania and Montenegro) compare less favorably to the New Member States in terms of retaining and attracting talent, contributing to skilled labor shortages. In these areas, as well as in professional management and cooperation on labor-employer relations, gaps tend to be larger vis-à-vis the EU. In other areas, differences with respect to the EU are less important, reflecting significant labor market rigidity in both sets of countries.

The economic development is certainly tied to the political stability which make the direct approach to the regional cooperation. This kind of approach builds strong relations between the western balkan countries. The non-tariff trade is a way of having a sustainable future not only for the country itself, but even for the region. Accompanying that to the other key factor of political stability, sees to be the right way of non forced, natural cooperation towards the bright economic future of these countries.

CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR A SYNCHRONIZED INVESTMENT AGENDA IN THE REGION

The event on February 24th – the first all-inclusive Western Balkans summit at the EBRD – will provide an ideal opportunity for business leaders and international companies to learn more about the countries and the Bank’s role in them.

“The idea is to present this region as a whole as an investment destination,” said the EBRD’s Senior Political Counsellor Oleg Levitin. “We hope that this conference, besides facilitating much needed foreign investment, will send a very strong political message about the maturity and stability of the region.”Regional integration through road corridors, gas pipelines, expansion in the manufacturing sector and other projects will be at the top of the agenda.”We believe that regional integration needs to be made a priority,” said Claudio Viezzoli, the EBRD’s Director, Western Balkans.

The EBRD sees supporting and promoting the Western Balkans as particularly important to foster the region’s development by strengthening its potential. The countries benefit from the IFI Joint Action which includes more than €30 billion of joint commitments for the period 2013-2014 in Central and South Eastern Europe as a whole.In the Western Balkans and Croatia alone the EBRD invested in more than 80 projects totaling more than €1.2 billion in 2013. This was a new record. Over the years, the total of EBRD investments in the region has reached €10.5 billion.

The Bank is active in all sectors of the economy but has a targeted approach in each country, based on the individual country’s needs and priorities as defined in the respective country strategies. A major goal of the EBRD’s increased engagement in the region in recent years has been to support the countries in their response to and overcoming the financial crisis which had hit the region hard.

After a protracted period of contraction, in 2013 the countries again registered growth of 2 per cent on average and prospects for growth in 2014 are similar. Particularly interesting for investors are the significant catch-up potential and the efficiencies of increased cross-border economic activity.

The attractiveness of the region for foreign investment has increased thanks to improved political stability and progress in the Euro-Atlantic integration in recent years. Croatia became a member of the European Union in 2013, and Montenegro and Serbia are in the process of membership negotiations. Other countries are continuing on the course of EU approximation. At the same time intensified regional cooperation has significantly brightened economic prospects and the region’s stability.

The EBRD sees itself as a supporter of these processes, a promoter of the interests of the Western Balkans and a door-opener for international and regional investors contemplating an engagement in the region.The countries have a lot to offer: from fertile soil to a strong industrial tradition, from vibrant entrepreneurship to a proud history of innovation, from rich natural resources to a skilled and educated labour force and to stunningly beautiful landscapes – the Western Balkans have it all. The Western Balkans investment forum offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the countries and the region and to get in touch with key decision-makers and business representatives.

Having a stability in politics and regional cooperation make the Western Balkan countries interesting to generate new employments as a result of positive impact in the economy. The gain in this case will be more collective than individual. Negotiations should be strengthened. There are lakes and rivers shared by these countries, therefore specific regional cooperation is needed.

DIRECTIONS AND AREAS OF ECONOMIC INTERACTION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA IN THE LIGHT OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS

Free trade

Regional trade liberalisation is progressing. A network of bilateral free-trade agreements among the countries of the region, including Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova, has been established, thus creating a free-trade area of 55 million consumers. This sends an important signal to the investor community, which will find a market of high absorption potential for industrial and consumer goods. To reap the full benefits of trade liberalisation in the region, the free-trade agreements need to be fully and efficiently implemented. The countries of the region committed themselves to complete the network of free trade agreements. Regional trade across south-eastern Europe is fully in keeping with the EU perspectives of the different countries in the region, independently of where they stand on their way to membership. Trade liberalisation and facilitation is one of the pillars of the stabilisation and association process (SAP): a main instrument of the SAP is the autonomous trade measures that the western Balkan countries enjoy – free access, without quantitative limit, to the EU market for practically all products.

Energy and transport infrastructure

Significant progress is being made on forming a regional energy market and rebuilding infrastructure. The projected south-eastern Europe regional energy market, which should provide modern and liberalised gas and electricity systems, will be key to a regional energy market based on European standards, transparent rules and mutual trust, and it will set the right environment for the optimal development of the energy sector. The agreement governing energy trade will substantially contribute to attracting investment into this strategic sector. Where transport infrastructure is concerned, an integrated regional transport strategy, consistent with the trans-European networks and taking into account the pan-European corridors, is a high priority. The EU also supports projects of regional significance and regional initiatives in the areas of environmental protection, science and technology, information and communication technology, and statistics.

Fight against organised crime and corruption

Organised crime and corruption are threats to security and democratic stability, and obstacles to the rule of law and economic development in the region. Combating organised crime and corruption is a key priority for the governments of the region. Particular focus is being placed upon fighting all forms of trafficking, particularly of human beings, drugs and arms, as well as smuggling of goods. Strengthening the regional operational cooperation for police and prosecution is considered a key priority for the countries of the region.

EU assistance

To promote regional cooperation in priority areas, the EU is providing political support, practical/technical guidance and financial assistance through the CARDS programme (Community assistance for reconstruction, development and stabilisation), which is one of the main instruments of the stabilisation and association process.

Priority areas where regional CARDS assistance will be focused for 2005-06 are listed below.

• Institution building: this priority focuses primarily on strengthening the administrative capacity of the countries, and support to public administration reform, through instruments implemented regionally.

• Justice and home affairs: actions in this field have a special focus on the fight against organised crime and corruption, and include enhanced police regional cooperation and judicial regional cooperation.

• Cross-border cooperation: by promoting economic and social cooperation of border regions, including support to networking activities and the involvement of civil society. The EU supports the development of cross-border cooperation between the western Balkan countries, as well as between these countries and EU members, acceding and candidate countries.

• Private-sector development, by facilitating foreign direct investments in the region.

• Infrastructure development, through initiatives in the sectors of transport, energy, environment and information society.

Considering that in the Balkan countries exist multi-ethnic societies, should be a positive thing in terms of trade, because minority groups should be seen as an added value for the implementation of the non-tariff trade. The elimination of the barriers is an important factor that is representing the approach of positive relations between those countries.

Cross-border finance is the future of Western Balkan countries. Although traditional trade barriers such as tariffs have come down, and innovations in transportation and communications technology have shrunk the distance between nations, trade costs remain high, particularly in developing countries. High trade costs isolate developing countries from world markets, limiting their trade opportunities and impeding growth. High trade costs also appear to disproportionately affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), time sensitive products and goods produced in global value chains. Trade procedures that are more cumbersome than necessary and delay the movement, release and clearance of goods constitute a significant part of these trade costs. Trade facilitation is intended to relieve these bottlenecks at the border. The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) represents an important milestone by creating a multilateral framework for reducing trade costs. While changes in trade procedures can be implemented unilaterally, a multilateral agreement on trade facilitation brings added value. It provides greater legal certainty to the changes in measures. It helps reforming governments to marshal support from domestic constituents. Finally, it helps with the adoption of similar or compatible approaches to trade procedures and coordinates the provision of donor support for capacity-constrained developing countries.

Cooperation in the region represents a key element for the development of the Western Balkan in general, and a powerful collaboration towards an integrated market. Stability Pact has played an important role in the cooperation between the countries of Western Balkans. It is obvious that it many initiatives in order to promote democratic stabilization and economic development in the Western Balkan countries.

CONCLUSION

The Western Balkan financial systems need to deepen further and broaden access to financial services while preserving and enhancing financial system stability. Reforms are needed to reduce market imperfections and information asymmetries, and to allow for efficient intermediation of credit to finance investment. While Western Balkan countries have done relatively well in providing the infrastructure necessary for financial development more generally and credit deepening in particular, they have lagged their New Member State counterparts in strengthening the foundations of financial stability.

By intensifying cooperation between Balkan Countries,can turn into an element of integration, progress, stability and cooperation in the region. The European perspective of both countries will be a common good and cooperation factor for both countries. The two countries seem determined to cooperate in terms of economic exchange and cooperation as part of the new EU perspective on the Western Balkans (launched in Berlin by the German Chancellor in August 2014) and the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP).

They should have some common priorities that will guide them to a successful economic perspective besides the clear EU path that have towards. Strengthening their trade dynamics is an ambitious cooperation framework.

Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time – Karl Marx Since ancient age to modern art we have come across multiple art styles & movements. Most of them were new creation or transformation of one or other styles. Efforts by individual, group or brotherhood and schools lined up multiple art style in art history. This is my attempt to bring to light foremost & known art styles, movements and influence. If everything is not covered; its reference will be left for details.

If it is topic of art history then the most coined term would be an art style that covers the period of European history at the close of the middle ages and the rise of the modern world. An art style which born in 14th century and lived up to 17th century. An art movement which was later broken down in more than eight regional forms of development by historians. That means “rebirth” and was characterized by a radical development in the arts, medicine, politics and sciences in Europe.

That’s none other than Renaissance!! That was time in which individual expression and worldly experience became two of the main themes. Renaissance is Italian origin and later it was known as one of the most known European Art Movements. By region – Renaissance was identified by own regional movement in Italy, England, German, Northern Europe, French, Netherlands, Poland and Spain. By period it is known as Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, Harlem Renaissance and Northern Renaissance. The word Renaissance is now often used to describe other historical and cultural moments (e.g. the Carolingian Renaissance, the Byzantine Renaissances).

Leonardo da Vinci was the model Renaissance man representing the humanistic values of the period in his art, science and writing. Michelangelo and Raphael were also vital figures in this movement, producing works regarded for centuries as embodying the classical notion of perfection. Renaissance architects included Alberti, Brunelleschi and Bramante.

Renaissance Classicism sowed two different movements— Mannerism and the Baroque. Mannerism was a reaction against the idealist perfection of Classicism. The appeal of Baroque style curved deliberately from the amusing and intellectual qualities of 16th century Mannerist art to an intuitive appeal aimed at the senses. Baroque employed an iconography that was direct, simple, obvious, and dramatic.

Baroque art drew on certain broad and heroic tendencies in Annibale Carracci and his circle, and found inspiration in other artists such as Correggio, Caravaggio, and Federico Barocci nowadays sometimes termed ‘proto-Baroque’. Although Baroque was antiquated in many centers by the Rococo style, beginning in France in the late 1720s, more than ever for interiors, paintings and the decorative arts, Baroque architecture remained a practical style until the arrival of ascetic Neoclassicism in the later 18th century. Ingres, Canova, and Jacques-Louis David are among the best-known neoclassicists.

Neoclassicism was nothing but a reaction against both the surviving Baroque and Rococo styles, and as a desire to return to the perceived “purity” of the arts of Rome & Ancient Greek. Neoclassicism was also solitary representation of the American Renaissance movement. As Mannerism discarded Classicism, Romanticism too refused the ideas of the Enlightenment and the aesthetic of the Neoclassicists. Romanticism movement turned world’s attention toward landscape and nature as well as the human figure and the supremacy of natural order above mankind’s will. Hudson River School was highly influenced by Romanticism.

However Neoclassicism sustained to be a foremost vigor in Academic Art through the 19th century and beyond. Academic Art was a relentless antithesis to Romanticism or Gothic revival.

In 19th Century, after impacts of industrialization – Poverty, squalor, and desperation were to be the fortune of the new working class. Where Romanticism was optimism towards mankind; situation put art looking towards reality giving chance to Realism. Social Realism, Magic Realism, Photo Realism and Contemporary Realism are newer forms of Realism. Related movements were the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Arts and Crafts Movement.

Neo-classical movement rejected the extreme romanticism of Dada (that hunted the discovery of authentic reality through the abolition of traditional culture and aesthetic forms), in favor of control, religion and a dyed-in-the-wool political programme. Dada ignored aesthetics. Dada became an influential movement in modern art. It also influenced Surrealism, Pop Art and Fluxus.

Realism’s concept of seeing world by human eye gave birth to Impressionism. Use of bright color improving more visibility (as opposed to Academic art) and strokes that were mixed in viewer’s eyes were key features of impressionism. The Group of Seven was strongly influenced by European Impressionism of the late Nineteenth Century.

Fauvism & Post-Impressionism followed Impressionism. Later Fauvism; modern art started shaping self in multiple new forms including Cubism, Expressionism, Abstract Art, Dada, Abstract Expressionism , Futurism, Naïve art, Op Art, Surrealism, Minimalism, Pop Art and other. Modern art and its forms itself needs separate discussion.

After its transformation of several forms; painting is yet breathing in ‘Contemporary Art’ and ‘Post Modern Art’.

Reference:

Art History Style Study References

Blog On Art History, Style & Artists [http://historyofart.wordpress.com]

The western movie genre conjures up cowboy and Indians in most people’s minds. However, the classic western movies are quite simply put, much more than that and there are many actors as well as actresses that have taken part in this wonderful and sometimes historic representation of the American west life and times.

Normally, these types of movies would depict dusty towns that would be inhabited by townsfolk who are scared of the gunfighters that would install fear in them. There would almost always be a scene that would be shot in the town’s saloon and there was always at least one gunfight and usually more than that. It is a time of cattle and horseback riding and mountains and sagebrush.

Many of these movies were filmed at actual locations or at least the actual areas that would enable the ability to have the western cliché background. Places like Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado were especially used for their western atmosphere, and Eastern California was popular for the desert types of filming was needed. Entire face board, buildings which would just depict the facade, towns would be built out in the middle of nowhere for many of these movies and then be torn down when finished. And, this was the standard norm.

And, it was not simply movies that were filmed in these locations. For example, F-Troop was filmed entirely in New Mexico.

One location was the primary backdrop for the movie “Stagecoach” and this was at the four corners region that included Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico and is called Monument Valley. Coincidentally, “Cheyenne Autumn” was also filmed there.

The very first western movie that was filmed is called “The Great Train Robbery” and was a silent film but is still considered to be a classic considering that it put the word western in the Hollywood vocabulary.

Then there are those western movies that were directed by Sergio Leone and would feature relatively newcomer Clint Eastwood. These were films such as “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Outlaw Josie Wales, and A Fist Few of Dollars.” These are now considered to be the new classics.

John Wayne was considered to be one of the most prolific western actors. “Rooster Cogburn” and “The Alamo” are simply a couple of the many westerns he had made in his lifetime and he did win a Best Actor Oscar for “True Grit.”

These are but a couple of the actors that have starred or took part in the western movie genre. There are many more that have had their start in these wonderful types of films too.

Western disturbance is an extra tropical rain bearing system which is very important in the sense that the winter rainfall of least 15 countries in dependent on it.

The disturbance is so called because it disturbs the normal, settled, sunny and stable weather prevailing in the regions it affects. The term western is used because all the countries which it affects lie east to it.

Origins

It has its origin in the Mediterranean sea which, by the way is more than 3000 miles to the northwest of North Central India where its effect can be recorded.

Trajectory

The path of this rain bearing system is very well marked and well known to the meteorologists. Its path is so reliable that if it is affecting Lebanon or Syria or Israel, that lie very close to it, it can be predicted with more than 90 percent accuracy that how many days it will take to reach Islamabad or even New Delhi. It is point to be noted that both these capitals are located more than 2-3 thousand kilometers to the south west of it.

For instance if it is presently giving rain at Tel Aviv in Israel, then it can easily be predicted that when it will hit Amman in Jorden, then Baghdad in Iraq, then Teheran in Iran, then Kabul in Afghanistan, then Islamabad in Pakistan and finally New Delhi In India. Beyond New Delhi, however, it loses its grip and rainfall figures fall sharply.

Typical Features

The rain it produces is of uniform pattern and for three to four days the sky is overcast. It is a slow moving system unlike monsoon rain which is like a heavy cloudburst for a few hours and it is clear afterwards. In western disturbance case, sky is overcast for days together with light to moderate intermittent rain pouring day and night.

Effects on Temperature and Humidity of The Area it affects

An approaching western disturbance raises the temperatures of the area it is going to affect by 10-15 F on the average and the humidity rises considerably. Then comes the rain which at some occasion can also give hail. After it passes away, there is a sharp fall of temperature and within 24 hours, temperatures can drop as much as 20 F. Cold winds begin to blow and humidity falls sharply.

In short, western disturbance is a rain bearing system originated in the Mediterranean Sea affecting countries as far away as India.

While the Indian Star System or Hindu Nakshatra system is a scientifically designed one, some doubt whether the 27 nakshatras physically exist in the sky. They do exist. For the benefit of the western readers, the 27 nakshatras and western equivalents is given below.

The twenty seven nakshatras and the respective western equivalent are given below:

1) Ashwini -Alpha, Beta -Aries

2) Bharani – No 28,29,41 Taurus

3) Krittika – Pleiades

4) Rohini – Aldebaran Hyades, Alpha, Theta, Gama, Delta and Epsilon Taurus

5) Mrigashirsha – Lambda, Phi 1, Phi 2, Orion

6) Aardraa -Betelgeaux – Alpha Orion

7) Punarvasu – Castor, Pollux with Procyon Alpha, Beta, Gemini-Alpha Canis Minor respectively

8) Pushya – Gama, Delta and Theta of Cancer

9) Ashlesha – Delta, Epsilon, Eta, Rho and Zeta Hydra

10) Maagha – Alpha, Ela, Gama, Zeta My and Epsilon Leonis

11) Poorva Phalkuni – Delta and Theta Leo

12) Utra Phalkuni – Beta and 93 Leo

13) Hasta – Delta, Gama, Eta, Virgo

14) Chitraa – Spica, Alpha Virgo

15) Swaati – Arcturus – Alpha Bootes

16) Vishaakha – Alpha, Beta etc Libra

17) Anuraadha – Beta, Delta, Pi -Scorpia

18) Jyestha – Antares Alpha, Sigma Tau Scorpio

19) Mula – Scorpio, tail stars

20) Poorvaashadaa – Delta and Epsilon Sagittarius

21) Uttaraashaada – Zeta and Omicron Sagittarius

22) Shraavanaa – Altair – Alpha Aquila

23) Dhanishtha – Delphinus

24) Shatabhisak – Lambda Aquarius

25) Poorva Bhaadrapada – Alpha and Beta Pegasus

26) Uttara Bhaadrapada – Gama Pagasus and Alpha Andromeda

27) Revathi – Zeta Piscum

The above stars can be seen with the help of the star maps. The Vedic Rishis (seers) have very clearly indicated the size and shape of the stars. There were a number of books available in the past. The Nakshatra vidya or the Science of the Stars or descriptive Astronomy is lost due to the continuous invasions on India. However Vedic Scholars are able to find out the real science now and we may hope the full benefit of this science will be passed on to the future generation. In our next article we will look into the wonders of the stars.

Western scholars often refer to Western civilization as Christian. The ongoing conflict between radicals of the Arab world and the West is often portrayed as a conflict of civilizations, with the assumption that the dominant cultural influences in Western civilization, in conflict with the Muslim Arabic civilization, are those of Christian values.

The portrayal of Western civilization which ascribes its dominant cultural values to Christian doctrine and teaching is, in my view, a great disservice to the memory of the secular thinkers to whom the core imitable values of Western civilization can be ascribed. The emergence of modern Western civilization certainly did have its roots in Christianity but at a crucial point in the evolution of Western culture was the renaissance which give birth to a new secular social, philosophical and cultural orientation in Western civilization which largely superseded the original religious cultural orientation of Holy Roman Empire in the West.

The tendency to argue that the core values of Western civilization are Christian is mistaken, for the dominant influence in the emergence of the core values of contemporary Western civilization are secular humanist and not Christian. The illusory impression that Western civilization is based on Christian values apparently arises from the vaguely religious ethnocentric impression that the core values of Christian moral and ethical teachings reflect the highest standards and that therefore the relatively high standards of Western civilization(as Westerners like to think) could only have come from the Christian scriptures.

Thou shalt not kill. Thou Shalt love thine neighbor as thine self. Thou shalt not commit adultery. These certainly are rules of moral conduct and ethics found in the Bible. But these rules are not unique to the Christian scriptures and culture; they are universal standards found in practically all “pagan cultures.” The religious ethnocentrism which ascribes any high sounding moral-ethical precept to the Judeo-Christian scriptures is the result of the ethnocentric notion that Christianity is a uniquely moral and ethical religion.

The dominant trends in thought which led to the emergence of the ethical distinctives of Western culture are the secular socio-cultural principles of individualism and not those of religious morality. These principles are expressed in such secular ethical values as freedom, human rights, equality of individuals before the law and democracy. The conviction, for instance, among Islamic fundamentalists that Western civilization is morally decadent results from the fact that Western cultural ethics ignore matters of religious morality that are adjudged of personal or private choice, Thus, while a religiously moral Taliban government would invest inordinate efforts in policing private morality in issues of sexual behavior and orientation of individuals, consumption of alcohol, dressing and religious observances, the Western state concerns itself with such issues only to the extent that it is considered to significantly violate the rights of others in society.

The persistent conflict between the views of religious conservatives and liberals over social issues in United States reflects the relatively significant influence of religion in American society in comparison to North Western European societies and reveals the essentially secular rather than Christian roots of Western culture.

The ongoing conflict between Western civilization and Muslim Arab civilization is not a conflict between Christian civilization and Islamic civilization but a conflict between a secularized civilization and a religious civilization. The notion of conflict between Christianity and Islam which dominates the minds of Islamic fundamentalists and many religious Americans is a mistaken one. The conflict between Christianity and Islam might have been real in the medieval crusades. In the modern world, when American Presidents speak glowingly of the American way of life, they are not referring to Christianity but to the way of life based on the liberal values of secular humanism.

When talking about the differences in the forms of expressions between eastern and western movies, the most notable feature that must be figured out is the usage of symbols in eastern films and western science fiction films. The frequent usage of symbols in eastern films cannot be found usually in western films.

In generally, symbol methods can be divided into four categories:

A. Visual symbol of the image: in the movie Armageddon, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai are pushing the NianZishan while discussing the war, which is the symbol of pushing the wheels of history; Shear in the film Magic Whip is highlighted as some sort of symbol of the spirit of traditional culture; in the film Red Girl, the eye-catching shapes of red dressed figure is as a symbol of the spirit of moving up;

B. hearing symbol of the image: when Zan Yihong in the film Night goods is getting close to Morgenthau, the roar of a train is a symbol of national righteousness;

C. Combination of visual and hearing symbol of the image: the visual image of the wheelbarrow in the end of the film Accent and hearing the roar train image come across, acting a symbol of the old and the new life’s conflict and the inevitability of historical trends.

D. Narrative symbolic image: it mainly refers to the circumstances and details of the symbol. There are overall and partial parts. Film Old Well constructs all the circumstances described in the film to a symbol of a whole part — the tenacious survival of the Chinese national will. In Old Well, the detail of married Wang Quan inverting urinal appeared three times symbolize him was finally into the tradition.

There are indeed a lot of good movies in Europe and America. Different with eastern films, western films are prone to using the themes of enjoying life and idealistic.

One of the most notable features is the use of special effects- the science fiction film. In the terms of science fiction film, the most important two forms of expressions that used are special-effect technique with the help of science and the shocking scenes or ideas made from imagination and creativity. These three elements are the most highlighted ones by western people, especially Americans.

The history of Western Philosophy is indeed of interest in understanding modern society and civilizations. The book; Handbook in the History of Western Philosophy is comparable to reading about 1500 pages of Wikipedia on the subject. Indeed having done both now, I would say that I recommend reading this book by Albert E. Avey.

Of course you cannot buy this book printed by Barnes and Noble in 1957 because it is not available anywhere, except maybe a couple of copies on eBay now and again. The book starts out with a chapter called; “Early Reflective Thoughts” which goes back to 3500 BC to about 700 BC and touches on the philosophy of Babylonian and Egyptian past periods.

Then the book gets even more interesting during the Pre-Socratic Periods and Greek Classic Periods. All the greats of that time are mentioned as well as the foundation that would later build into what we consider Western Philosophy.

Next we find some seven chapters taking us through 1AD to the 1850s and see the influence of religion and how that affected Western Philosophy or perhaps stifled it, although that is entirely up to the reader to decide how to play it. After the 1850s we see a new emergence of Western Philosophy take off and that gives hope for the future.

From 1850 to the 1950s the book brings itself up to date with the latest thinking of the time. If you are a philosophy student, instructor or perhaps just interested in the history of such things you should read it. My take on the book was one of disgust towards Western Philosophy and human thought and the limited thinking that has been trumpeted as deep thought. The book however was excellent in allowing me to come to this observation.

I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

Before I really begin, I would like to say that the spiritual, strange, magical and weird does exist as nothing unreal exists even in thought, and the ancient Western Code of nothing spiritual, amazing or strange has any validity is pure foolishness. Progenitors of the Western Code like Wilhelm Wundt and Sigmund Freud saying basically that we are “meat puppets” without spirit and lots of automatic guilt and evil is nonsense too. Think! Reality is more than what we see, sense or immediately understand, even if we do not care to admit it, and think it is depressingly limited in so many ways.

If we can generate original creative thought of any sort, we are not just “meat puppets” and this universe is not causeless or unintelligent as “those people” would love us to think.

If we were just meat puppets without souls or spirits, then all the “Councils of Eugenics”, “Centers for Disease Control”, and “The Deep State” and the like would have it all locked up in a ‘neat little box’ and easily explained, right down to UFO’s really being weather balloons or some blimp flying around instead of just UFO’s or unidentified flying objects so to speak and nothing amazing would ever happen, especially things that make us grow.

After all, if humanity were as limited as they say, evolution would be a double bind and end with what they say it ends with, would it not? I mean, nothing would get to higher technology or development, would it?

So, the cure for belief in the ancient Western Code of “nothing amazing ever really happens, and everything is easily explained” is the genuine phenomena of growth, change and the fluidity of reality right down to insect aphids turning into winged insects when called upon to get off the trees as spores or caterpillars changing into butterflies out of the need for evolution.

So, when I consider the genuine totality of the genetic method, I stand in awe and wonder instead of going “Wow, this is it. That is all.” For indeed, there is always more and more, energy never stops changing. The only genuine loss is the perceived limits of reality anyway according to the aforementioned ancient Western code of “nothing amazing happens, and it is a weakly Godless scramble to get by the best you can without luck, help or blessing.” That depressing version is the short form of what I am writing about being wrong.

I genuinely believe in the miraculous, I genuinely believe in the great, and I genuinely believe in consistent growth. If all this were not real, the last technological advance would have happened about one hundred years ago when the United States Patent Clerk said, “Everything that will be invented, has been invented, I may as well close up.” That example is the genuine ridiculous nature of the ancient Western Code. As long as there is a reality, as long as there is an existence, there is a chance to grow.

All Quiet on the Western Front is a book written by Erich Maria Remarkque. It was a book written to reflect the human cost of war. It shows us how war has a hidden face that most people do not see until it is too late. In the novel, he describes a group of young men who at first think war is glorious. But as the war drags on, the group discovers how war is not all it is set out to be. As the war went on, they saw their friends either die or be permanently wounded. Then the end comes when there was only one person left.

All Quiet on the Western Front takes place in Germany where a group of young boys are first encouraged to join the military. Thinking that it would be a great adventure, they enlisted, not knowing the fate that lies before them. At first, the group is sent to training. They aren’t in a serious mood, thinking that war conditions aren’t as bad as they really are. When the boys are sent to the front, it is only then when they start to realize how war is not great. This is when the boys are cramped into the trenches. Some of the soldiers were shell-shocked because of the constant bombardment. When one of the boys was wounded, he was taken to a hospital where there were many wounded soldiers. Some soldiers had to have parts of their bodies amputated in order to survive. When Kemmerich was in the hospital, Müller ask for his pair of boots. The boots was a visible reminder to the boys of the cost of war. Paul then has to face his own conscience when he kills one of the Frenchmen. He doesn’t see the face of an enemy but just a face of another human being. He tries to comfort himself by promising to help the fallen soldier’s family. After Paul is relieved from the front line, he decides to go on leave and return home. But when he tries to tell everyone of the horrible conditions of the trenches, everybody either laughs him off or calls him a coward. Paul returns before his leave actually ended, wishing that he had never come home. In the end, when Paul loses Kat, Paul realizes that the war has destroy his way of life. He has lost all his friends and has nothing to return to.

There were many symbols and images in All Quiet on the Western Front. Examples of this include the pair of boots and the constant urge for companionship. The pair of boots and the fact that it was passed around so often tells us that death was a very common occurrence during the war and that the soldiers wanted to use everything then could find in order to aid their chances of survival. The urge for companionship is shown when the group crosses the river to see the French girls and when the group sees the picture of the girl while having a drink. As the boys start being killed in the war, the group wished that everything could that they could be back home doing things they enjoy. The pictures serve as a reminder that war disrupts everything, from people’s lives and their dreams and ambitions.

The major theme of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is that war must be avoided at all cost because of the severe consequences that will arise. War causes people to lose friends, makes people worried and creates a feeling of uncertainty among innocent people. War also creates hatred among people. For example, two friends of different nationalities may become bitter enemies only because their respective countries are at war.

I think the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a well told story, mixing both fiction and non-fiction into a powerful novel which forces people to think deeply about war and all of its possible repercussions. The book makes me think of all the lost talent that was lost during the war. Even though levels of technology increases exponentially, we have to wonder what the people who died in the war could have done to help the human cause. The novel also tells us that friendship always prevails even though tough times. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that war can be short and glorious. Through this book, any reader can see that war brings unnecessary death to innocent people (soldiers and civilians). After reading the book, the reader will probably have a different outlook on war and all the low points that it brings.

Through this book, we, as human beings, should find attempt to find solutions through discussion and compromise instead of warfare. Countries in war may feel that they are gaining a lot through wars but what they fail to see is the losses they have suffered. In many cases, the gain is negligible when it is compared to the losses.