The paper is about answering two questions in an essay format.
I. Introduction ( DO NOT INCLUDE THIS IN THE PAPER)
The following introduction is just to explain the topic of the paper
By 1950, it had become clear that Cold War lines in Europe had hardened, in that the US and Soviet spheres of influence were well defined. At the same time, the process of decolonization was accelerating throughout the Third World. In other words, underdeveloped countries throughout Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were separating from their former colonial masters (often European countries) and defining themselves as independent, sovereign nations. Thus, the Cold War battle for influence between the United States and Soviet Union shifted from Europe to the Third World.
During this period, the US continued to build upon its foreign policy of containment (allowing communism to exist in the countries where it was established, but actively working against its spread to other countries). To build ties to developing counties in the Third World, the United States dedicated massive amounts of foreign aid, distributed propaganda, funded and oversaw development projects, and supplied military equipment and advice. Moreover, the US both sent military troops and conducted covert operations, for the purpose of putting into power and/or maintaining Third World governments that were sympathetic to US interests.
These issues were especially prevalent in the run-up to the 1960 presidential election, when Democratic Party candidate John Kennedy criticized President Dwight Eisenhower and the Republican Party for not doing enough to thwart Soviet aggression. This criticism was especially sharp considering two recent events: in 1958, the Berlin Wall was built, cutting off an escape route from Soviet-controlled Europe to democratic Western Europe; and in 1959, Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba, creating a communist country and Soviet-satellite state just off the coast of Florida. Kennedy argued that the United States needed to spread American aid and goodwill throughout the Third World, so as to capture the hearts and minds of peoples in developing countries. Specifically, Kennedy believed that if the United States promoted development, people throughout the Third World would gravitate towards American-style free market economies and reject the Soviet model. This new emphasis on aid and goodwill would be in addition to US military intervention.
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This is what’s required
Based on the above Introduction and your viewing of The Magnificent Seven (1960), write a five-page paper that addresses the following two sets of questions, in essay format:
1) How can The Magnificent Seven be understood as an argument for Kennedy’s take on Cold War foreign policy? In answering this question, you might consider the conflict in the film as an analogy for the state of the world in 1960s and discuss what/who is represented by the Magnificent Seven; the Mexican village; and the Mexican bandits.
(OVER)
2) Could the Magnificent Seven also be understood as simply a remake of another popular film (Seven Samurai, 1954 ) and a good story set in the western genre, separate from any effort at political commentary? In other words, do film scholars sometimes try too hard to connect a film to the historical period in which it was made? Or are films, including Magnificent Seven, inevitably influenced by the social, cultural, and political issues of the day in some way or degree? Be sure to justify your answer.
The paper should have an introduction, thesis, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Body paragraphs should have strong topic sentences that state the main point of each paragraph and also work to systematically develop the thesis. Evidence from the film should be used to support each of these points.
Titles of books should be underlined or italicized. Never use the first person. Avoid contractions and ending sentences with prepositions. Always write in the past tense.
Again use evidence form the film which is the only source required in the paper.
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