Music From 1750- to the present-broad out line of the most significant Essay

Music From 1750- to the present-broad out line of the most significant - Essay Example Perhaps the backbone of music is the classical music tradition. Georg Mathhias Monn was an 18th century Vienna composer. His great contribution to the evolution of music was through the introduction of the secondary theme in the symphony. Monn was influenced by the Baroque style of Bach, but advanced this style to a more looser and graceful sound. His work on ‘Symphony in B major’ reflects this looser style, as well as containing a secondary theme. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony #9 in D Minor, Opus 125 is a piece from most of the most renowned symphonies in the Western tradition. The symphony is in part such a revolutionary contribution to music, not simply because of its powerful and virtuosic content, but also because it represents one of the first instances of voices in a symphony. In terms of thematic content, Beethoven had a number of aristocratic patrons that ensure his artistic productions could be achieved to full completion. Franz Schubert was a 19th cen tury Romantic composer. Despite his early death at 31 his influence has lived on through a number of later composers and in the gradual adoption of Romantic principles. Schubert’s work on Erlkonig is highly influential as it aids in the early development of these Romantic tendencies, as well as the adoption symphonic poetry within the classical music context. In addition to traditional classical composers, there are a great number of amateur and otherwise marginalized songwriters. Louis Moreau Gottschalk was a nineteenth century American composer. He constructed a great number of Romantic piano works and was recognized as virtuoso performer. His composition ‘The Banjo: Fantasie grotesque, Opus 15’ falls within this category. ... The song is a light-hearted piano melody that one can argue is one of the forerunners of 20th century developments in popular music, with its naive and fun tone. Amy Beach was a 19th and 20th century American female pianist. Her composition ‘Gaelic Symphony: Movement 2’ is highly relevant to the history of music for its virtuosity and content; however, perhaps Beach’s greatest contribution was through breaking gender barriers in an field that until this point has been largely male dominated. Stephen Collins Foster was 19th century American songwriter. He is referred to as the father of American music. His song ‘De Camtown Races’ is highly important as it establishes forms of music that would later influence 20th century singers and songwriters. In terms of influence, the track was heavily influence from black minstrels that were popular at the time. Francis Johnson was a 19th century African American composer based in the United States. During this ti me African American composers were highly rare. Similar to Beach, Johnson continues the theme of marginalized individuals breaking into an oppressive industry. His song ‘The Grave of the Slave’ is notable for its simple yet beautiful melody. It’s clear Johnson was influenced by African minstrels and European and American classical influences. William Billings was an American choral composer during the 18th century. He is widely recognized as being the progenitor of American choral music. His songs were all written for four-part chorus and intended to be sang acapella. His composition ‘Wake Ev’ry Breath: A Canon of 6 in One with a Ground† falls directly into these categorical articulations. The choral composition is clearly influenced by similar spiritual compositions in the European tradition.

National Identtiy Essay Example for Free

National Identtiy Essay National identity refers to the set of attributes and beliefs shared by those who belong to the same nation, the legitimate form of a political organization. Our independence and the way the achieve liberty is through self-rule. According to Anthony Smith a nation is a self-identifying group or community based on such factors as a common culture, history, language, ethnicity and religion. (Power Point Lecture) Nations can adopt a degree of common culture and belief, a set of common understandings such as language and ambitions to promote a cohesive unit. National identity is multi-dimensional and there are 5 fundamental features: historic territory or homeland, common myths and historical memories, a common mass public culture, common legal rights and duties for all members, and common economy with territorial mobility for members. The first feature is historic territory or homeland. Without territory that we call our own we can’t have national identity. One example is the singing of the National Anthem. This is clearly a well-respected song of praise about the land that brings us freedom which we view as our beautiful country. Territory is land that is claimed and called their own, yet there are nations in the past that have had their state and now became nations without states like Catalonia and Scotland. The United States is an example of a nation that doesn’t have a dominant group and a multi-cultural society as a civic nation. An example from the lecture was how we cannot particularly identify an â€Å"American† here in America, but if we were to fly to Japan, an American can be identified very quickly because of their dominant groups. Second, are the common myths and historical memories which are told. This pertains to national identity of people and about their origins. Historic memories refer to illustrations and historical events that become a part of the national story. An example in the lecture is the topic of 9/11. We put aside time to remember 9/11, often events associated with war and how identity is created. Also in national identity we pay taxes to people with never meet, because we have common bonds of obligations to each other, we care about strangers that are part of our nation. We start seeing each other as human in which we outline ourselves in contra distinction to others. The third fundamental feature is the common mass public culture. This is the requirement that we have institutions that reach out and forge a sense of belonging to national identity. Schools and educational institutions are associated in this feature. An example is The Pledge of Allegiance, origins of nations are illustrations of why we learn is since kindergarten and how we must put our right hand over our heart and face the flag as we recite The Pledge of Allegiance. Also, our calendar reminds us we are American and what it means to be American. For Americans the 4th of July is an example and for Mexicans the celebration of Cinco de Mayo is another example of national recognition to those living in Mexico. On Thanksgiving we give thanks because this is the day in which we merit the discovery of our country. In addition, the singing of the National Anthem that starts off the Super bowl also emphasizes the point that we participate in a common mass public culture. All of these examples symbolize that we are a multi-cultural society. The fourth feature explains how common legal right and duties for all members speak to the coherence between nationalism and equality. Each one of us belongs to a different sub group, meaning our citizenship. The fifth and final feature is the common economy with territorial mobility, meaning getting rid of barriers for commerce for common trade. Keeping the same concurrent of currency and standards of measurements in the United States means you know your part of the same nation. The ability to travel freely from one place to another is what we acknowledge as a national identity. For instance, if I were to travel to Ensenada, B. C I would most likely trade in my currency for pesos. A different currency system means a different nation. This also explains a part of what it means to have a national identity. In conclusion, national identity is formed from our interpretation of our nation. Citizens learn to identify with their nation in several ways from singing anthems, honoring calendar holidays such as Memorial Day and 4th of July which in all illustrate to us how to love our beautiful country even to the point of willing to kill for a nation.

Parents Should Be Involved in Their Children’s School :: Argumentative Essays

There are many reasons that parents should get involved in their children’s school. Students who have concerned and involved parents tend to get better grades. When a parent asks questions about homework and assignments, supervises to make sure that they get done, and even helps with homework, it is more likely that assignments will be completed and handed in on time. Another factor in grades is attendance. With a low attendance rate, assignments will be missed, and the student will get behind in content as well. Parents who do not get involved in the school might not know that their child is not attending on a regular basis, or even care if their child goes. When children are first starting school, or transitioning from pre-school to elementary school or elementary to middle school, the transition is easier when parents are involved. If a child is unhappy about being in school, but their parents volunteer in the school, the child will see their parents there and be less upset because they will not be separated from them. For whatever reason, if a child is nervous or simply misses his or her parent, seeing the familiar face in the hallway or just knowing that they are in the building is comforting and makes the transition into school easier. Along with parents helping with homework and supervising that projects are completed, giving support to a child will make them more likely to pass from grade to grade. Without parent involvement, unless a child is self-motivated to go to school and do their work, it will be difficult to pass to the next grade level, and in time, graduate. When students see that their parents are involved in their school, it shows them that their parents care about their education. This sets a good example for the student, and they are likely to model their parents and believe that education is important and beneficial. This is especially true when students see their parents volunteering in their school. In order for a child to see their education as something important, they have to believe that their parents feel the same, especially at a young age. Reasons Parents Don’t Get Involved Sometimes parents do not get involved in their child’s education for a completely different reason than not caring.

Yes...There Is Too Much Sex :: essays papers

Yes...There Is Too Much Sex In today's media driven society, it's not unusual that teenagers spend more time in front of the television than they do in the classroom. So, needless to say, teens are seeing and learning a lot from television. The problem is, they are learning and seeing too early. And they are learning too much. What are teens learning you might ask? They are learning about sex, sex on the media. In the U.S. alone, children will see an average of 15,000 sexual images each year on television. Now, that normally may not be a problem, teens today are very mature for their age and can handle seeing those images. The problem is, the messages that are sent along with those sexual images. Messages about sex being so nonchalant and so not a big deal; that poses a problem. Saying that sex can only be romantic if it's spontaneous; also, three out of four teens say that television shows and movies make sex seem normal for teenagers to experience. With that, the amount of high school students that are having sexual intercourse has gone up to 60% since the 50% it was at in 1999. So the question again is†¦is there too much sex in the media? There are many shows that teens watch that show sexual images. The thing is, they don't show people using contraceptives of showing the consequences of their actions. The show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a perfect example. The show will have the main character, Buffy having sex with her many partners that she has had. And never once worry about pregnancy or STD's. And with that, it shows that its cool to have sex and to be promiscuous and naà ¯ve about it. Now its not that "Buffy" is a bad show, they just don't show the scary sides of sex, they don't show real life. "FRIENDS" on NBC is another example. The show constantly shows the characters sleeping around and having a "good time" about it. Only within the past 2-3 seasons have they shown consequences for their actions. Rachel got pregnant after having a one-night stand with Ross. The difference between this show and reality is that Rachel is in her mid 30's and has a career and can afford to have a baby. Most high scholars aren't ready for that responsibility yet. And the fat that the message is put across that sex is fun, and that no responsibilities are needed to worry about.

Sexual Behavior And Sexual Identity Health And Social Care Essay

HIV is no longer entirely stigmatising the â€Å" cheery white male. † In recent old ages, the menace has spread to more diverse populations, including adult females who have sex with adult females ( WSWs ) practising multiple sexual behaviours, while presuming a assortment of sexual individualities. Yet, the information, intercessions and research available today continue providing to the original face of this deathly disease. Despite the turning organic structure of research, WSWs remain â€Å" unseeable † to authorities research workers, private wellness attention suppliers and community wellness organisations. Therefore where services for WSW are readily available, suppliers frequently fail to acknowledge the differentiation between sexual behaviour and sexual individuality, a misconception merely farther reinforced by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) as it continues to categorise adult females infected by female-to-female transmittal harmonizing to past sexual and drug behaviours. In add-on to a reasonably common belief that WSWs are immune to HIV, this community is frequently dismissed upon unwraping their sexual individuality for a figure of grounds. As noted by Diamond, there is an â€Å" premise among scientists and laypeople alike that reliable sexual orientation develops early and is consistent through one ‘s life. † This writer goes on to farther stress that, â€Å" what is reliable is what is stable. † The subjective manner in which many position sexual individuality has been a primary subscriber to the huge array of steps available to research workers for measuring hazardous behaviours with respect to sexual orientation. Ultimately, this dismissive, inattentive and even mocking respect for adult females who have sex with adult females has put an already vulnerable and turning part of the United State ‘s population at even greater hazard for HIV every bit good as STI ‘s ( sexually transmitted infections ) . From the supplier ‘s point of view, issues faced by members of this sexual wellness minority seeking information and resources are slightly associated with those issues faced by organisations fighting to function specific patronage. Within the metropolis of Chicago, those suppliers turn toing the sexual wellness demands of WSW are few and far between. For the few in being, publicity of services to the intended demographic can be disputing for several grounds: 1 ) presuming exchangeability of sexual orientation ( or ignoring the demand for categorical sexual wellness services ) can skew the best agencies for measuring plan efficaciousness ; at the same clip 2 ) if agencies for finding a participant ‘s sexual orientation are flatly specific, one misclassification can ensue in inefficiency or mis-direction of resources toward those with lesser demand off from those with greater demand. Findingss from recent surveies underline the danger in presuming excessively much about mark groups and their high/low-risk sexual patterns. Though research may uncover some groups to be more vulnerable for certain diseases than others, this statistical difference by no agency justifies the gross instability in focal point, funding and/or support.RESEARCH Question:What sexual wellness services are available for WSW ( adult females who have sex with adult females ) within the metropolis of Chicago and how are these service organisations aiming patronages in footings of turn toing the intersection of sexual behaviour and individuality?Hypothesis:With an highly limited figure of suppliers active in Chicago, few resources are available for WSW. If an organisation provides services for WSW, so they most likely do so on the footing of sexual individuality accordingly restricting their chance to turn to the single client ‘s potentially bad sexual behaviour.LITERATURE REVIEW:Numerous s urveies suggest that adult females who have sex with adult females are at low hazard for HIV and the subsequent famine of dedicated HIV/STI bar services for this community seems to reenforce these sentiments. Yet, rates of infection for HIV/STIs amongst WSW are on the rise and activist alliances comprised of adult females populating positively state broad are get downing to talk out. The battle to supply sexual wellness services for a population that has been mostly overlooked by the medical community now demands national attending. Reasons for the current deficiency of information and resources, every bit good as challenges faced by active service suppliers are debated and analyzed severally in the literature reviewed. There are a figure of issues that contribute to the wellness disparities faced by WSW. For illustration, the Women ‘s Health Initiative, a US sample of 96,000 older adult females, found that tribades and bisexual adult females were significantly more likely to be uninsured compared to heterosexual adult females ( 10, 12 and 7 % severally ) ( Valanis et al. , 2000 ) . The deficiency of insured WSW may be, harmonizing to Arend, due to homophobia on the portion of the physicians and nurses. Patient studies of homophobia in the medical universe are seting WSW at an even greater hazard: â€Å" since attention suppliers may non further swearing relationships with in which their patients could experience comfy unwraping their sexual individuality and behaviour. † It must be noted that a client can non seek wellness services that do non be, or she is less willing to make so if she has either experienced stigma or anticipates a stigmatizing environment ( Dean et al. , 2000 ; Meye r & A ; Northridge, 2007 ) . Although the CDC considers female-to-female HIV transmittal a â€Å" rare happening, † instance studies every bit good as some surveies and a smattering of publications point out that non merely are vaginal fluids and catamenial blood potentially infective, but rates of infection amongst adult females who have sex with adult females are presently on the rise ( survey by lady at conference, CDC, Arend ) * . In the article, â€Å" HIV Testing Among Lesbian Womans: Social Context and Subjective Meanings, † Dolan and Davis utilised studies, focal point groups and in-depth interviews to depict HIV proving experiences among a sample of 162 sapphic adult females populating in a big southeasterly US metropolis ( Dolan & A ; Davis 2008, JOHNSON ) . Eighty per centum of the sample had tested at least one time, with more than 25 % holding tested five or more times. Most of the adult females tested voluntarily and despite the widely promoted misconception that WSWs are at low hazar d for HIV, the respondent ‘s perceptual experience of hazard was noted as the â€Å" most common ground for proving. † However, the CDC continues to categorise adult females infected by female-to-female transmittal merely harmonizing to their old sexual and drug behaviours, thereby disregarding an full community and perpetuating the â€Å" sapphic unsusceptibility † stereotype. For old ages, Aids has been profiled as a â€Å" cheery white male ‘s † disease. Merely in the past decennary have wellness instruction and diverseness preparation plans sought to counter what has been referred to as ‘the de-gaying of AIDS † ( Flowers, 2001 ) and alternatively advanced the claim that AIDS is a ‘democratic ‘ or ‘equal chance ‘ virus. Unfortunately, this push to reprogram an inaccurate image has failed in two facets: First of all, developing manuals intended to battle the impression that ‘AIDS is a cheery disease ‘ overpoweringly turn readers ‘ attending off from work forces who have sex with work forces ( MSM ) to refocus it upon the heterosexual community. Mentioning statistics such as â€Å" The World Health Organization says 75 % of people with AIDS were infected through heterosexual sex † is helpful for battling the purely cheery male association, but at what point should the public consider hazards associated with adult females who have sex with adult females? Second, in add-on to overlooking a vulnerable demographic, the reprogramming of AIDS instruction has a inclination to entirely categorise gender, ensuing in the marginalisation of WSWs. Harmonizing to Bourne et al. , efforts at making more politically right intercession plans have pushed many plans back to educating through a biomedical lens: â€Å" minimising the hazard of bodily unstable exchange and set uping physical barriers between spouses. † One article highlights how â€Å" this point of view may be deficient when sing the emotionally charged sphere of sexual behaviour, which is, by its really nature, societal. † Intervention plans based on a biomedical position on safe sex tend to turn to intervention/education demands in a categorical, diagnostic mode. Bourne and Robson ‘s analysis of the biomedical attack to learning â€Å" safe sex † reveals how wellness publicity schemes which fail to take history of the complexnesss of lived experience are, as a consequence, mostly ignored by the mark population as being incompatible with their demands. Properly turn toing the demands of a peculiar sexual minority group ever draws attending to a cardinal, on-going argument in gender and wellness. The dissension over which issue to turn to first, behaviour or individuality, is seeable throughout the literature reviewed. Diamond notes, there is an â€Å" premise among scientists and laypeople alike that reliable sexual orientation develops early and is consistent through one ‘s life † ( 2009:52 ) . What is reliable is what is stable. â€Å" So the familiar battlefields are drawn: fixed=biological= deserving of credence and protection, whereas variable=chosen=fair game for stigma and favoritism † ( Diamond 2009:246 ) . * Some writers, nevertheless, argue that sexual orientation is non one thing. Rather, it has many constituents, including behaviour, individuality and desire. For some, behaviour may be a defining characteristic of their sexual orientation, while for others desire may be the most of import ( Tabatabai ) * . Sexual behaviour is less of import for adult females as they consider their sexual orientation ( Peplau and Garnets 2000 ) . Some experts conclude that prosecuting in sexual behaviour with a member of the same gender is non a requirement for placing in a peculiar manner and a recent Indiana University survey supports this theory. The 2010 study of Thirty showed that while X % of adult females surveyed identified as heterosexual, XXX had engaged in same sex sexual behaviours. Numerous articles highlighted hazards associated with sexual wellness service suppliers turn toing sexual individuality entirely, but the ways in which the faculty member and medical community approach sexual behaviour and designation remain subjective, thereby perpetuating wellness disparities amongst WSW. When revelation becomes a battle, so does efficaciously providing to the client ‘s yesteryear, present, or possible bad sexual behaviours. So, at the supplier degree, after an organisation decides whether to offer intercession scheduling directed at adult females who have sex with adult females, the best theoretical account for carry oning client outreach and best methods for finding proper individualized attention take centre phase. * While some adult females are really unfastened about both their diseases and sexual individuality, others are loath to discourse these issues due to frights of culturally-based stigmas against homosexualism and HIV, homophobia and maltreatment signifier medical professionals and disaffection from household members and larger communities. * Thus, a supplier motivated to make more for WSW wellness can make little with deficient support, inaccurate information or a limited outreach theoretical account. Harmonizing to a 2008 auxiliary issue within the Journal of Homosexuality, the usage of inclusive signifiers, linguistic communications and treatments that do non presume the person ‘s individuality, orientation, behaviour and relationship position are important for easing optimum bringing of attention and services. * Intake signifiers are, therefore, the first and sometimes last chance a supplier has to link with their client. Research is limited and what is available is overpoweringly theoretical. A quantitative appraisal of adult females ‘s sexual individuality and how it aligns with their behaviour is good for efficaciously patterning intercession plans. A qualitative analysis and cross-organizational appraisal of organisations presently supplying services in the Chicago country is good for finding outreach efficaciousness. Ratess of infection amongst WSW are quickly on the rise, yet the research community has been slow to react. This survey aims to pull attending to a sexual minority that is frequently overlooked by all three social sectors and foregrounding multiple barriers toward having equal attention is the first measure in bettering sexual wellness service efficaciousness for WSW.RESEARCH DESIGN:Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be utilized in this three-part multi-strategy research procedure: A quantitative analysis and rating of bing informations from a 2009 NYC Community Hea lth Survey ( CHS ) will turn to the intersection of sexual behaviours and individuality. From 2002 to 2008, 10,000 grownups aged 18 and supra participated in the cross-sectional study. The CHS, based on the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ( BRFSS ) and conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides informations on a sample population comparable to Chicago. The quantitative part is important in that it will showcase a statistical form in the intersection of sexual behaviour with sexual individuality. This statistical form will reenforce the demand for qualitative appraisal of bing service organisations and explorative research on the mode in which an organisation determines client service. Three bing organisations functioning WSW ( adult females who have sex with adult females ) within the metropolis of Chicago ( Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Howard Brown Health Center ‘s Lesbian Community Care Project, and Chicago Women ‘s Health Center ) will be evaluated for a bipartite qualitative part. Interviews with decision makers heading each organisation and studies with staff responsible for personally interacting with plan attendants will supply qualitative informations in this exploratory and explanatory survey. The interview responses and study consequences will so be evaluated in concurrence with an analysis of each organisation ‘s intake signifier ( a standard paper signifier used for finding new client demands ) . Examination of said signifier will function to expose the mode in which each organisation categorizes and later â€Å" dainties † their clients. Textual analysis and qualitative in-depth observation of all three organisations will find whether WSW sexual wellness services are based upon the client ‘s sexual behaviour or the sexual individuality they declared upon consumption. Pairing the qualitative ratings with the quantitative research findings from a comparable population provides greater apprehension of the service demands within Chicago, the best methods for outreach and the issues that potentially arise from these current outreach methods.

Internet Security1 essays

Internet Security1 essays The Internet has become a greater medium of communication, data exchange, and entertainment over the past 5 years. With this widespread growth of Internet access, there come growing pains. These growing pains come in the form of people who are up to no good and want to ruin everybody elses experience on the net. High-speed connections also make it a very easy way for hackers to attack your pc in your daily life. In this report, I will discuss the types of Internet connections that are commonly used by consumers. I will also talk about the kinds of hackers that are out there. Each hacker has his or her own reason for doing it and by knowing that, prevention can be made simpler. I will discuss the types of Internet security programs that are available to everyday users. There are also hardware devices that arent as common in the home, but I will discuss their importance also. Finally, I will tell you how easily these programs can be implemented. I. Types of internet connections b. Permanent "all-the-time" connections c. Out-for-fun, harmless hackers b. Turning off PCs when not in use The Internet was a very unknown term to people ten years ago. This new information superhighway was reserved only to those who had the income or the need for data exchange between corporate locations. In the mid 1990s, companies like America Online and Prodigy created a easy connection to the Internet. These connections were called dial-up connection. They made use of a modem connected to your pc and by using your phone line, connected you to their services. In this early age of dial-up connections, the availability and ease for people to obtain access to your information was enormous. Bank records, shopping habits, and credit card information became common ground for people who hacked into personal computers. As the Internet spread to locally owned ISPs, or Interne...

Free Essays on Mark & John

One of the last recorded actions of Jesus is the commissioning of the apostles to preach his message. His closest disciples were instructed to bring his life and teachings to â€Å"...Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.†1 Indeed, the implications of this statement were great, for it did not provide the apostles with the opportunity to merely establish the new church in Jerusalem, rather they were charged also with evangelizing to all nations. However, the area in which Jesus conducted his ministry was small and the surrounding countries were cultural melting pots. This presented these new missionaries with the problem of how to effectively portray Jesus as the savior of the human race and disseminate the Good News to people who possessed widely different social, political, and religious convictions. Relating the message to these groups and capturing the whole essence of Jesus required describing him from different viewpoints. In order to maxi mize the success of these representations â€Å"...all that was irrelevant and failed to illustrate and exemplify its theme was excluded.†2 Thus, four gospels were written with obvious differences so as to provide four general portraits of Jesus to the different audiences to whom the evangelists wrote. The Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as a servant for the people of God while the Gospel of John emphasizes his divinity and position as the Son of God, two opposite portraits that are influenced by the writers’ backgrounds, audiences, and historical contexts. The identity of the author of Mark’s gospel is not clearly known, but it is a critical point for understanding the gospel’s portrait. The traditionally held view is that the writer was â€Å"...an associate and interpreter of Peter...who accompanied Paul and Barnabas on part of their first missionary journey.†3 Textual evidence for this consists primarily of a verse that explicitly states that John Mark was w... Free Essays on Mark & John Free Essays on Mark & John One of the last recorded actions of Jesus is the commissioning of the apostles to preach his message. His closest disciples were instructed to bring his life and teachings to â€Å"...Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.†1 Indeed, the implications of this statement were great, for it did not provide the apostles with the opportunity to merely establish the new church in Jerusalem, rather they were charged also with evangelizing to all nations. However, the area in which Jesus conducted his ministry was small and the surrounding countries were cultural melting pots. This presented these new missionaries with the problem of how to effectively portray Jesus as the savior of the human race and disseminate the Good News to people who possessed widely different social, political, and religious convictions. Relating the message to these groups and capturing the whole essence of Jesus required describing him from different viewpoints. In order to maxi mize the success of these representations â€Å"...all that was irrelevant and failed to illustrate and exemplify its theme was excluded.†2 Thus, four gospels were written with obvious differences so as to provide four general portraits of Jesus to the different audiences to whom the evangelists wrote. The Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as a servant for the people of God while the Gospel of John emphasizes his divinity and position as the Son of God, two opposite portraits that are influenced by the writers’ backgrounds, audiences, and historical contexts. The identity of the author of Mark’s gospel is not clearly known, but it is a critical point for understanding the gospel’s portrait. The traditionally held view is that the writer was â€Å"...an associate and interpreter of Peter...who accompanied Paul and Barnabas on part of their first missionary journey.†3 Textual evidence for this consists primarily of a verse that explicitly states that John Mark was w...