Week 1: Two Cultures

Growing up in the Bay Area, I’ve always felt and noticed different attitudes towards jobs in arts or science. CP Snow developed the idea that the world was split into two different groups: literary intellectuals and scientists (Snow 4). While I agree that western society is very much split, there have been many bridges built between the two throughout the past few years during the covid pandemic with people having to find more creative ways to do once normal things. The “Changing Education Paradigms” video lecture argues this divide begins at the root of our education system acting like a factory pumping children out by age group keeping them in categories that stunts creativity. Being a part of this education system while also living so close to Silicon Valley, I always felt a huge pressure to go to a “top” university and study something within the STEM field, and as a first-year here at UCLA, nothing has really changed.


Source: travelinusa.us

As I’ve now had classes on both North and South Campus, there are some notable differences between the two, both architecturally and with the attitudes of the students I’ve come into contact with. Architecturally, the layout of South campus is very compact with the buildings looking boring, but North campus is more spread out with different grass patches and even sculptures complemented by different buildings that were prettier to look at. I’ve come into contact with some negative attitudes regarding the students who are pursuing more artistic majors. 



Source: Google Maps

In order to close the gap between the arts and the sciences, I agree with the notion that it’s “not a 2-way street” in that artists use and rely more on science rather than the other way around. Scientists may respect artists but they do not see the true value or impact art may have on science (Wilson).  In order to bridge the gap between the two, Vesna proposes that the sciences and arts work in similar ways when one breaks it down, and creating a conversation with the two sides will lead to an eventual third culture (Vesna 122)




 Source: artscienceconnect.gc.cuny.edu


Sources

“Changing Education Paradigms.” Youtube, uploaded by the RSA, 14 October 2014, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U.

Snow, Charles Percy, The Two Cultures and The Scientific Revolution. Vol, 960. 

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1959.

Stower, Hannah, and Marianne Guennot. “Art in a Pandemic: A Digital Gallery.” Nature 

News, Nature Publishing Group, 15 Mar. 2021, 

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41591-021-00009-5. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in between” Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 

121-125.

Wilson, Stephen. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” 

College Art Association Meetings, 2000, New York City.



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