Week 1: Two Cultures

The idea of "two cultures" was introduced by C.P. Snow in his 1959 lecture at Cambridge University. He first became aware of the dichotomy while working with literary intellectuals and natural scientists who were "comparable in intelligence, identical in race,[and] not grossly different in social origin," yet never communicated with each other. After reading Snow’s lecture and watching the “Changing Education Paradigms” video, I realized how much of an impact the two cultures have had on my life.

I agree with Snow’s viewpoint on how schools have fostered the gap between the arts and sciences. Specifically at UCLA, there is a physical separation between the arts and humanities majors in North Campus and engineering and science majors in South Campus. By separating the arts and sciences geographically, UCLA is perpetuating the two cultures by limiting interactions between students studying either subject. The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) considers this system an “epidemic” and suggests that western education is archaic because it emphasizes segregation between different fields instead of stressing similarities.

Bohm’s essay “On Creativity” proved to me how similar scientists and artists really are, driving home the idea that the arts and sciences should not be separate. Bohm commented that artists and scientists “all feel a fundamental need to discover and create something new that is whole and total, harmonious and beautiful” (Bohm 138).  His perspective has convinced me to discard the traditional views of scientists as being more analytical and linear and see them as artists within a different discipline.

With this new point of view, I can see a “third culture” emerging where the line between art and science is blurred; especially with UC students having to take courses outside of their major’s curriculum. If it weren't for this requirement, I would have never found an interest in archaeology and human biology.

References:

1. Bohm, David, and Lee Nichol. On Creativity. Vol. 1. London: Routledge, 1998. 137-149. Print.

2. Changing Education Paradigms. By Ken Robinson, Sir. Youtube. Royal Society of Arts – RSA Animate, 14 Oct. 2010.           Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=zDZFcDGpL4U>.

3. Krauss, Lawrence. "An Update on C. P. Snow's "Two Cultures"" Scientific American Global RSS. Scientific             American, 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-update-on-cp-           snows-two-cultures/>.

4. Snow, Charles Percy. “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” The Rede Lecture. Cambridge University,                 Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lecture.

5. Tritipeskul, Sirinya. "And the Winner of the North vs. South Campus Challenge Is....ALL Bruins!" UCLA Fund. UCLA           Fund, 22 May 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. <http://www.theuclafund.ucla.edu/news/nvschallengewinner.aspx>.

6. Walter, Skip. "When Science and Art Dance." On the Way to Somewhere Else. Skip Walter, 07 May 2012. Web. 06 Apr.           2015. <http://skipwalter.net/2012/05/07/when-science-and-art-dance-business-results/>.