Week 1 Two Cultures
We apply to college and instantly we're forced to decide which major
we are seeking to pursue. Reaching a decision becomes extremely
frustrating because of the separation between arts and sciences. It's
either you chose one path or the other, or as for UCLA it's either
you chose north or south campus. I am a second year at UCLA and come
from Pomona California. Choosing which path I want to strive for has
been one of my most difficult struggles at this prestigious
university. I am currently a Human Biology and Society major but when
I am questioned about my major I always respond with a “I'm not
really sure yet”. Arts and sciences are two completely different
things in universities. At UCLA not only the two are completely
separate cultures but the location of where your classes are located
are separated as well. Choosing your major takes a huge effect on
many things including which side of the school you park your car.
As C.P. Snow mentions in “Two Cultures and Scientific Revolution”,
Literary intellectuals stand at one side of the pole as scientist on
the other. Snow believes schools and universities are a major part of
the problem with the separation. He gives us a perspective on how
scientist think of of the non-scientist and vice versa. Non-scientist
believe scientist are shallowly optimistic, “unaware of man's
condition”, and scientist believe non-scientist lack foresight.
In this link scroll down to "So many ways we don't understand each other"
Even
at UCLA the north and south majors always talk against one another.
The separation of the two has created a mini competition between the
two.
Scroll down to "Can Science be Art? Can Art be Science?"
“Science has traditionally accepted the smartest students”,
mentions Kevin Kelly in “The Third Culture”. The sad thing is
that students actually follow this statement. Numerous times at UCLA
i've heard students say that north campus is the easy way out or that
chemistry is hard to point out all the non-smart people who cannot
become doctors.
Kelly also speaks about the new third culture based on technology and
how it is an offspring of science. I agree with this new culture
being technology as Kevin's article says, “Scientist would measure
and test a mind, artist would contemplate and abstract it. Nerds
would manufacture one.”
Follow this link to read opinions about who is more intelligent
Art Vs Science youtube video
:)
The student's perspectives
Works
Cited
"Dinosaur
Footprints For Sale." Experimental Creative Ideas :
Intercontexting.
N.p., n.d. Web.
1
July 2013.
<http://intercontexting.com/dinosaur-footprints-for-sale/>.
"Science
Major Mouse - Abstract Art, Page 7." About.com
Chemistry - Chemistry Projects, Homework Help, Periodic Table.
N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2013.
<http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfunhumor/ig/Science-Major-Mouse/Science-Major-Mouse---Abstract-Art.htm>.
"Science
Ramblings." Science
Ramblings.
N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2013.
<http://science-ramblings.blogspot.com/>.
Snow,
C. P.. The
two cultures and the scientific revolution.
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1959. Print.
"The
Third Culture ."
Science .
N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2013.
<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/279/5353/992.full>.
"The
philosophy of science." Understanding
Science.
N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2013.
<http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/philosophy>.
coincidence,
odd, and a brilliant work of literature forms spontaneously in the
Andromeda galaxy. No one ever reads it.. " Science vs. art -
Less Wrong ."
Welcome to Less Wrong .
N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2013.
<http://lesswrong.com/lw/30/science_vs_art/>.
