Week 1: Two Cultures
In "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution," C.P. Snow discusses a gap between what he terms as "the two cultures": art and science. He argues that this separation stems from a failure of mutual comprehension and dialogue, leading to a situation where people in one domain fail to value the contributions of those in the other (Snow). Meanwhile, in "Toward a Third Culture: Being in between," Vesna delves into the potential for bridging this divide. She envisions not just a reconciliation or mutual understanding of these two fields but the creation of a new, integrated third culture that melds both art and science (Vesna 121-125).
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| Source: “Meet Us at the Intersection of Art & Science - Articulate: Real&clear.” Articulate Communication, 9 Jan. 2024, articulaterc.com/getting-real-in-2015/. |
As a cognitive science major with a specialization in computing, I embody this fusion of disciplines in my daily academic life. My curriculum bridges psychology and computer science, requiring me to navigate constantly between north and south campus, where each of these fields primarily resides. My classes are scattered all over campus.
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Source: “Divided - North and South Campus.” YouTube, 8 Feb. 2019, youtu.be/q61Agl4k8XA?si=ixzGIW9cY0KV7CFc. |
At UCLA, the iconic split between North and South Campus has long been a source of both division and identity among its students. This division, more than just geographic, is deeply ingrained in the culture and daily lives of Bruins, creating a unique dichotomy that affects everything from academic pursuits to social interactions. Amidst this divide, stereotypes flourish, particularly around the perceived academic rigor of South Campus. Many students, including myself, have noticed a tendency for South Campus courses to emphasize problem sets and midterms more heavily, while North Campus delights in essays and reflective assignments. This academic disparity feeds into stereotypes, with some South Campus students harboring elitist attitudes towards their North Campus counterparts. For example, the perception that STEM majors are likelier to get "better paying jobs".
Source: “A Campus Divided.” PRIME, prime.dailybruin.com/justinnorth&southcampus. Accessed 3 Apr. 2024.
Hi Sophie, I really resonated with your idea of feeling the dichotomy of arts vs sciences, as a musician I felt like the two were very separate and not overlapping, leading me to also think similarly in terms of the separation of arts and sciences. I think you bring up an interesting point on how cognitive science is a bridge between the two sides of campus and I think it could be a part of the "techno-culture" that Kelly brings up.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie, I really liked what you had to say about the two cultures. I also felt the separation between the two growing up because I liked studying sciences and sometimes looked down upon other subjects. I especially feel this separation when I'm on campus at UCLA. It creates a similar divide that you mentioned between the community, whereas they should ultimately come together.
ReplyDeletehi Sophie, I truly appreciated what you had to mention about the two cultures. I also felt the separation between the two growing up because I preferred studying sciences and from time to time looked down upon other topics. I especially feel this separation when I am on campus. It creates a similar divide which you referred to between the network, while they must in the long run come together.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie, I really enjoyed reading your post about the separation between the two cultures at UCLA. As someone who also studies cognitive science, I resonated with the idea that your curriculum bridges both the humanities and the sciences. I also really resonate with the disparity you mention between North and South campus. The difference not only geographically but culturally between the two is very apparent on UCLA's campus. Connecting this to the idea of "two cultures" really emphasized the divide between the humanities and the sciences at UCLA.
ReplyDeleteHey Sophie, I was really intrigued by your insights on the division between the two cultures. Growing up, I also experienced that separation due to my passion for the sciences, which sometimes led me to disregard other subjects. This feeling of disconnect still persists for me, particularly when I'm at UCLA campus. It's like the divide you mentioned within the community, and I agree that there's a need for these factions to bridge and unite.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie,
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot from your blog. I totally agree with you that these two cultures are not overlapping with each other although they are separated. At UCLA, students' ideas about the north and south campus are deep-rooted. Personally, I have also received this influence. In choosing my major, I chose the economics major because I personally do not like group discussion and cooperation. More importantly, this major seems to make it easier for me to get a job. I like the images that you have added in this blog which tend to be quite interesting and make me have a much better understanding of the ideas that you want to expressed in your blog. In addition, I think that you have also done a good job in use many good references to support your arguments and ideas, which has greatly promoted the credibility of your blog.
Hi Sophie! I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week. In particular, I like how you mentioned that your environment and setting growing up in an arts high school played a role in your viewpoint on the topic. For me, I went to a regular high school and still believed that art and science were pretty separated. However I can relate to your point about an extra separation when the artists you are surrounded by are so profound and distinguished.
ReplyDelete