Week 1 - Two Cultures

The concept of “Two Cultures” concerns itself chiefly with the disparity between the various forms of academia. The sciences are seen as technically demanding with a single right answer, while the arts are viewed as erring on the creative side with a multitude of solutions. C.P. Snow discusses this in his lecture, explaining how academic interests lead to polarization within an individual's field of study. This, however, is not the only source of the “Two Cultures” seen today.

North Campus UCLA

UCLA serves as an excellent modern representation of this disparity. North Campus tends to follow as being the “artsy,” atmospheric portion of UCLA, whereas South Campus is considered the much more dreary, science oriented part. While this grouping saves long walks between classes, it has a profound effect upon widening the gap between humanities and art majors with science majors.

ZBT UCLA

The division of cultures defeats any room for a grey area. Polarization of choices leads to assumed polarization of personalities. As a member of a fraternity here at UCLA, I am immediately labelled subjectively, whether good, bad, or neutral. I believe that it does not need to be this way.

Cultures Coming Together

It is part of human psychology to form these groupings and it is something that is done automatically. But, by being aware of this innate mental function, I believe it is possible to overcome “black and white” labels, and create a new “third culture.” A culture that blurs the lines of society and allows for innovative solutions that come from all groupings of academia. One that brings together people from all ends of society to find answers to all areas of society.

Citations:

Alter, Adam. "Why It's Dangerous to Label People." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLP, 17 May 2010. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

Changing Education Paradigms. Perf. Sir Ken Robinson. YouTube. Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, 14 Oct. 2010. Web. <http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U>.

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

The Pull of Two Cultures. Digital image. Mochimag.com. Mochi Magazine, 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.

UCLA Sculpture Garden. Digital image. Ucla.edu. N.p., 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121-25. Web.