Week 1 | Two Cultures | Blog Assignment
Being introduced to the idea of "Two Cultures" made me realize the differences between campuses in the UCLA community that seemed inconsequential/trivial before. South Campus individuals are often seen as introverted, nerdy, and logical thinkers, while North Campus individuals are seen as creative, extroverted, and artsy. The stereotypes and separation of art and science individuals are created and even exacerbated by educational institutions.
C.P. Snow's article "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution" explains how the education system is responsible for the fact that most people in the humanities have little understanding of science. The author notes that in many schools, science education ends at an early age, and students who go on to specialize in humanities subjects are not required to study science at a high level. This divide has resulted in a lack of communication between the two sides, and they find it difficult to translate from one language to another.
"RSA ANIMATE: Changing Education Paradigms" explains how schools prioritize academic subjects like math and literacy over other skills like creativity and critical thinking. This focus on academic subjects can stifle children's natural curiosity and desire to learn. A study mentioned in the video shows that 98% of children have the capability of divergent thinking, yet this ability declines with age.
In "Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between," Victoria Vesna suggests that a third culture is needed to bridge the gap between the sciences and the humanities. She notes that the divide has led to a lack of understanding and communication between the two fields. SeedMagazine's "Two Cultures" interview with Steven Pinker expands on this, stating that individuals who study subjects in the humanities are now showing an interest in subjects sciences and vice versa.
Looking back on my academic experiences navigating middle and high school, I can attest to this strict, non-creative mode of learning that is encouraged.
"Science Communication as a Bridge Between Two Cultures" by Massimiano Bucchi and Brian Trench discusses the role of science communication in promoting understanding and collaboration between the two cultures. Effective communication can help bridge the gap and promote collaboration.
The new ideas presented in these resources can benefit me by helping me promote personal growth in different subjects from both cultures, foster critical and creative thinking, and challenge established beliefs and structures between stereotypes of the two cultures.
Sources:
Snow, C. P. "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution". New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.
Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Print.
"RSA ANIMATE: Change Education Paradigms." Youtube, uploaded by RSA, 14 Oct. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U. Accessed April 6 2023.
"SEEDMAGAZINE.com Two Cultures Steven Pinker." Youtube, uploaded by beautyandtruth09, 18 May 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BUbVc7qVpg. Accessed April 6 2023.
Bucchi, Massimiano, and Brian Trench. "Science Communication as a Bridge Between Two Cultures." Science Communication, vol. 27, no. 2, 2005, pp. 250-267. Sage Journals, doi: 10.1177/1075547004270235.
Hello, I also agree with your statement that school does not encourage creative thinking. I also have personal experiences throughout my academic career in which my desire to be creative with art was less impressive than my academic achievements. I agree that Snow's journal on the emerging third culture to bridge the gap between scientific and literary culture is important for society to progress.
ReplyDeleteHi Shakira, I though your post was very interesting and I like how you mentioned your perspectives on how the different parts of campus create two cultures. I do agree with Vesna that a third culture is needed in order to bridge the gap of the separation of art and science. After all, in order to achieve one or the other, the both are in need of each other. I think that art is science and science is art, the two are just labels that create the split.
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