week 1, the two cultures

The concept of ‘the two cultures’ sounds familiar to me as similar topics were discussed when I was in high school. I was asked to analyze the possibility of co-existence of two seemingly contradicting subjects, such as ‘science and art’ and ‘science and religion’. C.P Snow held a relatively extreme view, that the problem of culture separation is a ‘major hindrance to solving the world’s problems.’

From what I have learnt, I agree with Snow on the importance of culture separation, as both technology and humanity contribute to the world’s sophistication.

Sometimes it is not hard for me to notice the distinction between art and technology. In UCLA, I built up the ability to change my role, from an artist to a scientist. I can have a history class after my oceanography lecture, and I would force my brain into the ‘art mode’ from a typical ‘science mode’.

 

UCLA is a place where students from both art and science streams study together

2010 UCLA College of Letters and Science Commencement,

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0PDoKt2NtVRpHgAuy2JzbkF?p=UCLA+school+of+letters+and+science&fr=yfp-t-900&ei=utf-8&n=30&x=wrt&y=Search

Sheldon Richmond emphasizes the role of science in resolving conflict emerging from cultural distinction. Examples can be found everywhere. With the development of the science, people find more ways of interacting with others from a different background. Traveling is made faster by supersonic planes and bullet trains; Conversations are made easier by Skype and MSN, and there were cases when I make friends at school just because we played the same iPhone game!

 

 

Faster carriers make travelling much more convenient

FWA winner, DuPont in Transportation,

 

However, the two cultures will never become ‘an entity’. Our future is to some extent shaped by our choice of ‘art’ or ‘science’. A good student may try to do well in both fields, but it is highly probable that he or she can only excel in one of them.

The choice is inevitable

Crazytown- Art vs Science, the personal edition

www.crazytownblog.com

 

 

 

Citations:

‘The two cultures’, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Cultures

Sheldon Richmond, <The Two Cultures Problem>, Philosophy of Science, http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Scie/ScieRich.htm

Doug Wilson, <Examining The Two Cultures Theory Of Fisheries Knowledge: The Case of The Northwest Atlantic Bluefish>

C.P. Snow, ‘ The Two Cultures’ London: Cambridge University Press, 1959

Crazytown- Art vs Science, The personal edition, www.crazytownblog.com