Two Cultures Week 1

C.P. Snow sets a clear distinction between the "two cultures" he believes is prevalent in today's world. Art and science are the two distinctions he refers when speaking of these two cultures. In the first article, '"Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between", Victoria Vesna uses a quote saying, "We shall...use the word 'science' in the sense which the Englishmen so commonly give it; as expressing physical and experimental science, to the exclusion of theological and metaphysical"' (Vesna). From this quote, I get the sense that people associate scientists with facts and not going deeper into the critical thinking processes. I can see the difference that Snow's idea is trying to express between the two cultures.
A great example in our immediate world is the structure of the UCLA campus. The North campus of UCLA associates with the arts and South campus associates with science. It is a clear distinction of the two campuses when walking by all the students that come out of the classrooms from certain areas. I had never realized the ideology of this structure until reading Snow's philosophy and how it applies to the world today. Separating the two parts of the campus just emphasizes the truthfulness of Snow's proposition and the two cultures differences. 
However, another side of this argument comes in Bohm's piece where he says, "the scientist is perhaps not basically different from the artist, the architect, the composer, who all want to create this sort of thing in their work" (Bohm). Bohm brings up a good point about how both cultures are trying to create something new for society, however, scientists try in to invent something new as opposed to artistic thinkers who look for a new perspective at an idea. 
I can integrate this into my daily life when critically thinking in situations where I would typically think of one possible solution. Except, I may try and figure out new solutions to a situation by going deeper into an aesthetic frame of mind and using my life experiences to influence my way of thinking as opposed to following just one way of thinking that may be taught in my daly curriculum.



Resources:

Bohm, D. "On Creativity," Leonardo 1, No. 2, p. 177 (1968) 
Graham-Rowe, Duncan. "John Brockman: Matchmaking with Science and Art." WIRED UK. 
WIRED UK, 23 May 2016. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

 Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.
Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture : Being in Between" Leonardo, Vol. 34, No. 2. (2001), pp. 121-125. 

Wilson, Stephen. "Art and Research." Art and Research. N.p., New York, 2000. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 11, 2017 at 11:14 AM

    Hi Chase! I really enjoyed reading your blog, you did a great job. I liked how you incorporated quotes into your writing. It enhanced your reasoning and opinions! I also liked how you provided personal insight and integrated the information into your own life. Finally, good job bringing in an example from UCLA North and South campus!
    Great job!
    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Desma 9 Blog Will McInernyApril 12, 2017 at 10:40 AM

    Well howdy fellow blogger from around the world. Your first blog was quite the enjoyable read my friend, and I can assure you that you have gained a new follower, because by golly jeepers you sir are one dandy writer. I particularly enjoyed your connection to the UCLA campus (North vs. South) as a correlation to C.P Snow's "Two Cultures" and how there is, much like our campus, a philosophical and artistic divide amongst these two cultures. Keep up the great work Chase Strumpf. You are one sophisticated fellow.

    ReplyDelete

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