Blog Post Week 1: Two
Cultures
I thought it was
interesting how Charles P Snow studied the separation of science and technology
so long ago because I think of it as an extremely modern concept. And I also
agree with Snow in the sense that it is necessary that we combine these fields
to solve world problems because it is thinking outside the box. I had an
English teacher in high school that once said “the key to being intellectual is
having an open mind” and this quote has always stuck with me and I think is
applicable here. We can’t trap ourselves in one mindset or ideology, but should
rather try to understand others and incorporate them to strengthen our own
personal perspectives.
In the articles
for this first unit, the perspective of the writers is not from a typical,
rigid perspective, but rather a new dynamic one. The authors are not confining
themselves to a tradition scientific or artistic perspective, but instead
position themselves in a “Third Culture” that emerges out of multiple perspectives.
This humanistic interpretation of literary intellectuals and physical
scientists is what C. P. Snow argues to be the most important for advancement.
These two
prominent cultures are prevalent throughout the world, and especially here at
UCLA. As students, we are divided between North and South Campus. Although
convenient, this ultimately this separates the science and humanities majors.
This separation of cultures creates disunity among the student population and
makes for the exchange of ideas across ideologies more challenging.
Reading about
this perspective created a new lens for me to view the world through. It feels
like I have a new mindset where I can see how disparate the society we live in
truly is; a society divided by differing perspectives that fails to bridge
them.
I think the
ideas from this unit can benefit the way I see, interact and respond with the
world around me. I now realize there that there aren’t separate cultures but
rather a bridge of all types of cultures and ideologies that allow for the
spread of ideas and information to aid in making advancements in all aspects of
life. I think being able to recognize this perspective presented by Snow will
help me to not confine things into a category but instead to view things as a
bridge of connections.
Works Cited
"Intellectual Property WorldWide." Intellectual
Property WorldWide. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
Kelly, Kevin. "The Third Culture." The Third
Culture. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 13 Feb. 1998.
Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
"Seeing New York through My Lenses - Agonistica." Agonistica.
N.p., 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
"UCLA Faculty Association." : Separation.
N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
Wilson, Stephen. "Myths and Confusions in Thinking about
Art/Science/Technology." College Art Association Meetings. San
Francisco State University, 2000. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.
