Two Cultures - Week 1

C.P. Snow's book, Two Cultures, describes a clear division between literary intellectuals and scientists. Although his book and original presentation was done in the late 1950's his idea of the divided "cultures" still stands true today. Although it is not clearly talked about as the reason for the immense gap in wealth as C.P. Snow discussed, the art and sciences are still considered polar opposites. 

Source: http://musicfeeds.com.au/features/art-vs-science/

My own experience with the divide in between art and science is apparent in my circle of friends. I have friends who are science majors and other who are humanities majors, including myself. There is a clear divide in science and humanity majors, as if they are competing against each other.This divide is apparent in many aspects of the UCLA community.For example, friends of mine who are in the sciences have a negative view of the humanities, as if they are "easy majors" or majors that do not and will never contribute to the overall advancement of society. They see the sciences as completely separate , if not superior to the "art" or humanities culture. This divide and overall feeling is not only present in the students at UCLA but also some professors. 

Source: http://www.theuclafund.ucla.edu/news/nvschallengewinner.aspx

During the summer I took an entry level physics course that was held in Moore Hall for the first couple lectures. The first day of lecture the professor joked that this would be the first time any "real learning" would happen in north campus. Of course, it was funny but it underlined this campus-wide feeling that humanities and sciences are strikingly different and in some cases one is "better" than the other. The idea of two separate cultures at UCLA is promoted by major school events and there are even North and South campus t-shirts commemorating the differences between both side of campus. Most notably,  "I Love UCLA Week" feeds on the North and South Campus divide, furthering the divide between the two cultures at UCLA.

Source:http://michaelmohlman.com/?p=156

I am guilty of separating the art and sciences as well, however, I also realize that the two cultures can learn a  lot from each other. As a geography/Environmental studies major, the majority of my classes are based in North campus, however some classes dabble in environmental science, a south campus major;  I have benefited immensely from understanding the biological processes and environmental justice issues of today. I believe that because my major taps into both sides of these "cultures" I have a well rounded view of environmentalism and conservation.









Sources:

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

Towards a Third Culture: Being in Between, Victoria Vesna Leonardo, Vol. 34 No. 2 (2001) pp. 124-125