WEEK 1: Two Cultures

I found this week’s analysis on the division of science and art into two distinct cultures to be very intriguing. It is interesting that it is this separation that leads many capable minds to ignore the realm (be it science or art) that they are not familiar with, which prevents many global problems from being solved. It is important to assimilate science and art in order to come up with novel solutions to pressing world issues, instead of seeing them as two divergent disciplines that have no impact and influence whatsoever on one another.

Another point that had never crossed my mind is that the curricula of schools and colleges are the primary source of the problem. It is the education system and structure that perpetuates these divisions. If one simply looks at a map of UCLA one can see how the campus is divided. There exists North Campus, which consists of the arts, literary and humanities classes, and South Campus, which offers science, engineering and the more “technical” classes.

However, I believe that educational institutes are now slowly realizing the importance of blurring the lines between the rigid divisions of literary arts and sciences. This can be seen in the liberal arts education where students are made to take a few classes in a number of diverse fields, in addition to their selected major classes. Such an education better prepares students to succeed in the world, without merely training them for a job either in the field of humanities or science.

In middle school and high school I was on my school’s track team. This week’s lectures and readings made me realize how sprinting combines both art and science. While many people might argue that running is nothing more than an art, a skill that people are born with and then train to develop and hone, I can vouch for the fact that it also comprises scientific elements. The art of sprinting involves the understanding and use of modern science to run faster- the application of physics and scientific techniques to improve one’s performance.

I think it is extremely naïve for a person to view literary intellectuals and scientists as belonging to two different worlds. Instead, it is important that we recognize how closely related these disciplines actually are. Unless we assimilate the knowledge and improve communication between professionals in the two fields, we will be unable to make any further progress in solving global matters.

WORKS CITED:

Boyce, Lee. 2013. “The Science of the 100-Meter Dash (and How to Get Faster).” Stack, November 15, 2013, http://www.stack.com/2013/11/15/100-meter-dash/ (accessed April 2, 2015).

Doscher, Warren. The Art of Sprinting: Techniques for Speed and Performance. North Carolina: McFarland & Co, Inc. Publishers, 2009. Print.

Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1959. Print.

Sigurdson, Richard. “Why Study the Liberal Arts?” http://www.uni.edu/reineke/whystudyla.htm (accessed April 1, 2015).

Vesna, Victoria 2001. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo 34 (2): 121-125. Print.