Week 1 Blog

One of the most interesting questions of this course was brought up when Professor Vesna asked “Where did art and science separate?”

To me, as a Psychobiology major taking this class to fulfill a GE requirement, I was greatly intrigued about the relationship between the two. I had always loved classical or any kind of art, but my ultimate career choice path was science. C.P. Snow’s famous lecture the “Two Cultures” really allowed me to view the gap between the arts and sciences.

This very same gap we see today at UCLA like the divide between North and South campus. Common stereotypes include how north campus students normally major in “easy” topics, while south campus students major in “nerdy” topics. Below is a link that demonstrates the humor between the two campuses!

C.P. Snow laments the intellectual divide between the natural sciences and humanities, especially the literary arts, two seemingly elite intellectual disciplines. Snow mentions that the disparity between the rich and the poor is causing this wide gap, and how there was a real different way people thought. On the other hand, Professor Vesna disagrees with this statement, as she argues that that there are moments when the two polar sides intersect. 

This video demonstrates the power of music and its connection to the body, brain and world of nature. Another pep talk given by Adam Steig, one of the science directors here at UCLA at CNSI really demonstrates the power of science and how it has expanded the boundaries of art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrCIIEyaL_o

I agree with the statement that there exists a middle ground between the two. Being a science major allows to explore all the "artsy" disciplines outside of science, while being a humanities or art major also allows for exploration of science classes. I feel like these two cultures definitely intersect here at UCLA, and that both cultures definitely relate to exploration of new knowledge. At the same time, I believe that like Professor Vesna's statement, there are many disciplines that are actually the so called "third culture."

       Citations: 

1. Pre-Med Memes. 2012. Photograph. https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/554476_228429083941152_1600908644_n.jpg Web. 29 May 2012. 

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

3. Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Print.

4. Mannes, Elena. "The Music Instinct: Science & Song." Animation. YouTube, Los Angeles. Web. 9 Jan 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZmMF6cprC0>

5. TedxTalks. "The Third Culture: Science, Art, and Ideas: Dr. Adam Steig." Animation. Youtube. Web. 29, Aug 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrCIIEyaL_o>