Week 1: Two Cultures

Week 1: Two Cultures


I had to decide in high school whether to take the math pathway or the art pathway as only one could fit my schedule. I chose math because of social standards and the strong advice from my parents as they promoted the idea that “Society values the sciences more than the arts”-(McKernon). Although I had interesting teachers in both much more were that of science than art. Art however is my passion and I hope to blend the practicality of science and my interest in art with Computer science and design 

The main topic this week was a concept put into words by C.P Snow, that there were two main cultures emerging, one of arts and one of science. This immediately brought me to the idea of a Renaissance man and Leonardo DaVinci. DaVinci famously was a master of both art and science however he rarely saw them as two starting with “ the truth presented to him by nature and work back to the ideal”.- This genius is unquestioned even today. 

                                                                Admin. “Leonardo Da Vinci and the Anatomical Art World.” St Mary’s Calne Blogs & Logs, 28 Nov. 2018,                                                                                                                     www.stmaryscalne.org/blogs/leonardo-da-vinci-and-the-anatomical-art-world/.  

However, the materials that best helped my understanding of the concept were Victoria Vesnas’s analysis and that of John Brockman.

Vesnas perspective was with the collision and destruction of the separate pillars of art and science comes ” endless mutations of disciplines that truly do result in something new”-(Vesna 4) Showing to me that it was very much a spectrum emerging. Brockman on the other hand found that the typical idea Snow had was mostly right but rather a communication of science and art more of a redefinition of what scientists are “they are taking the place of the traditional intellectual in rendering visible the deeper meanings of our lives” - (Graham-Rowe 2) Two perspectives which have obvious differences but agree that the landscape of academia is shifting. 

                                                                Bradshaw, Jon, and Jon Bradshaw. “Marketing Science vs. the Art of Marketing.” Brand Traction, 23 Apr. 2018, brandtraction.com.au/marketing-art-vs-marketing-science/. 

There is an obvious divide between the two not only academically but also socially. It seems most stem majors spend time with stem majors and the same for arts and humanities. This makes me want to break the barriers and be a bridge between the two not boxing myself into a certain discipline or line of thinking. It gives me insight into the reality of social life at UCLA and pushes me to incorporate both into my learning and not focusing on just one or the other but mending this “gulf of incomprehension”-(Snow) Snow pointed out. 

Interview with C.P snow - https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/interviewing-c-p-snow-and-sir-charles-his-london-home-while-studs-was-england


Works cited: 

Admin. “Leonardo Da Vinci and the Anatomical Art World.” St Mary’s Calne Blogs & Logs, 28 Nov. 2018, www.stmaryscalne.org/blogs/leonardo-da-vinci-and-the-anatomical-art-world/. 

Bradshaw, Jon, and Jon Bradshaw. “Marketing Science vs. the Art of Marketing.” Brand Traction, 23 Apr. 2018, brandtraction.com.au/marketing-art-vs-marketing-science/. 

“C. P. Snowthe Two Cultures.” C. P. Snow - The Two Cultures Debate Controversy Rede Lecture 1959, www.age-of-the-sage.org/scientist/snow_two_cultures.html. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024. 

Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “John Brockman: Matchmaking with Science and Art.” WIRED, WIRED, 3 Feb. 2011, www.wired.co.uk/article/matchmaking-with-science-and-art. 

“Interviewing C. P. Snow and Sir Charles at His London Home While Studs Was in England.” The WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive, studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/interviewing-c-p-snow-and-sir-charles-his-london-home-while-studs-was-england. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024. 

“Leonardo Da Vinci and the Science of Art.” Canvas by New Masters Academy, canvas.nma.art/2020/09/18/leonardo-da-vinci-and-the-science-of-art. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a third culture: Being in between.” Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, Apr. 2001, pp. 121–125, https://doi.org/10.1162/002409401750184672. 

“Why Do We Value Science More than the Arts?” The Griffin | Canisius College, 19 Oct. 2018, canisiusgriffin.wordpress.com/2018/10/19/why-do-we-value-science-more-than-the-arts/. 


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