Week 1 | Two Cultures | Livier Monarrez
This week I reviewed material that enlightened my understanding of two disciplines, science and art. I learned how science and culture are perpetuated as separate because of the existing educational systems we have in our society. According to Vesna (2001), CP Snow identified two cultures “of literary intellectuals and natural scientists.” He stated that the curriculum of educational institutions is the origin of the separation problem. Chambers (1983) surveyed 5,000 children to draw what they depicted as scientists. Most children drew the stereotypical image of a scientist with a lab coat, eyeglasses, lab equipment, and books (Chambers 257).
Our perception of artists and scientists is driven by the stereotypes depicted in media, films, and advertisements. Generally, a scientist is illustrated as successful and intelligent and an artist as poor, struggling to make a living out of art (Vesna 10:33-10:55).
Additionally, the disciplines of science and art are physically divided at the UCLA campus, since it geographically separates the art and science campuses (Vesna 00:33). The campuses are very far apart, leading to the belief that science and art are distinct and have no connection.
I am inspired to apply this perspective to my knowledge of how I perceive the disciplines. I used to think that scientists were much more successful than artists. However, I realize how neither a scientist nor an artist can be successful if they don’t influence each other. A psychologist can understand health from the history of a culture, and not knowing the culture cannot enlighten an understanding of the origins of health. For example, in my Hispanic household, elders always told us to eat until we are stuffed, and applying this cultural custom can influence our understanding of the statistics on obesity prevalence across countries. Therefore, science and art cannot exist independently.
Chambers, David Wade. “Stereotypic Images of the Scientist: The Draw-a-Scientist Test.” Science Education, vol. 67, no. 2, 1983, pp. 255–65. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.3730670213.
Pinker, Steven. "Two Cultures." YouTube. 18 May 2010. https://youtu.be/1BUbVc7qVpg
Vesna, Victoria. “TwoCultures pt3.” YouTube. UC Online, 2 April 2012. https://youtu.be/4FOEuxrwxd0
Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between.” Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, 2001, pp. 121–25. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1162/002409401750184672.
Nicely said, Livier. I liked your points on the concept of stereotypes. I wonder how much media has changed stereotypes now with how oversaturated everything has become. Being from the Gen Z generation, media was just getting started and more popular. It went from TVs and cell phones being a luxury to now everyone using it (rich or poor). I remember watching cartoons as a kid such as "Dexter's Laboratory" or the movie "Back to the Future" both portraying scientists to be genius, anti-social, introverted, and out there with their imaginations/ creativity. As a kid then, this was my first impression of what a scientist may look, or act like without any background knowledge. C.P. Snow was ahead of his time to call these stereotypes out. Nowadays, there are so many more stereotypes out there. I do think this is a problem that is created from media in the digital virtual world. This week also helped me realized how important it is to learn and educate ourselves outside of the presumptions of what we THINK we know. We need to stop using labels and start seeing each other as equal rather than segregating each other.
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