Week 1: Two Cultures

Through Professor Vesna’s "Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between" and C.P. Snow’s lecture on “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution”, I encountered a transformative perspective. Both Vesna and C.P. Snow showcase a concept where art and science exist on opposite ends of a spectrum, thus birthing a third, in-between, culture: Technology. Vesna explains, "Artists using technology are uniquely positioned in the middle of the scientific and literary/philosophical communities," (Vesna) exemplifying individuals who fall between the art and science spectrum. Kevin Kelly, in his article "The Third Culture", articulates this intersectionality further by stating, "While science and art generate truth and beauty, technology generates opportunities," (Kelly) highlighting technology's role as a mediatory third culture as a mixture of both art and science.

Figure 1: A Ven diagram showcasing the overlap of art and science.
Credit: PSU Vanguard

As an engineering student at UCLA, my academic experiences are predominantly rooted in science. Yet, walking through the campus, the contrast between the north and south campuses becomes a visual testament to the dichotomy between art and science. Claudia Luther reflects on this division, observing a "good-natured rivalry" that has been a hallmark of UCLA's culture for generations. (Luther)

Figure 2: Partial map of UCLA's campus showcasing the north and south campus parts. The northern part contains many of the art, humanities, and creative sections while the south contains many diverse scientific and engineering buildings.
Credit: UCLA Website

The prevalent notion that art and science are fundamentally distinct is challenged by voices like Ann Thresher who asserts, "Science is rigorous, objective, and follows the scientific method. But science is also, fundamentally, creative" (Thresher). This sentiment is echoed by Lian Zhu and Yogesh Goyal, who argue that both disciplines fundamentally revolve around observation and interpretation, whether through artistic expression informed by scientific data and technologies like AI and VR, or through art as a medium to elucidate and disseminate scientific knowledge. (Zhu and Goyal)

Figure 3: Artist drawing a car using a tablet and stylus. This person is utilizing science to create art, which showcases the fact that technology does, in fact, entail both science and art.
Credit: Medium

This newfound understanding has greatly altered my perspective, dispelling the notion that one must exclusively identify as a scientist or an artist. Embracing the "in-between" allows for a harmonious existence within both realms, enriching our experiences and broadening our horizons.

This revelation has not only broadened my academic pursuits but also kindled a desire to explore varied hobbies and develop new skills beyond my scientific training, fostering personal and academic growth.


Sources:

Canberra, Artcourse. “How Technology Is Changing Visual Arts.” Medium, 13 Dec. 2018, medium.com/@artcourses/how-technology-is-changing-visual-arts-fde2f15a8059.

Casper, Vinu. “The Divide between Art and Science.” Vanguard, 16 June 2018, psuvanguard.com/the-divide-between-art-and-science/.

Kelly, Kevin. “The Third Culture | Edge.org.” Www.edge.org, 27 Feb. 1998, www.edge.org/conversation/kevin_kelly-the-third-culture.

Luther, Claudia. “Art and Science: Opposites Attract.” UCLA, 1 Apr. 2014, newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/art-science-symbiotic-relationship.

Snow, C P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution ; the Rede Lecture, 1959. Cambridge England, University Press, 1962.

Thresher, Ann. “The Divide between Art and Science Is a Mistake.” IAI TV - Changing How the World Thinks, 3 Nov. 2023, iai.tv/articles/the-divide-between-art-and-science-is-a-mistake-auid-2660.

UCLA Facilities Management Information Systems. “UCLA Map.” Ucla.edu, 2022, map.ucla.edu. Accessed 5 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. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.

Zhu, Lian, and Yogesh Goyal. “Art and Science.” EMBO Reports, vol. 20, no. 2, 27 Dec. 2018, https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201847061.