Week 1: Two Cultures

The above picture captures how most people categorize the arts and the sciences. The arts and all things related to it go in one direction while the sciences go in the other. They are perceived as very distinct, non-overlapping cultures.

I am sure all the students in this class are familiar with the concept of North and South campus at UCLA. Each of these campuses symbolize what we perceive as two distinct cultures. These cultures can be summed up in the shirts which are designed each year. Here are last years designs:

The South campus represents the sciences while the North campus represents the humanities. I think the reason why there is a distinct separation of the two is that the majority do not understand how intertwined the arts and sciences are and have been throughout history.

Scientists and artists have always had the same goal: to discover and create something new that is beautiful (Bohm). In the process of creating something beautiful, each has to channel a bit of their counterpart. For example, look at the barrel vault above( a staple in ancient architecture). While the vaults were used to create beautiful buildings, the building was made possible due to the physics which make the vaults possible. How exactly this works can be read here. There are also plenty of examples of how art can be used in science or how parts of science can be considered an art.

Seeing how art and science have been intertwined from earlier ages, I disagree with Wilson's assertion that artists are now eager to utilize new technology and science to help create new artworks (Wilson). Here is where I believe the idea of two cultures originates. When there is a lack of understanding of science's and arts' subtle interaction, the two cultures are further separated. However, due to recent attention that technology/science and their artistic capabilities have received in the media, the relationship between art and technology/science is being further examined by the general public. This can be seen in one of the more popular technologies recently, the 3D printer. It has been coined as one of the most expansive and innovative technologies for designing art objects (Art and Science Journal). Tangible, popular technology/science that the general public can understand and interact with will be the key to continue building the bridge being constructed between arts and sciences (Vesna).

Sources

Snow, Charles Percy. The two cultures and the scientific revolution: the Rede Lecture 1959. University Press, 1960.

Bohm, D. "On Creativity." Leonardo 1.2 (1968): 137-49. JSTOR. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

Wilson, Stephen. "Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology" College Arts Association Meetings. 2000. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.

"Build and Repair: 3-D Printing As We Have... | Art & Science Journal." Art & Science Journal. Art & Science Journal, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.

Vesna, Victoria. "Towards a Third Culture or Working in Between." (2009).