Week 1: Two Cultures

 The idea of “Two Cultures” has been instilled in me – perhaps somewhat subconsciously – from a young age, and has perpetuated even to my college years at UCLA. Fitting into the categories of a “STEM major” (whose classes are usually confined to South Campus) or “humanities major” (whose classes are typically in North Campus) is how most students make snap judgments about others upon first meeting them. To students, there appears to be quite a divide – “majors like economics and psychology, straddling the line between STEM and humanities, have found themselves in the midst of a cross-campus crossfire,” (Jung).

In C.P. Snow’s 1959 Rede Lecture, “Two Cultures and The Scientific Revolution”, he reinforces this idea that there is a fruitless rivalry between ‘physical scientists’ and ‘literary intellectuals’ at the heart of the separation of the Two Cultures. However, he also adds that educational institutions themselves, and not simply the judgements of others, are fueling this divide by creating an educational path that is ‘too specialized’ (Snow 19). 

In my personal experience at UCLA, I’d argue that this isn’t so – the university gives students many chances, via General Education requirements among others, to delve into courses that are not even closely related to their field of study. However, I do study an extremely interdisciplinary major – Cognitive Science brings together several traditionally different fields such as psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy in order to study the mind and behavior (Georgetown).

 In particular, the field of User Experience Interaction Design, which is my ideal career path, requires the intersection of art and science in a very modern and unique way – it requires knowledge of aesthetics, traditional art, and creativity, while also requiring understanding of more scientific methods, logic, and psychological sciences (Aela Editorial). To create the best possible User Experience Design for any user, it is necessary to incorporate a blend of both these cultures.

In her article "Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between", Victoria Vensa argues against the Two Cultures divide and points out that art and sciences are, in fact, closely related, as seen in several fields. She makes the case for a Third Culture, one that focuses on the intersection of the two disciplines and connects them (Vesna 121). 

Citations:

Snow, C.P. “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution,” The Rede Lecture, Cambridge University Press, New York, 1959.

Jung, Justin. “A Campus Divided.” PRIME, Daily Bruin, 2021, https://prime.dailybruin.com/justinnorth&southcampus Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Concentration in Cognitive Science, Georgetown University, 11 June 2021,https://cogsci.georgetown.edu/#:~:text=On%20the%20mind%20side%2C%20cognitive,consciousness%2C%20and%20learning%20and%20development Aela, Editorial. “UX Design: Science or Art?” Aela School: Designing Your Future, 11 Mar. 2022, https://aelaschool.com/en/userexperience/ux-design-science-art/. Vesna, Victoria. “Toward A Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo, Vol. 34, No. 2. (2001), pp. 121-122. Chabukswar, Samir. “Is UX Design Is an Art, a Science or Both?” Yuj Designs, 23 Mar. 2022, https://www.yujdesigns.com/is-ux-an-art-science-or-both/. MEi:CogSci. “What Is Cognitive Science?” MEi, https://www.meicogsci.eu/cognitive-science.html.