After reading through the material and watching the lecture videos, what really stood out to me throughout the debate and conflicting views regarding the separation of arts and sciences was the origins of education. According to the "Changing Paradigms" video, the entire idea of public education stemmed from an enlightenment view of intelligence and what that entailed essentially was that there is this "academic gene pool" of non academic and academic people. Ironically, early on, artists and the more creative people of the world were labeled as the non-academic and more mathematical and scientific people were labeled as the academics of the world.
As a political major myself, I belong to the stereotype of a "North Campus." At UCLA specifically, North Campus majors are labeled as the "stupider, less likely to get a job, and actually have a life" people. When viewing the ballerina video, I saw the ballerina spinning clockwise and this puts me under the category of a creative, right-brained individual. Does that make me a "dumber" person? No.
I believe, as C.P. Snow did, that the educational system is to be blamed for the separation, stereotypes and ultimately a greater wealth gap between art and science. This major fault within the educational system will never allow for a “3rd Culture” where the bridge is gapped between the arts and the sciences.
With my educational background and perspective, I think it really benefits me because I follow the philosophy to always follow your passions and the success, whether it be money, love or happiness will follow. If you focus on “what makes the most money” like a south campus major, then your passions will die, as will your love and happiness for things you’re involved in. One of my favorite speeches of all time is Alan Watt’s “What if Money was No Object.” What the speech is about is essentially, follow what you like doing rather than follow what makes money. Going to college in general, as said in the paradigm shift video, is to receive a quality education and that’ll lead to a solid and secure job. However, kids nowadays and their parents view certain majors (South Campus) as the only jobs that college is worth getting a degree for.
What if we all followed our passions? What if we all realized our creative potential? Imagine the worlds we’d conquer.
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Citations:
Robinson, Sir Ken. "Changing Education Paradigms ." RSA Animate. , . 16 June 2008. Lecture.
Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.
Vesna, Professor Victoria . "Two Cultures: Part II." UCLA, Los Angeles. 5 Apr. 2015. Lecture.
Vesna, Professor Victoria . "Two Cultures: Part II." UCLA, Los Angeles. 5 Apr. 2015. Lecture.
Watts, Alan. "What If Money Were No Object?." , . Lecture. (Video is off Youtube and I do not know the original lecture date, city and venue.)
Media:
What If Money Was No Object?
Changing Educational Paradigm
Two Cultures
I really enjoyed your observation of the origins of education as a reason for the development of two cultures. I think it is especially important to note the way in which the arts are separated from the sciences both geographically and socially. This is especially apparent at UCLA, and for me, it was also a common theme at my high school. Each hallway was dedicated to a different subject, with the humanities in the same general direction, and the math/science classes in a different area.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I agree that South Campus majors are only in it to make money. I'm majoring in Environmental Science, and I know that I will not be making a large salary throughout my professional career. I think that, yes, while some people are South Campus majors because they hope to be wealthy and successful, others decide to become South Campus majors for the same reason the North Campus majors choose their areas of study: because they are passionate about what they are studying. Whether your interests lie in math or in history, in biological science or political science, it's possible to be motivated to choose a particular major because that field interests you and makes you happy.