Week 1: Two Cultures

Ever since I was young, I have felt the apparent divide between two cultures. I remember when I was applying for admission to high schools in New York City, I had to choose between the creative humanities based high school or the math and science high school. Both were praised by the public school system for two completely different reasons. It felt like no matter which school I chose that I would still be missing out on some key elements in my education. One part of me felt that the math and science school would better present me in regards to society's standards due to "The term “science” also entails people aiming high" (Kelly). Ultimately, I chose the humanities based school as Noam Chomsky stated in his speech that our educational system is "an indoctrination of the young" and "the educational is supposed to train people to be obedient conformists" (Chomsky). As I yearned for a more individualistic and creative environment which would enhance my critical thinking and enable me to be more open minded, I felt that this option was better suited for me.

Now as a freshman in college, I still face the same struggle of choosing between two cultures. UCLA makes it easy to feel the divide between science and humanities due to North Campus and South Campus being on opposite ends of campus. The North and South campus also physically appear as if they are two separate institutions. I entered my Freshman year at UCLA with an undecided major. My goal was to bridge that gap and take classes on North and South Campus, so that I would benefit from both cultures. Coming from a humanities based high school, I did not want to completely disregard the sciences as “remarked earlier that highly educated  members of the non-scientific culture couldn’t cope with the simplest concepts of pure science” (Snow 31). Society puts us in situations where we are forced to choose which path we will follow. I also "believe the intellectual life of the whole of western society is being increasingly split into two polar groups” (Vesna 4). It is apparent that "Science/Technology literacy will need to become much more widespread" (Wilson).

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Maya, Shameless. “Major Difference Living in New York Vs Los Angeles.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 July 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ybauuWxBEA.

I am from NYC, which embraces a completely different culture from that of LA. I have felt the divide in cultures in more than just the educational system, since moving to the polar opposite city.

Works Cited:


Talks, TEDx. “‘Art and Science’ OR ‘Art or Science’? | Warren Karp | TEDxAugusta.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfpK8TZFldA.

Chomsky, Noam. "Education Is a System of Indoctrination of the Young." YouTube. YouTube, 1 June 2012. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being in between." Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121-25. JSTOR. 02 Apr. 2015. Web.

Snow, C. P. "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution". New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.

Kelly, K. "ESSAYS ON SCIENCE AND SOCIETY:The Third Culture." Science 279.5353 (1998): 992-93. Web.

Wilson, Stephen D. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” College Art Association Meetings. New York, New York, 2000. Print