Intersections between science, be it biology, physics, or
neuroscience, to art, in forms of humanities, psychology, or sociology have helped
bridge the gap between the two cultures – in the form of a “third culture.”
 |
| Psychobiology, a "third culture?" |
Despite going through the psychobiology major and education
studies minor, the emphasis of two distinct cultures is strong with each realm
and on many different communities and sections at UCLA. Snow may have been correct in that the
distinction between these two cultures is vast, but where does that place me,
as someone invested in both?
 |
| North vs. South Campus Culture |
I take pride in being part of both north and south campus
cultures. Complaints and pride for
either side has always been what I have been familiar with, but for most people
I meet, they usually are focused on one or the other, rarely both.
While Snow predicted a collaborative model for a third
culture, Brockman proposes that these two sides are not communicating and are
merely putting forth more information that enriches society.
This divide is distinct at UCLA, but I now see this divide in the educational structures of
public schools. We’ve analyzed
inequities within education in terms of race, class, and/or gender of the
students, to differences in funding and the tracking system. Never has it crossed my mind that the
cultural divide between the sciences and the arts education can give rise to
such disparities in learning.
 |
| Unification of art and sciences, progress! |
These two cultures are imperative for a quality education
for children, but the school structures now keep the distinction between the
two, preventing a truly holistic education.
Students in public education are being taught to separate the two, when combing both worlds would allow for more critical thinkers who are knowledgable in even more realms.
Vesna suggests increased communication to prevent
misunderstanding across disciplines. As someone who wants to advocate for children's education, I can now see how that communication and connection between all subjects is necessary for a better progressive world. It's that "third culture," of technology and advancement, that's pushing everyone forward. Further combining it could really help address some of the issues in public education we see today.
Who would have thought that a class under DESMA could be applied to the education studies minor?
Works Cited
Brockman, John. “The Third Culture.” N.p.: n.p., 1995.
Print.
Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.”
Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.
The RSA. “RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms.”
Online video clip. Youtube. 14 Oct.
2010, Web. 2 Apr. 2015.
Valenzuela, A. “Subtractive schooling U.S.-Mexican youth and
the politics of caring.”
Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1999.
Print.
Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.”
Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121-25. Web.
I entirely agree with you, that the current public education system's lack of interdisciplinary connections between the arts and sciences may truly be another divide and source of inequality. This causes yet another barrier students have to get through to succeed in either discipline, and typically does not allow students to combine their interests in both. As Robinson discusses in the RSA Animate video, children's divergent thinking decreases dramatically when they begin formal education, which may be a result of the separation between the arts and sciences. It therefore seems essential for the two to be connected very early on in a child's educational career.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a holistic approach to teaching children would be a better option versus keeping the “two cultures” separate or, giving more emphasis on one subject versus another. In Sir Ken Robinson’s video on divergent thinking and such, he talks about how kids are being diagnosed for ADHD because they cannot pay attention in school. In reality, they do not have ADHD, but because of the technologies they surround themselves with (computer games, the internet, handhelds, etc.,) at home and the lack of attentiveness they show during school (books are boring, school structure is boring), teachers and doctors are automatically prescribing Ritalin for them. Okay, went on a bit of tangent there, but I agree with you, but the education system definitely has to find a better way of teaching to enthuse children about learning and I believe we could do this with the introduction of technology into the curriculum. Some schools are already doing this. I hope with your education minor and your future, you could contribute to a different way of learning for children because they are the future!
ReplyDeletei totally agree with you wiht the issue of division in school when it comes to gender, race. we might not realize this issue but it a problem. connected this to science and art as you did is a good way to understand and make awareness of how these two cultures should be looked at. it important to see how it impact the world now. great explanation and well written blog
ReplyDelete