The idea that a third culture exists never crossed my mind. C.
P. Snow’s idea of “two cultures” is what I was familiar with. The two cultures are
separated as scientific culture and artistic or literary culture. At UCLA,
there is a similar semi-concrete idea of “two cultures” by defining students as
belonging to North or South Campus, each majoring in humanities or science
respectively. The University system seems to break this barrier by having
students take additional classes outside of their majors; these additional
courses usually being at the opposite spectrum of what the student is used to
learning about when compared to their major courses. This is important in
helping us expand our mind and to think differently, whether factually or
creatively.
In Kevin Kelly’s “The Third Culture”, he points out the idea
that “how ironic, then, that while science sat in the cultural backseat, its
steady output of wonderful products—radio, TV, and computer chips—furiously
bred a pop culture based on the arts.” It seems the original two cultures are
being merged together through the help of the emerging “third culture” which
appear to have originated from technology. As time progresses, it seems as
though the fusion of both is inevitable at the rate that technology is being
advanced.
My own personal view on the two cultures has to do with the
way I was brought up. Being born in America, but being raised with a Chinese
background, I feel like the concept of “two cultures” have always been a part
of my life. There are many times when the cultures are at divide, but still
there are ideals that are similar between the two. As I get older, I sense
there is a definite need for this “third culture”, which in my sense is the
commonalities between American and Chinese culture. My parents always gave me
the freedom, which America is recognized for, to pursue my dreams, but also
taught me that morals and many Chinese traditions are also important in shaping
me to be disciplined. With the combination of the two, I feel it has shaped me
into a person I am proud to be.
Overall I feel that, the intersecting of the two cultures is
important in the future advancement and growth of society.
Works Cited
Kelly, Kevin. "The Third Culture." Science. 13 Feb. 1998. Web.
Kieniewicz, Johanna. "Why Art and Science?" At the Interface. 19 June 2013. Web.
Kieniewicz, Johanna. "Why Art and Science?" At the Interface. 19 June 2013. Web.
Pomeroy, Steven. "From STEM to STEAM: Science and Art Go Hand-in-Hand | Guest Blog, Scientific American Blog Network." Scientific American Global RSS. 22 Aug. 2012. Web.
Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Web.
Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Web.
Vesna, Victoria. "Toward A Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121-25. Web.
Wilson, Stephen. "Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology." (2000). Web.
Wilson, Stephen. "Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology." (2000). Web.
I like your post, and I believe that when we create a dichotomy between south and north campus, we become divided. As a science major, Science is great, it can save a life and make really cool things. But we should not forget that fact that the most moving people in history used words, and its amazing how only a phrase can be so persuasive.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hamidreza! I totally agree with how you said that a phrase can be so persuasive; words truly are powerful tools.
DeleteI agree that having both cultures helps us "expand our mind and to think differently, whether factually or creatively." However, I would say the current curriculum does not necessarily do that. As an engineering major, we have only 5 G.E. requirements compared to our over 40 engineering related classes. Even in those 5 classes, they are divided further into more specific areas that spread our understanding thinner. Although it gives us a huge breadth of exposure to the humanities, it does not necessary give us enough time to actually develop an understanding of such topics.
ReplyDeleteHey Andrew, I totally agree with you that the amount of exploration we get is very minimal, but if you think about it, the curriculum could have just been for us to take classes on our major, so just by implementing other courses outside our studies, at least it is one step towards helping us expand our minds.
DeleteHey, Vivian! You brought up a lot of great points. I agree that the University requiring GE's allows for students to take classes that aren't typically within their realm of study is a great way to introduce them to new concepts or ideas. Personally, after taking a couple of anthropology GEs, I ended up really enjoying it and picked it up as a minor (I'm a Human Biology major)! So it was really great being able to enjoy the two over the past few years.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I can definitely attest to the feeling of growing up with two different cultures and not really feeling like you completely fit in both. Growing up Vietnamese-American, I was initially isolated in elementary school because I couldn't speak English and now that I no longer speak Vietnamese fluently, I also feel ashamed sometimes because I can't communicate with my grandparents. It's definitely becoming more apparent as the 1/1.5 generation goes on.
Hi Vivian,
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read the part you shared your own experience being brought up in two cultures, Chinese and American. In the US, there are so many people who have two or more cultural background and it makes our culture very diverse. I grew up in Japan so I am one of those people who have two cultural backgrounds, and now I raise my children who were born in the US. Their third culture is different from mine, but I hope they will enjoy all three cultures. I agree with you that the combination of multiple cultures will shape them and I hope they will be proud of it like you do!