C. P. Snow discussed in his book the separation between two cultures:
the “literary intellectuals” and the “physical scientists.” More importantly, this
separation was causing the disparity between the rich and the poor, a huge
world problem. The solution to this issue, Snow states, is reforming education and
goes on to say that there is too much specialization. Sir Ken Robinson
continues this idea of education reform and says that our mechanical education
system is killing students’ ability to think creatively. Finally, Bohm
emphasizes the importance of creativity as the solution to solving changing
problems.
I
myself am a product of this specialized and mechanical education system that
separates the arts and the sciences. This leads me to ask the following question
of myself: Has my own originality and creativity been stifled because of this? Perhaps
so. As a UCLA student I have really have only been exposed to the type of
thinking of taught by my major—Business Economics. Only on the rare occasion of
taking required GE classes have I ever ventured beyond this subject of thought
into the cultures of art or science. UCLA’s campus itself is split up to
encourage the separation of these two cultures with south campus representing
the sciences and north campus representing the arts, humanities, and social
sciences.
Though
it will certainly be a challenge, I hope to reawaken the creativity of my mind
and be able to enter into the world outside of academia with the ability to
solve the problems of my field.
The Left vs. Right Side of the brain
Citations:
Bohm, D. "On Creativity." Leonardo 1.2 (1968):
137-49. JSTOR. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.
Changing Education
Paradigms. Prod. Abi Stepheson. Adapt. Becca Pyne. Perf. Ken Robinson.
RSA Animate, 2010. Online Video.
Mohlman, Michael.
"North Campus." Michael Mohlman Portfolio. N.p., n.d. Web. 05
Apr. 2015.
Mohlman, Michael.
"South Campus." Michael Mohlman Portfolio. N.p., n.d. Web. 05
Apr. 2015.
Russell, Micah.
"The Education System:." The Marquette Educator. N.p., 12 July
2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
Snow, C. P. The
Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959.
Print.
"Understanding Your Brain for Better Design: Left vs. Right." Webdesigner Depot RSS. N.p., 16 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
"Understanding Your Brain for Better Design: Left vs. Right." Webdesigner Depot RSS. N.p., 16 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
I found the cartoon that you included to be very fitting to this week's topic. I have always found it interesting that we, as students, were required to take math and science classes; however, arts were optional and seen as "enhancements." People who did not excel in math or science were looked down upon; however people who did not excel in the arts were simply just not talented.
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