Week 1: Two Cultures

     C. P. Snow's "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution" resonated with me. As an  Electrical Engineer, I have most of my classes on the South side of campus in buildings such as Boelter Hall and Engineering IV. To the left are pictures of Engineering IV and its interior. The exterior walls are painted a dull grey-white and rarely is cleaned. It has the look of a boring corporate office with its flat colors and plain windows. And finally, right outside, you can see the beautiful view of traffic going to and from the school and hear the sound of car horns chriping and people barking at each other. Meanwhile, the inside of the building is equally depressing. The walls of the walls, ceiling and floor are a piercing white which makes it seem like the inside of a hospital or mental asylum. The lights always seem to be on high which causes everyone to wince as they exit a room or lab.

The inside of Engineering IV
The outside of Engineering IV
Obviously, most people know how beautiful UCLA really is. We have some of the most beautiful architecture, views and flora. However, most days I never get to see it. With my busy schedule, I have to stay on my side of the campus and have no time to walk over and admire the view. I believe this phenomenon of separating the two culture of Art and Science has very much to do with it. College is a place of exploration and discovery. Visiting the other side of campus, where the grass is literally greener, once every school year to take a singular G.E. should be unacceptable.


The beautiful Royce Hall which is way too far from South Campus


UCLA is a world-class university so why wouldn't it treat us like world-class students?

Sources:

Inside of Engineering IV. Digital image. Reseda Woman Describes Terror on Fourth Floor of UCLA’s Engineering IV Building. June 3, 2016. https://www.dailynews.com/2016/06/03/reseda-woman-describes-terror-on-fourth-floor-of-uclas-engineering-iv-building/.

 Outside of Engineering IV. Digital image. UCLA Campus Map. https://maps.ucla.edu/campus/?locid=398

 Royal Hall. Digital image. https://blog.admissions.ucla.edu/2011/05/15/welcome-to-ucla-life/.

 Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

 Lecture Part III. Performed by Victoria Vensa. Lecture Part III.

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 10, 2018 at 8:52 PM

    Hi Timothy,

    I agree that the way our campus is divided further propels C.P Snow's idea of two cultures. We get accustomed to seeing the same people and seeing the same old buildings every time we step foot on campus. However, there is one aspect I disagree with you on though. Although most people say that north campus is more beautiful than south campus, I would have to counter this argument. Though we do not have tall brick structures towering our side of campus, our buildings have complex class and brick combination designs that, I believe, are a true work of art. I think it takes a different kind of appreciation to enjoy south campus. Anyways, nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete

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