The topic of relationship between art and
science has been controversial for so many years. However, there will never be
a correct answer for that. Some people would like to divide into two totally
different parts, as C.P Snow points out in his “Two cultures and scientific
revolution” that two cultures are isolated from each other like two poles. Some
science students around me are unwilling to, or even resist studying art
related courses. UCLA also divides campus into North part for art major and south
part for science major. We can feel obvious difference between two parts from architectural
style and course type.
Royce Hall, North campus
Boelter Hall, South campus
Compared with point of C.P Snow, D.Bohm’s view
impresses me more. In “On Creativity”, he states that “all feel a fundamental
need to discover and create something new that is whole and total, harmonious and
beautiful”. Bohm emphasizes the importance of oneness and totality in nature.
As a math major student, I thought that art was useless for me before. But when
I get further in my path I realize art and science can’t be isolate entirely from
each other. In some specific circumstance, art need science and science can
also create beauty. Golden ratio is very famous in mathematical field and it is
also applied in architecture, drawing and even as a standard for body beauty.
Art and science do have differences but there are no needs to isolate them from each other. Just like we can't isolate either north or south campus from UCLA, our nature is complete and beautiful only when art and science exist there together.
Sources:
D. Bohm,"On Creativity",Leonardo, Vol. 1, No. 2. (Apr., 1968), pp. 137-149
Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print
The Gold Ratio: Use of perfect ratio
http://info.biotech-calendar.com/bid/67480/The-Golden-Apple-Use-of-the-Perfect-Ratio
Gold ratio in art and architecture
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/goldslide/jbgoldslide.htm
Ucla Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA_Henry_Samueli_School_of_Engineering_and_Applied_Science
Does your face fir the golden ratio?
http://forums.soompi.com/discussion/220166/does-your-face-fit-the-golden-ratio/p5
I really like your example about golden ratio, which can show the tight relation between mathematics and art. The Parthenon Temple is a great example to illustrate the cohesion of mathematics and art in the ancient time. Neither of them can develop rapidly without the existence of one another. They definitely should not be isolated, just like North and South campus here in our college:).
ReplyDeleteHey Xianbo,
ReplyDeleteI also liked your example of the Golden Ratio, and I really enjoyed reading your blog. I did notice a few grammatical errors, and the UCLA Writing Center could help you if you'd like.
Cheers,
Rita
Hi Xiangbo! I like your example of Golden Ratio as well. I love the way how you relate the thing you learn in the class to what you learn to daily routine. I really agree with your ideal that there is lot of obvious things in our lives but we just did not realize yet as you indicated in your blog: "Art and science do have differences but there are no needs to isolate them from each other." To discover the simple yet wonderful things, we always have to be open-minded:)
ReplyDelete