Unit 1: Two Cultures

I am both an artist and an engineer. As a Mechanical Engineering student at UCLA, I am drawn towards physics, computer science, math, and everything in-between. When I am free from problem sets and design projects, I enjoy 3D-printing trinkets and assembling pieces of jewelry. One day I aspire to be an engineer immersed in product design, though I cannot imagine getting there without some artistic, creative fun. For everyday consumer product design, I actually see a growing need for practical, intelligent, and attractive solutions. Take some left-brained people and gather some right-brained people to collaborate together and just imagine how much more distance is covered when a project finally veers straight.

Left vs Right Brain
https://mc2.bid4papers.com/blog/8-ways-left-brain-thinkers-boost-creativity/

In the RSA video about changing education paradigms, I found it so true that education systems are completely missing opportunities to better-engage students (The RSA). Creativity is an aspect of the human mind that is significant for day-to-day skills; it should be emphasized as much as all the other subjects, especially in high schools and colleges, where art seems to be lacking the most significance. Creativity through art is especially powerful in bringing people with entirely different backgrounds together.

RSA Video Graphical Summary
https://littlecommas.wordpress.com/tag/rsa-animate/

Just considering my campus, there is clear dividing line between the arts/humanities and STEM fields. As an engineer, I only have 5 general education requirements, whereas non-engineers have at least 10. Yet there is little compensation for the lack of art within the engineering curriculum. I definitely see an opportunity for engineering departments to collaborate with artists to create a curriculum that is both right and left brained.

UCLA's Bruinwalk: The dividing line
http://uclaevents.com/image-gallery/ucla-film-and-photography-locations/sidewalks-corridors-and-paths/

I am personally encouraged by Victoria Vesna's paper, which proposes and encourages collaboration between the arts and sciences (Vesna). Having seen the title of this very course has already engaged me in seeking that opportunity to expand my engineering toolbox through the exploration of art and through renewing my view of artists as co-laborers rather than distant intellectuals.

Sources
“8 Ways for Left-Brain Thinkers to Boost Creativity.” Blog, 5 Feb. 2018, mc2.bid4papers.com/blog/8-ways-left-brain-thinkers-boost-creativity/.

“RSA Animate.” , littlecommas.wordpress.com/tag/rsa-animate/.

The RSA. "RSA ANIMATE: Changing Education Paradigms." Online video clip. Youtube. YouTube, 14 October 2010. Web. 7 April 2018.

UCLA Events Office, uclaevents.com/image-gallery/ucla-film-and-photography-locations/sidewalks-corridors-and-paths/.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, 2001, pp. 121-125.

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