Artscience and Retroprogression: Beyond the Two Cultures Paradigm

Back in 1959, P. Snow coined the term "two cultures" in the famous Rede Series. In it, he developed the idea that there are two groups of intellectuals, mutually misunderstood: the ones coming from the natural and technical sciences and the ones belonging to the arts and humanities. This paradigm, which has ruled our cultural life for the last few centuries, is coming to be transcended by what John Brockman calls the "third culture": "scientists and other thinkers in the empirical world who, through their work and expository writing, are taking the place of the traditional intellectual in rendering visible the deeper meanings of our lives." This movement of science towards the general public is parallel to another occurrence: science is transcending the lab and penetrating the art world, making its appearance inside of the museum walls by becoming part of installations and new artistic artifacts. The term "artscience" has been coined by David Edwards to address the artwork that is being produced at this rearticulation of the scientific and technological paradigm within an artistic context. This presentation will introduce artscience to the audience and also some of its most interesting practitioners.