NOCTILUCA January 2018

LACK and WHITE is over

The Arts versus the Sciences By Ahmad Abdel-Azim

The idea that people are either artistic people or scientific people is not always true. But, before delving deeper, the broad definition of art must be specified, first. The arts include subjects of study that involve human creativity and social life, such as language, literature, poetry, performance arts, dance, music, theatre, painting, sculpture, etc, as contrasted with scientific subjects. Mr. Edmonds, an ELA teacher at Appleton North, does not believe in such labels as an “art person” or a “science person”; instead, he encourages one to try their best to be well-rounded in both the arts and the sciences. Mr. Hermanson, a history teacher at Appleton North, mentions that the ear- liest sciences and arts were unified under some common perspectives, which involved explaining the unexplainable. Eventually, science and the arts start to split into different directions. Hermanson adds that the creative process and the scientific process are both critical thinking skills that intersect. Just as Isaac Newton, while more well known for his scientific contributions, had an appreciation for the arts, da Vinci, while heavily involved in arts, had appreciation for, and even experience in, the sciences (i.e., da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man). While Hermanson acknowledges that, “Everyone has an interest…someone may be more interest- ed in [the arts or the sciences], and it’s important to cultivate your interests,” he advises that students accumulate as many skills as they can. Edmonds adds that the arts and sciences have more in common than most people realize. “It is important that students are exposed to both types of thinking to exercise different parts of their brain,” he mentions. Edmonds also states, “Creativity is fostered through art and that kind of [creative] thinking, which lends itself to really good science.” Students should have not only scientific literacy, but also artistic talent as well. Hermanson believes that science, by nature, looks to prove things, and to prove some- thing is empirical. Art, on the other hand, tends to be more subjective, so people may look at art and have distinct interpretations. This difference between objectivity and subjectivity is what Hermanson believes leads some science enthusiasts to dislike the arts, or vice versa.

Gender By Amara Neitzke, Salma Abdel-Azim

Society puts labels on people and urges them to conform to the expectations imposed on them based on their gender. This narrows people’s minds as many times these stereotypes do not apply and/or can be demeaning. Here is Amara Neitzke’s (President of Gender Equality Club) take on the black and white thinking surrounding gender. When a baby is born, if it is a girl, she will be showered with pink onesies, and dolls. If it is a boy, he will be gifted with blue clothing, and sports toys. From the day someone is born, they are put into a box and labeled with expectations. The textbook definition of gender roles is, “a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for people based on their actual or perceived sex.” It is important that people acknowledge and accept individuals beyond their labels. Generally speaking, girls and women are ex- pected to dress typically feminine, be “ladylike”, and have a nurturing trait. Whereas boys and men are held to the standard of toughness, hiding your emotions, and presenting their dominance in situations. Though it is not bad to have these characteristics or personality traits, this black and white thinking can manifest into more than just ideas and labels. It is important to encourage boys and men to have a healthy relationship with their feelings without feeling as though their masculinity is at risk if they do not “man up”. Simultane- ously, we need not allow young girls to be put down because they “throw like a girl”, but encourage them to be the best regardless of their gender. Society has become far more accepting than ever when it comes to breaking social boundaries toward gender roles. It is important that society keeps allowing people of all genders to explore different paths of life, despite their gender or anatomy. Our com- munity, state, and nation will only further prosper if we continue to deconstruct the toxic labels and promote inclusive ideas.