STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) or Arts - Poll

So other than being a photographer, with what do you identify

  • It's all about Art

    Votes: 1 2.3%

  • Arts/humnaitiies more than science

    Votes: 3 6.8%

  • Foot in both camps

    Votes: 15 34.1%

  • Technology is my bag

    Votes: 22 50.0%

  • I ate Fermat's last theorem for breakfast

    Votes: 3 6.8%
  • Total voters
    44
sirch

sirch

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I get the impression that a lot of photographers are also involved in STEM either as work or as an interest separate from photography. So I thought I'd do a quick poll to see. It's obviously completely unscientific and probably over represents STEM people since it is on a Web forum and they are more likely to self-select this as a place to hang out. Anyway let’s not get bogged down in the pros and cons of web polls, it’s just a bit of fun.


So other than being a photographer do you identify as someone significantly interested in STEM or someone who is more arts-focused?
 
Having started when home/DIY D&P was the norm, I'm in the science camp. Having said that, taking photos is as close as I get to being arty but that's using arty in a very broad sense of creating a picture that's recognisable!
 
My background is Civil Engineering and then Systems Analysis...
 
Engineering, Technology and Art, I spent 30 odd years as a press toolmaker, the hand crafting side of that is considered to be a form of art. Now I test and develop car engines from the prototype stage through to the finished product.
 
PhD biomolecular NMR, MSc aquatic microbiology, BSc(hons) molecular biology - I hate art degrees lol
 
Lifetime as a bench scientist here. Many of the brighter guys I've worked with have done science as the day job and found creative outlets outside of work - generally my experience is that except for the very focussed, people who are interested in science will also apply themselves to the arts at the same time.
 
Definitely not technology, the obsession with gadgets grinds my gears. I do, however, have a lathe in my bedroom, and spend most of my spare time working away in TurboCAD on some latest design which tends to involve a lot of maths. I also play Bass so whether that counts as arts to balance it out I don't know. Anyone who's heard me may well describe it as desecration of art.
 
I spent 30 years working in computers and technology manufacturing but have thought of myself as being an artist since the age of 10. Also fascinated by people, their hopes and dreams and how to lure them to my home so that I can kill them.
 
Some of the above was a joke.

I never worked in computers.
 
Some interesting responses (and some disturbing ones). I am an Engineer and I work with a lot of STEM people and my experience chimes with the above, a lot of us have some creative outlet, music, photography, inventing, etc. but most are not out-and-out artists à la Grayson Perry; in fact "modern" art is often seen quite disparagingly.

It would be interesting to know (not that we ever will) if TP is dominated by STEMers or if the artists just don't hang around in out-of-focus or if they just don't do polls
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Definitely not technology, the obsession with gadgets grinds my gears. I do, however, have a lathe in my bedroom, and spend most of my spare time working away in TurboCAD on some latest design which tends to involve a lot of maths. I also play Bass so whether that counts as arts to balance it out I don't know. Anyone who's heard me may well describe it as desecration of art.
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My experience of bass players, and as an occasional bass player myself, is that they tend toward a technical approach to music, rather than one of creativity, because of the nature of their instrument and the way it has to underpin the rest of the band.
 
sirch said:
Some interesting responses (and some disturbing ones). I am an Engineer and I work with a lot of STEM people and my experience chimes with the above, a lot of us have some creative outlet, music, photography, inventing, etc. but most are not out-and-out artists à la Grayson Perry; in fact "modern" art is often seen quite disparagingly.

It would be interesting to know (not that we ever will) if TP is dominated by STEMers or if the artists just don't hang around in out-of-focus or if they just don't do polls
Click to expand...

The true artists don't have a computer, they just have a pinhole camera lashed up from an old shoe and a milk bottle...
 
ancient_mariner said:
My experience of bass players, and as an occasional bass player myself, is that they tend toward a technical approach to music, rather than one of creativity, because of the nature of their instrument and the way it has to underpin the rest of the band.
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I think it also gets drummed into everyone who ever picks a bass up that it's a rhythm instrument and you must therefore not attempt anything flashy. The Bass has an excellent range to be a solo instrument too, a la this guy...

View: https://youtu.be/FYF0k_rg9Vo
 
sirch said:
Some interesting responses (and some disturbing ones). I am an Engineer and I work with a lot of STEM people and my experience chimes with the above, a lot of us have some creative outlet, music, photography, inventing, etc. but most are not out-and-out artists à la Grayson Perry; in fact "modern" art is often seen quite disparagingly.

It would be interesting to know (not that we ever will) if TP is dominated by STEMers or if the artists just don't hang around in out-of-focus or if they just don't do polls
Click to expand...

my bold- could set up a poll in the arty forum, is there one?
 
nog said:
my bold- could set up a poll in the arty forum, is there one?
Click to expand...
Don't know, I guess I could try the birding forum :D

I imagine personal projects and themes is probably as near as it gets but it would just get modded back here I think
 
Electron microscopy PhD student here, BSc and MSc in Materials science and engineering. I get to do photography of science, what's not to love...
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
I think it also gets drummed into everyone who ever picks a bass up that it's a rhythm instrument and you must therefore not attempt anything flashy. The Bass has an excellent range to be a solo instrument too, a la this guy...

View: https://youtu.be/FYF0k_rg9Vo
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to believe the limitations are in the type of person naturally drawn to bass, rather than the instrument itself. There are various sterotypes that often hold true, and from my observations, I'd say bass players will typically be socialist, fairly liberal, depressed and with an inclination to cross-dress (or a willingness to admit they do).
 
ancient_mariner said:
I'm inclined to believe the limitations are in the type of person naturally drawn to bass, rather than the instrument itself. There are various sterotypes that often hold true, and from my observations, I'd say bass players will typically be socialist, fairly liberal, depressed and with an inclination to cross-dress (or a willingness to admit they do).
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I have a friend doing a sociology degree - I think she missed a trick here and should be doing her thesis on Bass players!
 
sirch said:
Some interesting responses (and some disturbing ones). I am an Engineer and I work with a lot of STEM people and my experience chimes with the above, a lot of us have some creative outlet, music, photography, inventing, etc. but most are not out-and-out artists à la Grayson Perry; in fact "modern" art is often seen quite disparagingly.

It would be interesting to know (not that we ever will) if TP is dominated by STEMers or if the artists just don't hang around in out-of-focus or if they just don't do polls
Click to expand...

One thing that made me good at my job when working in computing was being able to visualise in a way that I don't think that others could. They say that a sculptor sees the final object within the block of stone and merely removes the excess material.... I was never a sculptor but I certainly visualise things and I can't look at anything without almost seeing it in x ray form... visualising how it's constructed and how it works. That certainly helps when you're trying to fix or build something :D To me having an artistic side and appreciating form and seeing beyond it are pretty much essential.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Definitely not technology, the obsession with gadgets grinds my gears. I do, however, have a lathe in my bedroom, and spend most of my spare time working away in TurboCAD on some latest design which tends to involve a lot of maths. I also play Bass so whether that counts as arts to balance it out I don't know. Anyone who's heard me may well describe it as desecration of art.
Click to expand...

Ah! Bassists - not musicians but they tend to hang around with them (and drummers)! :P

Alan Clogwyn said:
I think it also gets drummed into everyone who ever picks a bass up that it's a rhythm instrument and you must therefore not attempt anything flashy. The Bass has an excellent range to be a solo instrument too, a la this guy...

View: https://youtu.be/FYF0k_rg9Vo
Click to expand...

Best not tell John Entwhistle that the bass isn't a lead instrument. Well, not until you're on the same astral plane as him, anyway!
 
MEng CEng here - very technical job but spend my freetime with guitars and cameras for an arty(ish) outlet.
 
Had to go with Technology. Right up until I screwed up my chemistry A Level I wanted to work in a laborotary. That didn't work out so spent the next 27 years learnign and becoming a Computer programme and Data analyst. Still doing it now so must enjoy it a little bit. :)
 
How strange ... When bass was mentioned I immediately thought of a string bass, double bass or bass horn... never even thought of a bass guitar.
shows my tastes that range from jazz to clasical and folk. Though modern folk will have a bass guitar in there somwhere.
 
Very tempted to edit the poll to include a separate option for bass players :)

crofter said:
Labels,labels,why does everyone need labels ?
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I don't think it's about labels more about motivations, it's also interesting to challenge sterotypes.


It's got me thinking about the difference between being creative and being artistic. Superficially it would seem that STEMers are not creative and Artists are but it has always been clear to me that STEMers are very creative and I suppose (although I don't know) that there are artists who aren't very creative. I'm intrigued by the notion that STEMers are creative for a wider purpose whereas artists are generally being creative for the purposes of Art. This line of thinking needs refinement as there are obviously areas of mathematics and probably sciences where things are created purely for the mental exercise or for purposes internal to the subject. o_O
 
I have a suspicion that people are more or less creative, and those who are will normally be so over a broad range of disciplines including what we see as STEM and expression through areas outside science and engineering. Those who are minimally creative will not have ability in STEM or art, but may still be able to follow the directions given them by those who are.
 
Art, mathematics, engineering and science, are all related through elegance simplicity and beauty.
When you get things right that is.....
 
In STEM, creativity is (In my opinion) more about finding the route to get to your outcome and it is often not immediately obvious, where arts creativity is inherently more obvious as the outcome itself.
 
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Started out life as a mechanic, went into a factory engineering, then into IT (as my day job)

As a kid I was heavily into art, later played bass a bit, then took up photography (but I'm a Mark King, Bootsy Collins, John Entwistle fan, rather than the typical bass plodder).

I like to think I'm a 'foot in both camps' person, but the more I navel gaze the more I believe photographically I'm a bit of a technician. Even though I'm happiest shooting people, and I'm a people person, I'm drawn to working through the how rather than the why.
 
# I can't play the drums
# And I can't really sing
# I tried to play guitar
# But it's got far too many strings
# So I play bass...

Sack Trick
 
similar to loads of people above, engineering is my background (albeit still a student for now). I can't paint or draw so I have to use a camera :D jokes aside I think I enjoy photography as a creative outlet, and it feels great to see "the shot" come out just like intended :)
 
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