Creative Heritage

Since early ages humans had to develop different skills in order to survive in their environment. It is said that cultures that lived in regions with drastic climate changes, like very hot summers and cold winters, had to become more creative. Being exposed to a wider range of problems in a changing environment, they needed to develop different knowledge and tools for each adverse situation… therefore innovating.

Weather also has an impact on biodiversity. Cultures that had access to all kinds of natural materials, such as woods, plant extracts and those from animal origin had greater chances of creating different products just by combining them. Some regions have two or three biomes ( deserts, tundra, forests, etc) relatively near to each other. It was not only the diversity of resources what was important but also their quantity. You could spare a few resources in inventing new things!... therefore innovating.

Basic human needs have to be covered first in order to expand knowledge to less vital areas. Would humans be concerned about philosophy if they had no food? Most “advanced” cultures were built around places that provided water and with it, fertile land that allowed a sedentary life. Mesopotamia was built between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Egyptians along the Nile River, and Aztecs at the Lago of Texcoco. Having basic needs covered because of fertile land allowed progress in new fields… therefore innovating.

The amount of light received due to weather also affects our mood, which as we know, can influence our activities. What color of clothes do you choose for a sunny day or for a cloudy day? Ever felt depressed according to the weather? Mexico, as many other latin american countries, is full of light and it is said that our taste for bright colors and contrasting combinations come from the sun’s influence and being used to nature’s tropical colors, like fruits and flowers. It also affects latin “warmth”, openness and explosiveness in personal contact. Compare Mexico’s use of colors (in art, design or architecture) with color use in countries like Norway, Finland or Russia that have long winter periods or absence of light. Therefore… well this doesn’t mean more innovation , just being more colorful.

In our days, globalization, transportation and information technology have standardized any cultural heritage as a creative advantage. Education, networking and financial capabilities become more important for innovation than any of the references above. Not even resources are a decisive factor, many developing countries have good extraction industries for raw minerals, agriculture or animal husbandry, but real value is being generated in the transformation industry. Rural sectors, such as agriculture, are one of the poorest world-wide, while the prepared and packed food industry is one of the richest. Mexico sells petroleum to US and then imports gasoline! Having the natural resources doesn’t mean having the value (at least not yet again i.e. water).

Having said this, I still hope something from latin origin, either fighting climate adversity, our anthropological use of biodiversity, or even the colorful joy of living, could brighten up our regional creativity… and with the right education, networking and financial capabilities use it to add some value… therefore innovating.