Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE)
Fri, 28 Jul 2023
1.Quantifying the Influence of Climate on Human Mind and Culture: Evidence from Visual Art
Authors:Shuhei Kitamura
Abstract: This paper examines the influence of climate change on the human mind and culture from the 13th century to the 21st century. By quantitatively analyzing 100,000 paintings and the biological data of over 2,000 artists, an interesting U-shaped pattern in the lightness of paintings was found, which correlated with trends in global temperature. Event study analysis revealed that when an artist is subjected to a high-temperature shock, their paintings become brighter in later periods. Moreover, the effects are more pronounced in art genres that rely less on real things and more on the artist's imagination, indicating the influence of artists' minds. Overall, this study demonstrates the significant and enduring influence of climate on the human mind and culture over centuries.