Legacy

That golden figure always seemed fascinating, captivating, and, at the same time, enigmatic. Now that he could see it up close and examine its details, it was very clear that it represented a bipedal, fully upright creature that held something between its two hands. On each limb it seemed to have, in a symmetrical fashion, five fingers, both in hands and feet, and, although that figure did not reveal it completely, the cavities in its head indicated that it had two eyes and a mouth.

What kind of creature was that? Why did it make him feel so nostalgic? Why did holding it give him a certain sense of peace?

—If you keep looking at your prize so deeply, everyone will think that fame has driven you mad — said a familiar voice behind him, approaching relaxedly while holding two glasses of spirituous drink —. Although I don’t blame you, not every day you win an Oscar; you’re entitled to go mad if you want.

He waved his spines joyfully at the joke and accepted the glass his friend offered him.

—Jeejee, thanks. In reality, I was thinking about the creature it represents… I’ve seen it elsewhere, as a symbol of different arts, but until now I hadn’t really asked myself what kind of creature this is, why it’s used as a symbol. I don’t know any species in the galaxy that resembles it.

—Oh, wow, it’s a shame that art schools don’t teach you things like that. Although it’s not necessary for their work, it’s sad that the memory of humans is lost over time.

—Humans?

—Well — said, settling comfortably in a corner and inviting him to do the same —, since you’ve just won the Oscar for Best Director, and since I’m your friend and, I must emphasize, a formally trained historian with a doctorate in ancient cultures, it’s my duty to tell you the story of the creature in your prize.

Well, I won’t tell you the story of “Indio Fernández,” which is the name of the human that this figure represents; that conversation we’ll leave for another day. Instead, I’ll tell you about humans.

You see, thousands of years ago the galaxy was a wild and ruthless place. Don’t think badly of it: nature is like that. Species compete for resources, multiply, spread out, and don’t understand peace, commerce, or war; they only seek the survival of their species, and it doesn’t matter if they extinguish another or are themselves extinguished: that is the natural order of things.

However, there was a species that defied its own nature. They created mechanisms such as trade to be able to share resources without having to steal them, diplomacy to avoid conflicts, and even laws that dominated war, which they considered an art. But the true jewel of humanity, their greatest legacy to the galaxy, and, I would dare to say, to the entire universe, were the seven arts: architecture, painting, sculpture, music, literature, dance, and your specialty, my friend, cinema.

The arts were the way humanity extracted the best of itself, and thanks to that, they built a beautiful and magnificent civilization whose remains continue to amaze archaeologists for their refinement and passion. Every aspect of human civilization was wrapped in the seven arts! Every sigh of humans exhaled a poem! A melody! A thought! A… —He cleared his throat embarrassedly—. Excuse me, I get emotional talking about humans.

When humanity began to travel among the stars, they encountered our ancestors, and, as nature dictated, hostility toward them was immediate. However, they did not respond with hostility as any other species would have; sometimes they arrived with gifts, offerings for nothing, offering friendship, peace. They learned the languages of our ancestors to be able to communicate, to dialogue, to negotiate.

They did the same with every civilization they encountered along the way. They taught us to negotiate, to trade, to dialogue, and even to wage war and follow their rules. Even civilizations hostile to them learned their ways, their politics, their methods of doing things. The influence of humanity had no limits.

Humans taught us not only to live in peace, but to enjoy that peace. They taught us to sing, to dance, to laugh, to appreciate life. The seven arts were passed on to our ancestors as a gift from humanity.

—What happened to them? Why have I never met any humans?

—That’s a mystery. Perhaps they became extinct, left, hid away; even some claim that humans achieved absolute enlightenment and transcended to another plane of existence. There are only myths about their disappearance.

But what is certain is that their legacy, their arts, and everything they taught us remains and will remain with us forever. Even if everyone forgets, their work lives on. When we find new civilizations, we contact them and teach them the path of peace, just as they taught us. Young people like you keep the seven arts alive.

Whatever happened to them, humans will never completely disappear, for their legacy lives in us.

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Image created with AI