April 9: “Greek Dryads, Singing Flowers and Power Hungry Mushrooms – Plants and Fungi in culture then and now”

When it comes to fictional characters in literature, movies, videogames and other media we usually expect them to stick to one of many schematics, that we, as audience are used to.
The Characters are usually either fully humanoid or completely monstrous.
Animals, humans, aliens, robots. Those often become the protagonists of the stories. However it is not every day that we turn our attention to one of the most numerous of natural kingdoms: plants.
In this presentation we will be exploring the intricacies of plant-based characters from a narrative, cultural, ideological and design point of view.
Analyzing DC Comics to understand the message behind the characters of Poison Ivy and White Mercy, revisiting Tolkien’s Arda to talk about the importance of ents, retelling the folk tales and myths from all around the world as we try to fully understand:

– What is the significance of weird vegetation in human culture?
– Why are we terrified of the Clickers in The Last of Us?
– What do Myconids in Baldur’s Gate 3 truly stand for?
– Why is fate of Harold in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 3 so shocking?
– Where lies the barrier between human and inhuman when it comes to Sims and Plantsims?
– Last but not least: Why are there so few original anthropomorphic plant and fungal characters in popular culture?

Maja Chojnacka is a second year student of BA in American Studies at the University of Warsaw. She’s interested in theater, especially musical theater, drawing, and retro games.

Miłosz Hajduś is a second year student of BA in American Studies at the University of Warsaw. He’s interested in the culture and literature of both Native Americans and the various Arab Nations as well as Tabletop RPGs and their design.