Mushrooms as allies against ‘normality’

Unpacking 'sameness' with the ancient whispers of fungi

Humanity as a whole has found itself at something of an unpleasant crossroad (to put it lightly). There are many among us who believe we collectively need to confront this. After centuries of having WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic) countries trying to force a culture of normalcy across the globe, we can clearly see that this has benefitted few, and caused serious harm for many. Not to mention it perpetuates a sense of disconnect and othering within our species.

This has got to change.

These techniques in attempting to produce a normative human have also created abnormality by identifying, defining, and recording every difference (Goodley et al., 2012; Southwell, 2012). Such techniques had become widespread with the development of the concept of eugenics, the belief in improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding and sterilization, which gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term "eugenics" was coined by Sir Francis Galton, a British scientist and cousin of Charles Darwin, in 1883.

Thus, the Western medical field promoted ‘normalcy’ with the intention to create a ‘pure society’ where no diversity could be allowed, and it quickly became a popular view among scientists in the early twentieth century.

While the eugenics movement has largely fallen out of favor due to its association with racism, discrimination, and human rights abuses, its legacy continues to influence mainstream narratives. Being human is determined by many more requirements than just belonging to the species. Not everybody gets to be labeled as one - since, at least in the Western context, being human requires numerous attributes - being autonomous, rational, healthy, heterosexual, white, and of productive age (Hearn, 1992: 2). 

So, what happens to the people outside of the box? 

Western capitalistic system has set aside the vast population of ‘non-normative’ people, valuing sameness instead of embracing the richness of ways to come into being. As a result, those diverging from this prescribed box often find themselves marginalized and excluded, considered less than fully human.

Indeed, in many environmental discourses, restoring the biodiversity of the Earth is one of the major keys to solving the climate crisis. The same logic is relevant and applicable to human communities. Diversity of knowledge and existence is the opening for co-existence within human societies and non-human nature. By labeling people as abnormal, what can be questioned is a very problematic conception of ‘natural purity’. There is a dominant narrative that conceptualizes ‘nature’ and its supposed perfectness, described as this entity that has no flaws because everything is just impeccably organized. Although, it seems that historically the world has been constantly reshaping itself, trying new combinations after long runs or errors, before finding balance, if any. Reality however appears to be more raw, expansive, non-apologetic, messy, ever-changing, a beautiful conglomeration of life. 

Erin Manning and Brian Massumi in, Coming Alive in a World of Texture (2014,15), suggests that to pay equal attention to the full range of life’s texturing complexity, with an entranced and non-hierarchical commitment to the way in which the organic and the inorganic, color, sound, smell, and rhythm, perception and emotion, intensely interweave into the “aroundness” of a textured world, alive with differences - is to experience the fullness of a dance of attention.

This pursuit of normalcy, championed by eugenic ideals, sought to obliterate differences and conform individuals to a standardized mold of acceptability. Yet, amidst the tranquility of forests and fields, mushrooms offer a poignant counterpoint to such narrow-mindedness. With their breathtaking diversity of shapes, sizes, colors, and roles, mushrooms defy the homogenizing impulses of eugenics and challenge the notion of normalcy. They flourish not by conforming to a singular mold but by embracing their disparities and forging intricate networks of symbiosis and collaboration.

Indeed Mushrooms, or fungi in general, have been on the planet for a remarkably long time, with evidence suggesting their existence dating back hundreds of millions of years. They have been integral components of terrestrial ecosystems for a significant portion of Earth's history, making them one the most thriving species. The invitation is to listen to their ancient tales and secrets, as their teachings hold infinite opportunities to envision entanglement as the foundation for every connection. 

At first glance, a forest floor teeming with mushrooms might seem chaotic and disorderly. Yet, upon closer inspection, this ecosystem reveals a complex network of interconnected organisms, each playing a unique role in sustaining life. From the iconic red-and-white-spotted Amanita Muscaria to the delicate Chanterelles hiding beneath fallen leaves, each species embodies its own distinct characteristics and adaptations. Rather than conforming to a singular mold, mushrooms thrive through their diversity, filling ecological niches and contributing to the resilience of ecosystems.

In our human societies, however, there exists a tendency to fetishize sameness—to prioritize conformity over diversity. But mushrooms challenge this notion by demonstrating the value of embracing difference. By celebrating diversity in all its forms, we cultivate environments that are richer, more vibrant, and more resilient. Just as a diverse forest ecosystem is better equipped to withstand environmental challenges, diverse human communities are better equipped to navigate the complexities of our rapidly changing world.

Moreover, mushrooms remind us that true collaboration and symbiosis emerge from the recognition and acceptance of diversity. Within the mycelial network, different species of fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with trees, plants, and other organisms, exchanging nutrients and information in a harmonious dance of life. This cooperative spirit underscores the importance of inclusivity and cooperation in fostering thriving communities.

Mushrooms are neither considered as ‘animals’ nor ’plants’, they fall outside of every box and genre, creating their own uniqueness, challenging everything we think we know. They don’t fear death, they embrace her gently. And death doesn’t even exist in the fungal realm, there is no binary, no beginning no end, simply eternal dances of ever-transforming cycles. And as I create a relationship with these Earthly companions, I start to hear their songs, gentle voices present everywhere I dare to wander. Humble and profound teachers, they invite me to observe, silently, and this is what I see: a marvelous variety of bodies in collaboration with each other. It’s beautiful, what else can I say. I see a myriad of colors and funny shapes, and I appreciate how bold they are. They seem to be playing with the Earth’s palette. They want me to be silly, weird and unapologetic, playful with the body I was given no matter its predispositions. 

Eli Clare, in Politics of Cure, talks about the desire of the medical model to ‘restore’ the health of disabled people, and it is nonsense:

“But for some of us, even if we accept disability as harm to individual bodies, restoration still does not make sense, because an original non-disabled body does not exist. How would I, or the medical establishment, go about restoring my body? The visions of me without tremoring hands and slurred speech, with more balance and coordination, do not originate from my body’s history. Rather it arises from the imagination of what my body should be like, some definitions of ‘normal’ and ‘natural’.”

Normalcy was never real, nothing but a social concept, built by people who had forgotten to listen to ancestral wisdom. Our bodies are temples, life vessels, grief and joy carriers, storytellers. They do not seek to be perceived  as ‘normal, ‘beautiful’ nor ‘acceptable’, their sole purpose is to channel life. Like enchanting mushrooms, we are called only to Exist, in harmony with our wondrous beings.

Yet, a lot of us in several marginalized groups  (Queer, Disabled, BIPOC…) have suffered from this narrative and perhaps now is the time to come back to our bodies, as in a perfectly standardized society, it appears to me that, envisioning complex, non-normative embodiments in more radical ways, is in itself a site of resistance against the discourse of sameness and oppression. A site of remembrance and reverence to fungal stories where multitudes of minds and bodies are honored. 

Like mushrooms in a forest, may we stand tall and proud in our uniqueness, knowing that it is what makes us truly extraordinary. 

What would happen if we, as relational beings, accepted this invitation and decided to join the dance? 

Just imagine.

If what you’ve just read resonated with you and you’d like to join Malaury and IRB in an exploration around this topic, please be on the lookout for the upcoming Unpacking Sameness With Mushrooms: The Workshop. Details and dates coming soon!

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Clare E. (2017). ‘Notes on natural worlds, disabled bodies, and politics of cure’, In :Ray, Sarah Jaquette and Sibara, Jay. ‘Disability studies and the environmental humanities: Toward an eco-crip theory’, University of Nebraska Press, pp.242-63.

Goodley Dan. (2012) ‘Dis/entangling critical disability studies’, Disability & Society, (28)5, pp.631-644). 

Hearn, Jeff. (1992). Men in the Public Eye: The Construction and Deconstruction of Public Men and Public Patriarchies. London: Routledge.

Manning, Erin, and Brian Massumi.(2014). ‘Thought in the Act : Passages in the Ecology of Experience’, University of Minnesota Press. Pp.03-22.