Mushrooms are a true staple in pop culture. From being a source of healing in folklore to a vital ingredient in some recipes, they have established their place in human lives. Pop culture has done a great job in incorporating the use of mushrooms as a storytelling element in various forms of media, whether it be books, movies or videogames. With works like Alice in Wonderland and Super Mario Bros, mushrooms have been integrated into the narrative and have added a whole new dimension to the story. Let’s have a closer look at how mushrooms have been used in our favorite pop culture references.
1. Alice in Wonderland
Mushrooms play a crucial role in Alice’s journey across the wonderland. The mushroom given to Alice by the caterpillar (who is sitting atop a mushroom smoking hookah) gives Alice the “key” to navigating Wonderland aka her own internal journey. One side makes her larger and the other makes her small, showing how mushrooms can be used as a literary tool to convey the narrative and affect the characters. Alice’s adventure would be incomplete without the use of fungus.
2. Super Mario Bros
The most famous plumbers in the world have had their fair share of saving the princess and battling against their arch-nemesis Bowser, but what’s less known is the important role that mushrooms play in their quest. Certain mushrooms grant special abilities to their characters, similar to how the use of mushrooms in cooking can alter the taste and consistency of the dish. In Super Mario Bros, Mario and Luigi can consume mushrooms that change their size or give them powers like super strength for breaking brick blocks or extra lives, which has contributed massively to the success of this iconic videogame franchise.
3. The Last of Us
The thrilling post-apocalyptic videogame features a world plagued by an infection caused by cordyceps. The game revolves around the protagonist Joel, who is immune to the infection and embarks on a dangerous journey across the country with Ellie, a young girl who they hope possesses the cure. The fungus in The Last of Us is used in the plot very differently than in Alice in Wonderland since it’s used as a tool to pose an imminent threat to humanity, and the fungus itself is integral to the story.
4. The Smurfs
The classic children’s cartoon also features the use of mushrooms in a positive light. The Smurfs’ village is surrounded by an abundance of the fluffy fungi, and their use in the show is mainly for food, medicine, and construction. It’s a unique take on the use of mushrooms in pop culture, and it helps to drive home the message that mushrooms can have multiple uses.
From the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland to the post-apocalyptic dystopia of The Last of Us, mushrooms have cemented their place in pop culture. The different ways mushrooms are integrated into these stories speak to the adaptability and relevance of mushrooms in the real world. From their role in cooking to their medicinal properties, mushrooms are used in various manners, and pop culture has done an excellent job of showcasing this versatility. As long as there’s a creative outlet, mushrooms will continue to make an impact on pop culture and human lives.
