The narrative curse of the elemental is a phenomenon that occurs within storytelling, specifically in fantasy and adventure narratives. It refers to the repetitive pattern of including an elemental creature or force as a central plot device. **The repeated use of elemental creatures or forces in storytelling serves as a narrative curse, as it limits the creativity and originality of the story.** Elemental creatures, such as fire, water, earth, and air, have long been used in folklore and mythology to represent the fundamental forces of nature. In storytelling, they are often portrayed as powerful beings with control over their respective elements. They can be either allies or enemies, depending on the context of the story.
As it is currently described, H. conica is found on the ground under hardwood and conifer trees in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. You can find the Witch’s Hat across North America fruiting from early summer through fall, or fall through winter in warmer climates like California. There are usually a few to many of these mushrooms scattered around a small area, so if you see one make sure to look around for more! 1,3
Soon after you collect one of these mushrooms, the stipe usually splits in multiple places and curls back, leaving you with a bunch of stringy sections. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest.
They can be either allies or enemies, depending on the context of the story. However, the narrative curse of the elemental comes into play when writers and filmmakers rely too heavily on these creatures to create conflict or resolution in their stories. This overuse of elementals can lead to predictability and a lack of originality in the narrative.
Witch hat musyroom
In keeping with a Halloween theme, this month's fungus is the witch's hat mushroom, Hygrocybe conica, also known as Hygrophorus conicus (more on the taxonomy later). With its orange color and witch hat shape, this mushroom is a natural for Halloween. This fungus is common this time of year in coniferous and mixed conifer/hardwood woods-- we took this picture of mushrooms collected by Bernadette O'Reilly in a mixed pine and scrub red oak forest a couple weeks ago. At least here in the midwestern USA, the further north you go, the more likely you are to find Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus specimens. Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus species are reportedly mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers, although I've yet to see definitive proof. They certainly are difficult to culture, indicating that there's something (essential nutrients?) missing in "normal" media.
You may have learned this species as Hygrophorus conicus, but for many year there Hygrocybe has been segregated from Hygrophorus. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. In the field the distinctions between the genera are pretty clear, with a few exceptions. A third genus Camarophyllus, is also segregated out by some. These genera are placed in the family Hygrophoraceae because of their waxy gills and mycorrhizal habit. My students often have trouble with "waxy." I tell them to think of waxy here as the consistency of soft candle wax, not of hardened cold candles.
These genera, once all placed in the genus Hygrophorus, are now separated from one another on the basis of microscopic characters, primarily the arrangement of the hyphae in the gill trama. The gill trama is the flesh of the gills, underneath the outside layer of basidia and basidiospores. To determine the arrangement of the trama, you should look to see how the hyphae grew out from the center of the mushroom toward the outside. In Hygrocybe the gill trama hyphae are parallel to subparallel. In Hygrophorus the trama is divergent. The arrangement of the trama is considered by most agaricologists to be a very important character at the generic level. In the picture to the left, you can see the parallel trama of Hygrocybe conica and the divergent trama of Hygrophorus russula. The origin of each gill section is to the right, and the end of the gill of each section is to the left. The basidia are borne on the outside of the gills, showing up as a dark, dense area in these sections.
However, lumper that I am, I did not believe the distinction was valid until I went to a foray in 1997 in the mountains of New Mexico and saw many species of Hygrophorus there (we don't have very many of these species in our area). Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe are quite different in stature and overall appearance. Hygrocybe species tend to be more brightly colored and much smaller, although there are some bright white Hygrocybe species bigger than any Hygrophorus I've ever seen. Hygrophorus species tend to have more muted colors and are much larger. If you are a "lumper," you might still consider that all these species belong in a single genus, Hygrophorus. Bill Cibula (now retired from NASA) worked on the carotenoid pigments in these genera many years ago, although little of it is yet published. Someone also needs to work on the DNA of these organisms. Taxonomy is often a matter of opinion anyway.
There are many other species of Hygrocybe , ranging in color from red to yellow to orange to white. To the left is Hygrocybe psittacina, the parrot mushroom, so named because of the green color fading out to yellow as it ages. There are many other species of Hygrocybe that may litter the ground, especially in conifer areas.
Below is Hygrophorus russula, our most common Hygrophorus in the midwestern USA. The epithet names comes from the superficial similarity of its fruiting bodies to those of Russula. Note the more muted coloration compared to the Hygrocybe specimens. You probably can't tell from this picture, but these specimens are ten times larger than any of the Hygrocybe species pictured on this page. However, there certainly are a wide variety of colors and sizes represented in each of the genera. Be on the lookout for them in your area.
I hope you enjoyed learning something about Hygrocybe conica. And I hope you have a Happy Halloween. Maybe you should incorporate a mushroom into your Halloween costume? I'd love to see a picture if you do. I'll even include it online if you give me permission to do so.
- Tremella mesenterica, witch's butter.
- Claviceps purpurea, cause of the plant disease ergot and likely factor in the Salem Witch Trials
- Omphalotus olearius, the Jack-O-Lantern Mushroom.
**The narrative curse of the elemental limits the possibilities for storytelling by confining the plot to a predictable cycle of elemental encounters and battles.** For example, a story might feature a hero who must defeat an evil fire elemental to save their village. This hero may go on a quest to gather special weapons or engage in training to develop powers to defeat the elemental. While this narrative structure can be effective, if it is repeated too often, it becomes repetitive and uninspiring. **The narrative curse of the elemental can also limit cultural diversity and representation in storytelling.** In many mythologies and folklore, different cultures have their own unique interpretations of elemental creatures. For instance, water may be associated with healing and purification in one culture, while another culture may view it as a force of destruction and chaos. **However, if the narrative curse of the elemental is not broken, these diverse interpretations may be overlooked or simplified in favor of a more generic portrayal.** To break free from the narrative curse of the elemental, storytellers must challenge themselves to explore different types of conflicts and resolutions. They can introduce new creatures or forces that are not traditionally associated with elements or reinterpret existing elemental creatures in innovative ways. Ultimately, breaking the narrative curse of the elemental encourages storytellers to think outside the box and create narratives that are fresh, engaging, and truly captivating. **By doing so, they can push the boundaries of the fantasy and adventure genres and offer audiences new and exciting narratives to enjoy..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Elemental: Exploring the Blurred Line Between Power and Responsibility"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Narrative Curse of the Elemental" based on the intriguing synopsis, but I was ultimately disappointed. The story felt disjointed and the pacing was inconsistent. The characters lacked depth and the dialogue seemed forced. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the story and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Emily - 3 stars - While "Narrative Curse of the Elemental" had potential, it fell short in execution. The writing style was confusing at times, making it difficult to follow the plot. The world-building was lackluster and the descriptions were not vivid enough to immerse me in the story. The ending felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers. I had hoped for a more engaging and coherent narrative.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Narrative Curse of the Elemental". The story seemed unfocused and the plot lacked clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often felt contrived. There were several inconsistencies in the world-building that distracted from the overall reading experience. I was left feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the story.