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The natural properties of mushrooms, or fungi, have been seen as possible answers to some of the world’s problems. But mushrooms are also cultural. They are celebrated for their flavor, yet can also be hallucinogenic. They carry emotional, historical, and religious associations, while also appearing as commodities. This talk explores how mushrooms are represented through the intertwined image of decay and life. It considers the ties between fungi, humans and the ecological world, and reflects on what mushroom life might teach us in an age shadowed by apocalyptic anxiety.