VERECUNDIA
SHYNESS
Plant ideology reflects real-world effects of a constant inundation of media; there is a plant that is ‘shy’(mimosa pudica). It's not that the plant is dying, that it's activating its “defence mechanism” to camouflage itself from being eaten by herbivores. It recoils as it is touched, a physical embodiment of how people might recoil if they are overwhelmed, withdrawing from interactions that they don’t enjoy, are overstimulating, or present them with other negative experiences or consequences. In the online world where we are in a ‘constant state of readiness’ (Mark Fisher) the shy plant teaches us it is okay to self-preserve, and is perhaps even a natural, and respectable response to certain stimuli.
SOCIOTAR DESCRIPTION...
To have two states. The plant avatar will be a balloon-like shape that pulses like a heartbeat. The mimosa pudica shyness plants (pink flowers) will cover the surface of the balloon shape. When the avatar is in its full shape, it will be fully inflated and you will be able to see all the flowers - the ‘heartbeat’ pulse will be slow like a relaxed heart. In this state the plant will be floating above the ground. When the plant avatar is triggered, the balloon shape will deflate and appear to be one small flower. The heartbeat will increase to represent the nervousness/shyness. The plant will also sink to bury itself in the ground and hide itself away.
This plant will be against a pale blue background in its full state to represent a calm space where it feels comfortable. When the plant becomes shy and deflates, the background will become red to show discomfort. The shyness will be triggered by the frame shaking (like a creature stomping on the ground) and a loud shaking/clattering noise. When it is in its calm state the noise will be calming like a wave noise or birds singing.