As a beginning to our multimedia part of our production aspects, we were very taken with the idea of the use of footage of rotting apples to be used in our performance one way or another. As well as being visually stunning if it were to work in the way that we wished, we also believed that the overall use of something like this would be poignant. Especially with the idea of the symbol of the apple being the start of scientific discovery, or at least some would say.

We knew from the start that this particular aspect would definitely make its way onto our list of 101 to use on the day of the performance.  Micro-organisms such as bacteria, yeasts and fungi feed on the fruit and break it down. The rotting gives off a gas called ethylene oxide, which gives it the foul odor (which is still unfortunately lingering in my house). What is interesting to note (upon research) that ethylene oxide causes acute poisoning in humans.  Headache, nausea and vomiting have been reported for more than fifty years. Peripheral neuropathy (which is damage to the peripheral nervous system), impaired hand-eye coordination and memory loss have been reported in more recent case studies of chronically-exposed workers exposed to high levels of ethylene oxide.

(1) 

Not only is it both natural and scientific, but a lot could be taken in the form of symbolism – looking beyond the initial visual that the audience would take in and the science surrounding the rotting itself. Not only could it be seen as the end of our performance or projections if we wish to use it in the form on an anticlimax after an overload of footage, but rotting fruit in itself is surrounded by many superstitions.

Some say fruit is usually associated with fertility, youth and sensuality, and with our use of this symbol rotting, it could be seen as the downfall of those things and society in itself. Without reproduction and life enjoyment as a whole, outlook on life would be very dull. With this in mind, we could perhaps play on society decay as a motif if we wished to do so. Or yet again, it could be up to audience interpretation.

As far as dream reading is concerned, further reading found that dreaming of rotting fruits could mean to deal with the end of a chapter in the life which went earlier to an end than expected or with a plan which was broken off. They announce the other disappointments and failures which a person experiences. Also the fear of an illness of an illness in the family and/or friends. Perhaps having this footage available for viewing, it may or may not coax out these thoughts of an audience member, or we could even explain this in either display format or a performance.

(2) 

I have included excerpts of rotting footage that we have already collected ready to use in media performance. Video (1) shows an apple with a few bites taken out of it (to speed up the rotting process) filmed at room temperature over three days. Being under both room lighting and natural lighting, I think that this may have sped up the process.

Video (2) is mashed fruit filmed over just one day. The effects of this arent quite as obvious as video (1) but I find it interesting that the flesh of the fruit appears to melt as it rots.

Video (3) was filmed slightly differently using a stop-go animation process over just a few hours under a harsh light. The fruit was also peeled which apparently sped up the process dramatically.

(3) 

To add to this, there are a few experiments that experiment with ways to preserve apples from decaying, using lemon juice, vinegar and salt water. Perhaps showing all three of these methods on display on the day after a week of being left to sit would be an idea. Or at least to conduct it in our own time and noting down the results.