Evidence of Special Privileges in Alternative Controlled Environments

2025

Created for Common Sentience at 601ArtSpace in New York City, NY

Two French Marigold plants (Tagetes patula) of the same age, height, and development were grown in two identical environments and given two different treatments.

Marigold #1 was housed with a video recording of a string quartet playing the second movement of "Air" by Johann Sebastian Bach, 3rd orchestral suite (D minor; BWV 1068).*

Marigold #2 was housed with a video recording of shouted obscenities.

The sun rays entering through the window were recorded weekly for two months. During the experiment, contrary to the expectations and previous studies, two separate pairs of marigolds reacted more favorably to the shouts than to the music.

* This follows the 1974 University of California at Irvine study on the positive effects of music on plant growth. Protoplasm, the translucent living matter of which all animals and plant cells are composed, is in a state of perpetual movement. The vibrations picked up by the plant might speed up the protoplasmic movement in the cells. This stimulation could then affect the system and improve performance, such as the manufacture of nutrients that develop a stronger and better plant.