PRODUCTIONS: JUST MEETING OR MATING

DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

DURATION

VERSIONS

FORMAT

Carlo & Lodovico Prola

Ditta Prola

26'

SD

Observing the animal kingdom we recognise much of our own behaviour. It looks as if all living beings had a common pool of symbols, rituals and gestures to regulate the social interaction and to contribute to the harmonious progress of their communities.
Among animals the strategies to find, approach and seduce a partner are seemingly infinite.
But why do all animals, from mammals to birds, from reptiles to insects, spend so much energy in courtship? Why have they developed such complex and time-consuming methods? The answer is relatively simple. Among the mechanisms of selection that precede mating, courtship is the most important for it allows avoiding any waste of the genetic patrimony of the species. Courtship is made of "key incentives" or "rousing incentives" that work only among members of the same species. These signals allow recognition, help to remove natural aggressiveness and synchronise sexual maturity of both partners, therefore excluding the risk of copulation between different species.