photo credit: The Sundancechannel, Isabella Rossellini in GREEN PORNO: LIMPETS
Note: this post is NSFVert*
What happens when you mix the aesthetics of children’s television with the topic of of randy sea creatures and cover it all in a saucy French accent? You get Isabella Rosellini’s Green Porno show on the Sundance Channel. In the first season this series of short, playful videos uncovered the sex lives of terrestrial invertebrates. For the second season, which premieres today, the producers plumb the depths of aquatic reproduction. There are six videos in this new line up. Sadly, they did not use the phrase testicular parasite when describing the reproduction strategies of the anglerfish. Claudio Campagna was the scientific consultant for the production.
In Bedding Video
I suspect that inside ever marine science educator is a perverse desire to tell the public like it really is, to talk about the sex lives of sea creatures without inhibition. But would these videos ever be appropriate to use in a typical instructional setting?
Also, one of the complaints Isabella raised in the press release is her frustration with the use of scientific names. She chose the marine organisms listed above because she felt the names were familiar and accessible. I like to think of myself as a recreational taxonomist, so I’ve forgotten what a hurdle the Latinate names can be. Even though it is jargon, understanding classification can open up a whole other world of understanding. Knowing the higher classifications (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family) allows one to perceive (and predict) the relationship between organisms. And often the genus and species names will also impart some insight into the nature of a particular organism. And yet here is this barrier, which is really rather low, and yet it puts off so many people.
So having finished with the Green and the Blue, what could possibly be next? If there were ever to be a third season, what would you suggest that Isabella and company talk about?
*Not safe for vertebrates, if you are the kind of spine that gets twisted by discussions that include things like spermatophore, epivagina or copulation.
{ 3 comments }
From Green to Blue to… Red, I suppose. Perhaps terrestrial parasites might be the way to go? I’m sure there’s plenty of drama in the strepsipterans’ permanently endoparasitic female and free-living, short-lived adult male.
Christopher – That’s a great idea. The sex lives of parasites are very strange. But many are so complex, it would be interesting to see if they could be encapsulated in a 1-2 minute video.
Also, your blog is one of my favorites. Highly recommended for any other recreational taxonomist out there that would like to classify vicariously through your inordinate fondness for systematics.
This has a very Dr. Tatiana feel to it…