What medieval artists teach us about animal sex

The prevailing view is that animals mainly have sex to reproduce. Until recently, therefore, scientists assumed that animals were relentlessly heterosexual. This is the message conveyed by countless zoos, wildlife documentaries, books and films. Think March of the Penguins or 2014’s controversial Noah. Such representations perpetuate the belief that animals are best seen through the lens of human “norms” of gender, sex and family.