Extension and the Ground in Motion’s Gestalt: Literal and metaphoric

Abstract

We propose that in pictures both the extended limbs of actors and the ground are involved in gestalts for movement. Limbs extend to suggest more motion literally when a dancer is in air and refer to a canonical pose when on the ground. A running pony’s curled limbs off the ground depict fast action literally. A horse’s flying-gallop off the ground suggests speedy motion metaphorically. Cast shadows indicate the actor’s location with respect to the ground. We consider extended and curled limbs, on-ground and off, in literal and metaphoric pictures.

Keywords

• motion
• extension
• gestalt
• animals
• dancers
• ground
• shadows
• extremes