prendrelemick
01-11-2009, 05:24 PM
A thread on this board inspired me to do it.;)
English Grammar.
A man walks down the street. Let’s watch him, let’s slow down time and watch him.
Notice how, as the heel of his front foot makes contact with the ground his trailing foot is up on its toes, lifting his entire weight, and driving forwards. The standing leg locks as the weight is transferred onto it, it must also make a thousand tiny adjustments to maintain balance. The knee of the trailing leg bends to lift the foot clear of the ground, at the same time the pelvis tilts over to give more clearance and to charge the leg with potential energy, that is released forwards in a pendulum motion. The momentum of the swing is kept going by straightening the knee as it passes the vertical, (the pelvis lift being sufficient to keep the foot clear) and by rotating the pelvis forwards. The leg swings far enough to overbalance the whole body, this must be ignored by the Central Nervous System and allowed to happen, the ‘fall’ is arrested by the heel of the swinging foot making contact with the ground.
There, that’s one step completed. Repeat.
Of course there’s a lot more going on besides, his arms are counter-swinging to the movement of his legs. His eyes are scanning for any problems or pitfalls up ahead, his spine, his shoulders and even the canals of his inner ear, all play their subtle part.
Now let’s return to normal speed and watch him. See his smoothly flowing gait, all those elements above meld into each other naturally and seamlessly, it is a whole, it is done without conscious thought. It looks good. But it’s unremarkable.
So let’s change things. Give him a corn or a stiff back, his step alters, have him deep in thought, or aware that we are watching him, and it will change. Make him obese, or tired. Make him late, or an ex guardsman. Put him in trainers, he’s bouncier, make him a woman in high heels and watch those hips sway.
You’re in charge, you can make him walk anyway you like.
English Grammar.
A man walks down the street. Let’s watch him, let’s slow down time and watch him.
Notice how, as the heel of his front foot makes contact with the ground his trailing foot is up on its toes, lifting his entire weight, and driving forwards. The standing leg locks as the weight is transferred onto it, it must also make a thousand tiny adjustments to maintain balance. The knee of the trailing leg bends to lift the foot clear of the ground, at the same time the pelvis tilts over to give more clearance and to charge the leg with potential energy, that is released forwards in a pendulum motion. The momentum of the swing is kept going by straightening the knee as it passes the vertical, (the pelvis lift being sufficient to keep the foot clear) and by rotating the pelvis forwards. The leg swings far enough to overbalance the whole body, this must be ignored by the Central Nervous System and allowed to happen, the ‘fall’ is arrested by the heel of the swinging foot making contact with the ground.
There, that’s one step completed. Repeat.
Of course there’s a lot more going on besides, his arms are counter-swinging to the movement of his legs. His eyes are scanning for any problems or pitfalls up ahead, his spine, his shoulders and even the canals of his inner ear, all play their subtle part.
Now let’s return to normal speed and watch him. See his smoothly flowing gait, all those elements above meld into each other naturally and seamlessly, it is a whole, it is done without conscious thought. It looks good. But it’s unremarkable.
So let’s change things. Give him a corn or a stiff back, his step alters, have him deep in thought, or aware that we are watching him, and it will change. Make him obese, or tired. Make him late, or an ex guardsman. Put him in trainers, he’s bouncier, make him a woman in high heels and watch those hips sway.
You’re in charge, you can make him walk anyway you like.