Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
action) but are not essential to the action.
Tertiary actions
are those that occur
in the overall movement as a
result
of either primary or secondary actions.
You may find it beneficial to link the primary action within the movement you
are analyzing to one of these categories. Let's consider a baseball player striking
a ball with the bat. This is clearly classified as giving motion to an external
object through a striking action, the primary action being the movement
of the arms that swing the bat. We could consider the secondary action, the
movement of the feet to place the body in the appropriate place in relation to
the location of the ball at the time of the strike and to maintain balance in the
figure throughout the action. The tertiary actions are normally considered the
action of objects external to the figure, such as garments; in this case the term
could be applied to the movement of the batter's back foot as it slides across
the ground while the figure moves forward through the batting action.
Actions may also be broken further into the different sequential phases
of the movement that, when seen together and in order, describe the overall
dynamic:
•
Preparatory phase
. During this phase a figure will adopt a posture or stance
prior to and in readiness for the action.
•
Execution phase
. During this part of the action the figure applies force to
either the figure itself or to an external subject in order for the action to
take place.
•
Resulting phase
. The figure enters this phase of the sequence as a result of
the release of power or the exertion of force and the desired action having
been undertaken.
•
Recovery phase
. Once the action is completed, the figure will return to a
rest position, which may either be the original position at the start of the
action or a new position arrived at as a result of this action.
To fully appreciate the way in which human movement is achieved, we must
not only consider the issues of physiognomy but also take into account a wide
range of related issues. Psychological issues, gender and age issues, cultural
issues, environmental issues, seasonal issues, economic, and even political
issues will often inform the way a figure moves as an individual or as a member
of a group; they may even be the determining factor in the movement.
Movement under Loads
The movement of a figure under a load may have a huge effect on that figure's
action and greatly determine the nature of its gait. Alternatively, the load
may have little effect on the figure and the impact on the action may hardly
be noticed at all. Much is determined by the nature of the load, its size, its
weight, and the material of which it is made. The action will also vary greatly
depending on the structure and size of the figure carrying the load.
It would be expected in ordinary circumstances that there would be a more
noticeable effect on the movement of a figure carrying a heavy object than
