Fetal Position

Diego Velazquez
Venus, Spain

Stephen Wilkes's inverted version:

Definition: 

Fetal position (British English: foetal) is a medical term used to describe the positioning of the body of a prenatal fetus as it develops. In this position, the back is curved, the head is bowed, and the limbs are bent and drawn up to the torso.

This position is used in the medical profession to minimize injury to the neck and chest.

Sometimes, when a person has suffered extreme physical or psychological trauma (including massive stress), they will assume the fetal position or a similar position in which the back is curved forward, the legs are brought up as tightly against the abdomen as possible, the head is bowed as close to the abdomen as possible, and the arms are wrapped around the head to prevent further trauma. This position provides better protection to the brain and vital organs than simply lying spread out on the ground, so it is obvious as to why it is an instinctual reaction to extreme stress or trauma when the brain is no longer able to cope with the surrounding environment, and in essence "shuts down" temporarily.

The fetal position has been observed in drug addicts, who enter the position when experiencing withdrawal.

Many people assume this position when sleeping, especially when the body becomes cold.

http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Fetal_position

Symbolism: 

A character is seen in the fetal position before or after going through some kind of "rebirth": legs replied against the body, head close to the knees and arms crossed in front of the legs.

This is of course highly symbolic, this position being one of an unborn child. The character will also often be nude (for reasons like Naked on Revival or Out-of-Clothes Experience), and sometimes floating (in a void, in a liquid...) to better deliver the analogy with a baby in the mother's womb.

Here, "rebirth" is taken in a very general sense and can mean many things: ascending to a higher plane of existence, experiencing a great revelation, going through a massive physical transformation, healing after a very serious mangling, waking up after hibernation, etc.

It can be even be an actual birth if preceding a Reincarnation, or in the case of an Artificial Human or Clone.

To be clear, this trope doesn't concern every instance of a character curling in a fetal position, most likely after a traumatic event — the latter beingTroubled Fetal Position. Fetal Position Rebirth is used when illustrating a symbolic (re)birth or major upheaval for the personage.

http://tvtropes.org

Similarities with Michelangelo

Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs
Marble, 1492
(source/more Michelangelo)

This looks like Wilkes's revised version!

Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici: Dawn
Marble, 1524-1531
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

Here's another one!

What's interesting is everything seems to be opposite...for example: Michelangelo's faces toward the viewer & Wilkes's faces away; the right leg is bent & in the other the left leg is bent...

Photography Contest of Water in the National Geographic

More from the Series

Article relating to Photographs

Symbolism of Water

"Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." --Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

The symbolism of water has a universal undertone of purity and fertility. Symbolically, it is often viewed as the source of life itself as we see evidence in countless creation myths in which life emerges from primordial waters.
Interestingly, we are all made of water, and so we can liken many of these myths and allegories to our own existence (the macrocosm mirroring the microcosm and vice versa). Further, we can incorporate symbolism of circulation, life, cohesion and birth by associating the creative waters of the earth with the fluids found in our own body (i.e., blood).
In Taoist tradition, water is considered an aspect of wisdom. The concept here is that water takes on the form in which it is held and moves in the path of least resistance. Here the symbolic meaning of water speaks of a higher wisdom we may all aspire to mimic.
The ever-observant ancient Greeks understood the power of transition water holds. From liquid, to solid, to vapor - water is the epitomal symbol for metamorphosis and philosophical recycling.
Among the first peoples of North America, water was considered a valuable commodity (particularly in the more arid plains and western regions) and the Native Americans considered water to be a symbol of life (further solidifying the symbol affixed in many creation myths).
So it is also with the ancient Egyptians as we learn their beloved (and heavily relied upon) Nile river is akin to the birth canal of their existence.


A quick list of symbolic meanings for water include (but are not limited to):

• Transformation
• Subconscious
• Fertilization
• Purification
• Reflection
• Intuition
• Renewal
• Blessing
• Motion
• Life

 Astrologically, we can find symbolism of water through the zodiac signs.

• Cardinal water sign of Cancer (the crab) indicates purity, clarity and refreshment
• Fixed water sign of Scorpio (the scorpion) speaks of mystery, stillness and reflection
• Mutable water sign of Pisces (the fish) indicates depth, motion and life
  
  More on Symbolism

What is Water?

Water is the most valuable resource and the most passionately contested. Drought has become an increasingly extreme problem in many parts of the world, and it is predicted that 60% of the major cities in Europe will run short of water in the next decade. In industrialized countries per capita water usage continues to rise intractably, despite strenuous efforts by environmentalists and resource managers to encourage conservation. Conflicts over water and environmental degradation from the overuse of resources are intensifying.

Water is not merely a physical resource: in every cultural context it is densely encoded with social, spiritual, political and environmental meanings, and these have a powerful effect upon patterns of water use and upon the relationships between water users and suppliers. --Veronica Strang
The Meaning of Water (the book)


In general Water symbolizes the subconscious mind. It is the world of the soul and dreams. Evocative of all the emotions and qualities which cannot be measured by physical means.
It is also used as a purifying element because passing through it is evocative of passing through the subconscious, thereby loosing the ego, which is an essential part of spiritual transition in all religious and spiritual teachings. --Penguin Dictionary of Symbolism


Spiritual References:
Water is addressed in Scripture nearly one thou­sand times. Aside from being an essential of life one cannot go without water very long it is an ancient symbol of refreshing, irrigation, and growth. In Bible times and regions, water could be scarce and so Scripture took opportunity to enforce the necessity of man living only by the word of God and used water as its sym­bolism. It is indisputable that water equates to life being essential for drinking, cooking, even cleaning (John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26). Symbolically water is the word of the Lord, a stream or issue of spirituality, a body or collection of knowledge, teaching, spiri­tual or religious doctrine. In the latter context, that of teaching or spiritual doctrine (Revelation 12:15), water is spewed out of the mouth of the dragon in order to flood the women he hated so with his uncleanness, that is with heretical doctrine that the woman, symbolizing the New Creation church, preaches instead of the Lord's gospel. It is recognized by being rigidly intellectual or mystical in nature. Water is equated to the life-giving power of redemption, and human spirits that take in Christ to become His wells of salvation. See Isaiah 12:3. --The Prophets Dictionary


In prophecy: Multitudes of people
In metaphor: Life (not a duration of time but Life as opposed to death)
It also has a great deal to do with the spiritual purity or filthiness of a person's life. People who speak good words are compared to wellsprings of fresh water, people with words that hurt people (curses) are compared to springs of bitter water (water that makes people sick and cannot sustain life).
People who try to rule over others but offer no benefit to people are likened to storm clouds that drop no rain.
The deepness of a body of water at times symbolizes a depth of wisdom, so that the wiser you are the deeper of a well you are, or the wiser you are, the deeper of a well you are able to search to the bottom of. Deep waters = the unknown.
There are no Seas on the new earth God is going to create, I think this is literal and symbolic; Symbolic in the sense of no more pain inducing deep mysteries such as the questions that often plague us in this life. --Yahoo

Non Verbal Communication

Categories of Non Verbal Communication

Communication is transferring information between one person and another.  Non verbal communication can be divided into four categories: aesthetic, physical, signs, and symbols. Following is an explanation and examples of non verbal communication.   

• Aesthetic communication occurs through creative expression.  This would include all the arts: music, dance, theatre, crafts, art, painting, and sculpture.  Ballet is a great example of this, as there is dance and music, but no spoken or sung words.  Even in an opera, where there are words, there are still facial expressions, costumes, posture, and gestures.   
• Physical communication covers the personal kind of communication, and includes a smile or frown, wink, touch, smell, salute, gesture, and other bodily movements.  Social conversation uses a lot of these physical signals along with the spoken words. 
• Signs are a more mechanical kind of non verbal communication, which includes signal flags or lights, a 21 gun salute, a display of airplanes in formation, horns, and sirens.   
• Symbols of communication are used for religious or personal status reasons, as well as to build self esteem.  This includes jewelry, cars, clothing, and other things to communicate social status, financial means, influence, or religion.    

Physical Communication

Physical communication is the most used form of non verbal communication.  A person that is aware of another’s non verbal cues will understand that person better.  Even the way you are standing and your position in a group of people can communicate.   

The amount of distance between you and another person will be interpreted a certain way, and the meaning will change according to the culture.  It can mean either an attraction, or can signal intensity.  Standing side-to-side can show cooperation, where a face-to-face posture may show competition.  Your posture can communicate in a non verbal way, whether you are folding your arms, slouching, crossing your legs, or standing and sitting erect.  Finally, any actual touching can convey attraction or a level of intimacy.  Examples of non verbal communication of this type include shaking hands, patting the back, hugging, pushing, or other kinds of touch. 

Other forms of non verbal communication are facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact.  When someone is talking, they notice changes in facial expressions and respond accordingly.  These include raising your eyebrows, yawning, sneering, rolling your eyes, gaping, and nodding.  The meaning of these movements is pretty much the same in all cultures.  Gestures, however, are many times an individual’s way of communicating as most people gesture when talking.  Eye contact is very important in communicating nonverbally.  You can read a person’s emotion through their eyes, and many times is not the same emotion as their words are saying.   

Effects of Non Verbal Communication

Non verbal communication, especially body language, can send a strong message, in spite of what your words say.  Even the tone of your voice, its pitch, volume, quality, and speed effects what you say.  Your body language can:

• Repeat the message your words are saying
• Contradict what your words are saying
• Be a substitution for your verbal message
• Add to the meaning of your message
• Accent or make the message stronger, like pounding your fist on a table

Relationships depend on non verbal communication if they are to be strong and lasting.  The quality of your relationships can be improved if you can skillfully read people, and understand the emotions behind their words.  When one party receives mixed signals, trust can leave the relationship and it will be damaged.  Trust can be created in a relationship by sending non verbal clues that match your words.  The way you respond to someone nonverbally can show that you understand and care about them and the relationship will grow and be fulfilling to both.

Different Point of View

What Message is Conveyed When Only the Back is Shown (rear view)?

What about a lower angle looking upwards?

David, Marble, 1504
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

"Michelangelo's David, sculpted from 1501 to 1504, is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture .... The 5.17 meter (17 ft)[1] marble statue portrays the Biblical King David in the nude, at the moment that he decides to battle with Goliath. It came to symbolize the defense of civic liberties embodied in the Florentine Republic, an independent city state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states and by the hegemony of the Medici themselves."

In the above case, the lower angle emphasizes the courage portrayed in both the Biblical story and the Florentine Republic's. The angle also glorifies the decision to stand up to their rivals.
In photography, a lower angle looking up creates a child's point of view for the viewer (rather than authoritative). This puts the subject on a pedestal.

Cornelisz (Cornelis van Haarlem)
DenmarkMars and Venus

In the above picture, the man's back is turned to the viewer. This suggests that he is attempting to shut the viewer out.

Both concepts can be seen in Wilkes's work: