Posture And Position

You can find definitions of Posture and Position in dictionaries. Position and Posture are concepts that are necessarily linked because some definitions of Posture use the concept 'position'. Thus, firstly, one can say that 'position' is a more general term than 'posture'.

Thus 'position' is a term for a so-called 'configuration of the human body'. Think of positions too in choreography or choreographic positions. You may have difficulty thinking of positions and you can think of positions in dance or performance. Remember dance or performance routines and think specifically of the so-called position of the human body before the actual performance. Think of specific positions of soldiers as they guard a building. Now a problem here is that the former positions referring to dance and choreography also can possibly be called 'poses'.

'Position' is an important concept in choreography as well as designing and directing. 'Position' can be understood thus in an artistic way. Note models as they turn their necks to emphasise the throat and perhaps to emphasise the drape of an accessory e.g. a scarf,. This latter so-called element of posture which is apparent in a 'turn of the head' must be carried through to the rest of the body. The whole body has a posture, you might say, or it is better to say that this particular human body has a posture. It is not perhaps wise to use the term 'whole body'. Maybe indeed, you can say the whole body has a certain position and even you can say that the individual here is striking a pose. Thus the terms 'position' ' pose' and 'posture' are certainly linked.

So when we talk about the model turning her head in a specific way, is this a position or a posture? Maybe it is better called a 'pose'. Remember that 'position' describes a so-called configuration of the human body. It is important indeed to define what configuration is but when defining these two terms, 'position' and 'posture', it is better to describe particular instances, or particular 'positions' of the human body and then you can ask whether it is better to call the latter 'postures', 'poses' or even just 'positions'. It is not wise to talk about posture and position abstractly especially if one is looking at these terms an ergonomic or design viewpoint or maybe you want better information about the nature of the human body.

Note specifically that 'position' is a general term. 'Position' then is a general term and it refers to the body and its configuration. The body can be still and it can move. Position, some might say, is an attribute of the human body but in some way this is too philosophical or abstract. And there is a danger of defining terms like position, posture and pose in an abstract way. One can easily get mired in an abstract definition of 'position' and related terms. It is better to look at what we have. How are terms like 'posture' and 'pose' generally used? Are 'postures' and 'poses' just types of 'positions'? In ordinary speak, for example, we can ask what a good posture is. Thus posture relates to health and ergonomics. Posture relates to a position taken habitually or intentionally. If the posture is taken habitually, this refers to the way we position ourselves without thinking at desks and workplaces.

Thus, health workers and ergonomists can say what a good posture is. Health wise, a good posture is a so-called good position for a human body to assume. Posture thus seems to describe something intentional or habitual. These are good words to use and of course these words 'intentional' and 'habitual' are specifically used in definitions for 'posture'.

One can in some way equate 'position' with 'posture' but 'posture' is a word that is used re: health issues and ergonomical issues . A term such as 'pose' refers more to something artistic and a pose can be intentional too. However, when a model poses for an artist, you don't say that the model is deliberately or intentionally doing something. Thus 'pose' seems to be something particular; it refers to a particular position within a specific domain e.g. modelling. 'Posture' refers to something more concerned with ergonomics and health related issues.

Posture seems to relate directly to position but when one discusses posture in an area like ergonomics, one is obviously concerning ourselves with specific scientific issues e.g. a certain configuration of the human body. We may stand straight and this standing straight can be categorised as a pose perhaps. We might call this a 'straight pose' or a true perpendicular demure pose but re: ergonomics, it is a 'posture' too. This shows how a pose can be linked to a posture. Posture then is deliberate in the sense of deliberately configuring the body in a way that the human can. Maybe it is not possible to take a posture without some guidance but you can still say that you are deliberately trying to configure the body in some way. For example, if you are standing straight, you may be paying attention to the curve line at the back. (This, of course, is not technical language and I am not a technical expert) . This curve line refers to so-called body curves such as the cervical curve, thoracic curve and lumbar curve. In this 'straight' posture, you pay attention also to your legs and your knees in particular perhaps. And there is a specific line called the vertical gravity line that one should pay attention to also.

The last part of this article aimed to particularly discuss posture. Posture is something important in the world of ergonomics and design.