Line #17 Main/TheVitruvianPose


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vitrivian_pose.jpg]]
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4	You wanna add some flair about high intelligence and history to the setting? You wanna convey that a character is advanced (technologically or otherwise) to the audience? Bring in ''The Vitruvian Man''!
5
6	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man The Vitruvian Man itself]] is a sketch by Creator/LeonardoDaVinci, part of a larger work about ideal human body proportions and how they relate to fractions, and it's named after the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvius Roman architect]]. It's technically two figures over each other, the one in front merely having his hands extended while legs are close together, and the one in the back is is in a jumping jack pose.
7
8	This trope come in two kinds:
9	# The sketch itself appears.
10	# A character is depicted in the same pose(s). Bonus points if the character has extra pairs of limbs to really mimic the sketch's two poses, one superposed over the other.
11
12	Overall, the Vitruvian pose's resemblance to a crucifixion pose does help its popularity a lot. One could even say it's practically a science fiction equivalent of crucifixion, though not limited to that genre.
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14	Note that this can include more comedic uses, especially if the subject is not exactly a genius.
15	----
16
17	!!Examples:
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19	[[foldercontrol]]
20	[[folder:Advertisement]]
21	* In 2007 one telecom company printed a [[https://bugaga.ru/jokes/1146697860-kalendar_ot_zebra_telecom_12_kartinok.html corporate calendar]] with plump cartoon zebras (their mascot) replacing characters in recognizable artworks of the XV-XX centuries.[[note]]From Creator/LeonardoDaVinci through The Itinerants, {{Impressionism}} and Creator/SalvadorDali to Creator/BorisVallejo.[[/note]] The Virtuvian Zebra is titled "Developing a Brand Book".
22	[[/folder]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25	* In ''Manga/HaventYouHeardImSakamoto'', Sakamoto makes a snow angel in the shape of the Vitruvian man. His classmates mistakenly attribute the original to Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio.
26	* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'', Gyro's backstory involves studying the vitruvian design as part of his training becoming an executioner.
27	* In the manga adaptation of ''Literature/SoImASpiderSoWhat'', Kumoko finishes a graceful fall from a great height by doing a spidery version of the pose on landing. Having eight limbs, she's especially well suited for it.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Comic Books]]
31	* The [[https://www.atomic-robo.com/atomicrobo/v10ch4-cover cover of issue 4]] of ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo and the Ring of Fire'' features Robo in the Vitruvian Man pose.
32	* The Vitruvian man features in the background of the cover of ''ComicBook/{{Cyborg\|2015}}'''s first issue. It fits with his theme of being a modified human being.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
36	* The drawing itself is featured in ''Film/{{Pi}}'' where Max overlays it with a sketch of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral Golden Ratio.]]
37	* ''Film/TheDaVinciCode'': Jacques Sauniere is the curator of the Louvre in Paris. He is shot by Silas, an agent of the Council of Shadows. Sauniere is dying, so he leaves clues about the reason he was shot in the grand gallery, which includes lying face up and naked on the parquet floor in the Vitruvian Man pose.
38	* [[https://dudeism.com/ The website]] for the religion Dudeism, inspired by ''Film/TheBigLebowski'', features the dude in the Vitruvian Man pose, with him holding in his hands a bowling ball and beer and a V-sign.
39	* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', Snape presents a picture of a werewolf depicted in the style of the Vitruvian Man.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Literature]]
43	* In ''Literature/AllTomorrows'', the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Qu's]] subjugation and re-engineering of humanity is [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg illustrated]] with a Qu hovering over the Vitruvian Man holding a weapon. While the cover shows a Bug Facer (one of humanity's post-Qu descendants) in the Vitruvian Man pose next to two of his descendants created by the Machine People.
44	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
45	** In ''Literature/TheLastHero'', the illustration of Rincewind strapped into a bizarre centrifuge device as space-flight training (and very clearly about to puke) is posed as a clear pastiche of the Vitruvian Man. Designed by Leonard of Quirm, of course, whose notes add that this would also be an interesting study of human musculature, if Rincewind had any.
46	** Leonard's entry in ''The Discworld Companion'' is illustrated with a Vitruvian Man set against the world turtle rather than a circle.
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
50	* ''Series/BrassEye'': In the opening sequence for this series, Chris Morris (the character, not the [[Creator/ChrisMorris creator]]) can be seen going into the Vitruvian pose at the end, which probably helps to emphasise the surrealness and faux-intellectual nature of the show.
51	* In the ''Series/PhilomenaCunk'' series "Cunk On Earth", there's a drawing of Cunk herself in this pose during the title sequence, possibly a ShoutOut to ''Brass Eye'''s similar use of the presenter in that pose.
52	* [[https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/1588c059-b4c1-485d-962b-3b382e2048ae_1.89870290c5a86cfc72b697e224667426.jpeg?odnHeight=2000&odnWidth=2000&odnBg=ffffff One poster]] for ''Series/{{Westworld}}'' features one female host in this pose while suspended in a ring. In the series itself, this is when Hosts are placed on the ring in the Vitruvian Man pose before being immersed in a solution that places the last of their flesh on them.
53	* ''Series/{{Eyewitness}}'': In an episode on the topic of {{Flight}}, a 3D CG version of it appears and morphs to show how human proportions would be if we could naturally fly.
54	* ''Series/WaltDisneyPresents'': In "The Story of the Animated Drawing", Walt uses a drawing of the Vitruvian man (though with a leaf covering his crotch) as an example of early art that unintentionally laid the groundwork for the art of animation. Through a highlighting of his limbs and LimitedAnimation, the man does a little dance.
55	* ''Series/WorldInAction'', an ITV documentary, had this as its logo which was the subject of StockParodies in British culture of that usage; this was not carried over to its successor series ''Tonight'' that launched on 8 April 1999, which went for a plainer TitleCard instead.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Print Media]]
59	* The illustration for the ''Annals of Improbable Research'' article "How to Quantify Failure" is a drawing of the Vitruvian Man trying to [[HandOrObjectUnderwear cover his groin with his hands]].
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
63	* [[Series/TheMuppetShow Kermit the Frog]] has [[https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci#The_Vitruvian_Man appeared]] a few times in this form and, at least once, [[Series/SesameStreet Elmo]].
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
67	* The [[https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-9zhx02uo/product_images/uploaded_images/cha2026-basic-roleplaying-softcover.jpg first edition cover]] of Creator/{{Chaosium}}'s ''TabletopGame/BasicRoleplaying'' shows the Vetruvian man wearing a tactical vest and a loincloth, with [[ElectronicEyes a high-tech eyepiece]], one arm turning into a pseudopod, the others holding a BigFreakingGun, a skull-headed cane, and a [[DowsingDevice dowsing pendulum]], one leg with a tentacle wrapped round it, one in a Greco-Roman sandal, one bare, and one in armour. The [[https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-9zhx02uo/images/stencil/640w/products/2379/5759/BRP_-_Front_Cover_-_700x900_-_PDF__57726.1680875361.png?c=2 second edition cover]] is a more elaborate full colour version, in which the left side of the head and torso are a [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe blue-skinned woman]], the arms are holding a BigFreakingSword, a regular pistol, some sort of crystal and a MagicStaff, the tentacle attack and armoured legs are broadly the same, but one of the other two is wearing regular pants, and the other is [[{{Cyborg}} cybernetic]].
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Theatre]]
71	* Modern versions of ''Theatre/TheRockyHorrorShow'' will usually depect Rocky being born from a slab with this image on it that spins around to show him in this pose on the other side.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Toys]]
75	* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'': [[https://biosector01.com/wiki/File:Legend_of_Mata_Nui.PNG A simplistic Vitruvian Man shape]] was a symbol of PhysicalGod Mata Nui. It also showed up on one of the forms of the Kanohi Ignika, the [[MaskOfPower Mask of Life]], with the two outstretched arms being the eyes. Fittingly, Mata Nui temporarily wore the Ignika when his spirit was bonded to it. The symbol was also on the entrance of the Codrex, the structure that powered Mata Nui's heart chamber, which was accessible by assembling six Keystones that formed the Vitruvian Man's shape.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Video Games]]
79	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': At the Flores residence, Holtz's favorite painting is the Vitruvian, displayed on the wall with a robotic design.
80	* ''VideoGame/DoodleGod'': A simplified version of the Vitruvian Man is used as the icon for the human group of elements.
81	* ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'': The fourth level, set to "[[Music/{{Queen}} I Was Born to Love You]]", has the player helping a man called [[Creator/LeonardoDaVinci Leonard]] seduce a woman named [[Art/TheMonaLisa Lisa]]. Passing the first section has her do this pose in appreciation.
82	* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'':
83	** Synths are carried in a large ring while under construction, with their limbs splayed out in VM pose, before being submerged in a bath of some kind of liquid and reemerging fully functional.
84	** The Institute itself, who created the Synths, has as its logo a [[https://www.clipartmax.com/middle/m2i8G6b1K9A0G6b1_10-june-19-2016-institute-logo-fallout-4 stylised form of Da Vinci's drawing.]]
85	* ''VideoGame/HiFiRush'': Several of the mission briefings has Chai featured in the Vitruvian style.
86	* ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'': A parody of the Vitruvian Man drawing can be seen in the opening levels of ''2'', and sees the pose assumed by Sackboy's ally Larry Da Vinci, himself an intelligent creator and clear expy of Leonardo da Vinci, the original's creator.
87	* In the Chinese version of ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime'', many levels in the [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] world contain a Vitruvian Wheel, a large crushing wheel whose spokes are the limbs of a sculpted zombie posed like the Vitruvian Man.
88	* The title screen of ''VisualNovel/{{Policenauts}}'' has a figure traced from da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, but in a spacesuit and pointing a gun.
89	* The original ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}'' featured a "Vitruvian Machine" which held a person in the Vitruvian pose while it ripped off limbs and various other parts to replace them with cybernetic replacements.
90	* In ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'''s ''The New War'' quest, the finale has [[spoiler:what is implied to be the true form of The Man in the Wall, resembling the Vitruvian Man drawing albeit with the upper half of the face and the [[CallBack right index finger]] both missing.]]
91	[[/folder]]
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93	[[folder:Web Comics]]
94	* ''Webcomic/{{Tamberlane}}'': In a WorldOfFunnyAnimals Oakewood, an old librarian, figures out the origin of Tamberlane, a human child, after many months of research, [[https://www.tamberlanecomic.com/comic/316/ when he stumbles on Vitruvian Man drawing in an old book.]]
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Web Video]]
98	* Appears on screen in the finale of season three of ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' which features, appropriately enough, the Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles rapping against the four [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] artists they are named after, including Da Vinci himself.
99	-->''"You guys draw more dicks than [[BigApplesauce New York]] [[PrideParade pride]]!"''
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Western Animation]]
103	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCupheadShow'': In the ChristmasEpisode, Elf Stickler opens a book with Santa Claus in the Vitruvian pose.
104	* On ''WesternAnimation/DocMcStuffins'', Dottie "Doc" [=McStuffins=] has a [[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/326862885434795694/ Vitruvian teddy bear]] picture on one of the walls of her clinic.
105	* WesternAnimation/TheGhostAndMollyMcGee: In [[Recap/TheGhostAndMollyMcGeeS1E6TheGreatestConcertEver "The Greatest Concert Ever"]], Molly tries to get a country singer named Kenny Star to perform in Brighton and her planning board includes him in this pose (fully clothed).
106	* The opening for ''WesternAnimation/IronManTheAnimatedSeries'' features the Vitruvian pose as Tony has finished suiting up.
107	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E24TopBolt Top Bolt]], Twilight makes a Pegasus version to teach a class of Wonderbolt recruits about wing symmetry.
108	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'': Sunny's father, Argyle, is something of a historian, collecting records from the long-gone era of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Among his research is a drawing of Twilight in the Vitruvian pose.
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110	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheVitruvianPose