"Christian spends most of the scene standing over Ana; a straightforward power position. But with the turning point, he moves to the chair; brings himself down to Ana's level. So we have some visual power play."
Height can be used to visually indicate power, both in the flavors of authority and intimidation. But sheer physical size is only part of the equation. Regardless of actual size, people can manipulate how they position themselves to appear taller or shorter. Making oneself appear taller is a power move; making oneself appear shorter is an expression of submission.
This is a Super-Trope to kneeling, bowing, and genuflecting.
- Dynamic Akimbo: A bold pose, standing as tall as possible with elbows out to appear big
- I Kiss Your Foot: Bending down to kiss someone's foot is a sign of submission
- Kneel Before Frodo: Kneeling in deference to a hero
- Kneel Before Zod: Kneeling in deference to a villain
- Knee Fold Fall of Defeat: A character folds in on themselves, shrinking, as they are defeated
- Pose of Supplication: A character drops to their knees in supplication
- Shameful Shrinking: A character cowers in shame
This behavior can be seen in other animals too, making it Older Than Dirt.
In Speculative Fiction, Sizeshifting and Shapeshifting provide additional avenues for characters to contort their bodies and appear different.
Sister Trope to Tall Is Intimidating and Large and in Charge, where a character doesn't need to use positioning to appear bigger — they just are bigger. This is their Invoked Trope version. Either can co-occur with this trope if an already tall person poses to accentuate that height even further.
Compare Dramatic High Perching where positioning oneself up high is cool, but not particularly powerful.
Examples
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Fan Works
- The Archmage's Last Bow: During a trial in his own mind, Nova Shine finds himself face-to-face with a much harsher version of himself, who lays into him about every way he's not fit to be the archmage, and who caps it off by causing statues of all previous archmages to erupt from the ground, cover him in their shadows, and look down on him while he stands atop one of them.
- With This Ring: In Paul's audience with Zeus, who can essentially take on any form he wants, Paul notices that all the furniture in the room is sized for Zeus' current nine-foot-tall form. Paul sees it as just more evidence of pettiness, though.
Film — Animation
- The Incredibles uses superpowers to play with size and positioning. When married couple Helen and Bob are arguing over their son Dash's schooling situation, initially the much bigger and super-strong Bob uses his size to seem imposing. As the argument escalates, Helen uses her Rubber Man powers to stretch and become taller than her husband.
Film — Live-Action
- Back to the Future: A Running Gag across the three films is that one of the Tannens will loom over Marty right after he's stood up to them. In Back to the Future Part II in particular, Griff uses his bionic implants to make himself even taller during this confrontation.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, is having a confrontation with Gandalf and Pippin, while he sits on his throne, embittered over the death of his son Boromir. The proud and stubborn Denethor rejects Gandalf's advice to ask for help from the neighbouring kingdom of Rohan, because Rohan is currently allied with Aragorn, the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, and therefore, in Denethor's mind, Gandalf is trying to supplant him. When Gandalf sternly rebukes that Denethor has no authority to deny the return of the king, the furious Steward stands up, using the elevated position of his throne platform to make himself seem taller, and snarls back, "The rule of Gondor is MINE! And no other's!!" However, after a frustrated Gandalf leaves the room, Denethor slumps brokenly back into his throne, showing how, for all his bark, Denethor doesn't have much bite.
- Fifty Shades of Grey: In the leads' first scene together, Ana is sitting in a very low chair. Christian is intermittently sitting in a taller desk chair, standing, and leaning against his desk. He's consistently taller, and to meet his eyes she has to look up at him. At the turning point in the scene — a disarming moment in the conversation — he comes and sits in a matching chair beside her, bringing them to the same level.
Literature
- Keys to the Kingdom: Status in the House has physical effects, including greater height. Arthur, as the Anointed Heir and the holder of a Key, has considerable authority in the House — and is startled to find that when he pats someone on the head, they actually become shorter, diminishing their status and influence.
- The Tombs of Atuan: Arha is going to speak to her prisoner whom she increasingly cares for, but with whom she is trying to maintain a mask of danger and indifference. She makes a point to bring a stool so that she can be above him while they speak.
She had brought down a little cross-leg folding stool of ivory, so that she would not have to stand while she questioned him, yet would not have to sit down on the floor, on his level.
Live-Action TV
- Doom Patrol (2019): In 'Fame Patrol', Dorothy (the shortest member of the cast) is frustrated that Cliff (the largest) is stubbornly refusing any help, even as it's clear that his robot body is losing its functionality. She takes advantage of his inability to climb a staircase and ascends the steps herself so that she's standing just over him, forcing him to acknowledge her.
- Game of Thrones: Height difference is one of Tywin Lannister's favorite power plays, as befits the de-facto authority in King's Landing. He memorably uses this in the episode "Mhysa". Joffrey is seated on the throne, which is on a platform to allow the king to look down at the rest of the room. Tywin climbs the steps to bring him equal with the throne, and then looks down at Joffrey, who is physically petite, seated, and slouching. Tywin proceeds to effortlessly send the otherwise uncontrollable little Psychopathic Manchild to bed without his supper.
- Gossip Girl (2007): Alpha Bitch Blair holds court on a flight of stairs, where she sits on the top step and her followers sit below her.
- House of the Dragon: In "King of the Narrow Sea", King Viserys tries to assert his authority over his irreverent Big Little Brother Prince Daemon. This involves Daemon laying flat on the floor, a hungover mess, while Viserys literally stands over him and chastises him.
- Spin City: Invoked in "The High And The Mighty." Mike invites a notoriously persuasive property developer into his office to conduct a deal. The developer notes Mike is using intimidation tactics the developer wrote about in a book, like turning the lights down to make himself look Satanic and aiming a letter opener at his heart. When the developer sits, we see Mike lowered his chair and raised his own to look more impressive.
- In a possible aversion, it's noted throughout the series that the mayor's impressive height is a constant problem with voters.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: In the pilot episode "Emissary", as the Federation takes control of the recently abandoned space station above Bajor, Commander Ben Sisko inspects his command post, and notes that it's set on an elevated platform. If Sisko wants to interact with his Bridge Bunnies, he must descend five or six steps to do so.
Sisko: Set way up high, where everyone must look up to him. Typical Cardassian architecture.
Video Games
- Final Fantasy XIV: The normally proud Yotsuyu kneels in deference to the towering Zenos, the man who made her the acting viceroy of Doma. When he's displeased with her, he grabs her by the hair before threatening her with death if she yields Doma to the rebel forces. He looms over her while leaning down as she does this, making it clear who is holding the power in this conversation.
Web Comics
- Jupiter-Men: In Episode 18, Quintin makes a lot of noise while trying to get Nathan's attention even though Nathan explicitly told him to keep it down. Nathan responds by leaning menacingly over Quintin and cowing him with a Death Glare, making Quintin lower his voice to a whisper.
Western Animation
- Justice League Unlimited: In "Ultimatum", Giganta teases Long Shadow for being a "tiny" compared to her Giant Woman. He then sizeshifts to be even larger than her.
Giganta: Oh, poop.
- The Legend of Korra: In "Beginnings, Part 1", Wan, wandering the Spirit Wilds, almost steps on a small frog spirit by accident. Wan isn't very threatened by the angry frog until it shapeshifts into a form larger than him.
Real Life
- When encountering a wild, possibly dangerous animal, people are generally advised to raise their arms up and appear as big as possible so that the animal will perceive them as dangerous and leave them alone.
- Social animals such as wolves often display dominance or submission by looming and cowering respectively.
- Adults sometimes crouch down when talking to children, in order to talk to them "on their level" both literally and metaphorically.
- Conversely, military officers may be taught to try and stand somewhere raised when addressing a group of subordinates, to convey authority. A politician who stands on a soapbox or the like to make an impromptu speech (that is, possibly, a Literal Soapbox Speech) is instinctively using the same trick.
