Stroboscopic Toys

COM 320, History of the Moving Image

Peter Mark Roget’s essay on persistence of vision (1824, England)

Thaumatrope (from the Greek “wonder turning”) –Dr. John Paris (1825) –spinning disk with complementary drawings on the two sides (e.g., horse + rider = horse with rider; bird + cage = bird in cage)

Thaumatrope in action found at

(http://youtube.com/watch?v=dol1xOW_Qzk

)

Phenakistoscope (from the Greek “deceptive viewer”)

-Joseph Plateau(1832, Belgium)—also determined 16fr./sec. to be optimal -Coincidentally, same as Simon Ritter von Stampfer’s Stroboscope (1832, Austria)

Phenakistoscope (from the Greek “deceptive viewer”)

-Joseph Plateau(1832, Belgium)—also determined 16fr./sec. to be optimal -Coincidentally, same as Simon Ritter von Stampfer’s Stroboscope (1832, Austria)

Zoetrope (from the Greek “wheel of life”)

-William George Horner(1834, England)—a revolving drum with hand-drawn stills viewed through slits

Magic Lantern-Appeared in early forms as early as late 1600’s-Popular in mid-1800’s, with moving pictures via “dissolving views”

Magic Lantern-Appeared in early forms as early as late 1600’s-Popular in mid-1800’s, with moving pictures via “dissolving views”-Was an original type of “4D” experience, with live action, sound effects and music, and even pyrotechnics!

View example from Jude (1996; D: Michael Winterbottom, with Kate Winslet)

Magic Lantern Animations

Praxinoscope-Emile Reynaud (1877, France)—like a zoetrope, but with mirrors; Reynaud later developed a projecting version, and operated his own Theatre Optique from 1892 to 1900

Praxinoscope-Emile Reynaud (1877, France)—like a zoetrope, but with mirrors; Reynaud later developed a projecting version, and operated his own Theatre Optique from 1892 to 1900

Praxinoscope Animations

Zoopraxiscope-Eadweard Muybridge (1879, U.S.)—an apparent combo. of the phenakistoscope and the projected Magic Lantern; was not the first such combo., but became prominent with Muybridge’s speaking tours.

-Zoopraxiscope disc -Zoopraxiscope Animation

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