The invention of the Zoetrope

The Zoetrope created the illusion of action from rapid successions of multiple images, each one slightly different to the next.  The inventor (Although claimed to be William George Horner in 1834 who in fact produced a more sophisticated version) was Ding Huan who created the earliest Zoetrope in China around 180 AD. Ding Huan's device was called "The Pipe Which Makes Fantasies Appear” and was hung over a lamp. The device consisted of Pictures painted on the translucent paper panels. These images would appear to move when the device was spun as the light shone through the paper. 

Persistence of vision

The principal was first discovered by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy, around 130 AD.
The eye, more specifically the retina can hold an image for one-tenth of a second before processing the next image seen. This allows a selection of photos to be viewed as a running animation. 

1, Beginning Research - The origin of Théâtre Optique

The Théâtre Optique was a moving picture show presented by Charles-Émile Reynaud in 1892. Reynaud was a French inventor who invented the Praxinoscope, which was viewed as the Zoetropes predecessor. The Praxinoscope replaced the narrow viewing slits of the Zoetrope with an inner circle of 12 mirrors. This allowed a much clearer view of the moving image and also allowed more than one person to view the animation at a one time. 

Example of Zoetropes

Communication context - Research Poster

On the 13th October we were briefed on a project where we are to produce a research poster based on a certain topic that will consist of 1250 - 1700 words and images. The topics that we can research further and develop are:


1. Choose one of the Middle Age ‘scripts’ and consider its typographic evolution.

2. Choose either Victorian photography or the Theatre Optique and consider the subjects that these new technologies explored.

3. Select one of these practitioners and discuss their contribution to the culture of their day:  Dore, Beardsley, Blake, Morris or Hogarth.

My First initial thoughts are to focus on Theatre Optique. Although it does not directly relate to my course (Graphic Design) I feel i can produce a poster that will reflect my best work as i have great interest in the topic. 

13th October - Cureiform

Words

During this lecture we learnt about the natal origins of written language, words and letterform.

Here you can see counting tokens which were found in Iraq, which are believed to be dating back 9000 years. These tokens are believed to be a new type or medium for helping to record transactions and information. Each tokens shape conveyed a specific meaning. The main material used for the tokens was soft clay. This allowed shapes to be easily pressed into the clay to make a mould. A selection of shapes helped record a transaction. 

6th October - The Three Williams - Hogarth, Blake and Morris

The Three Williams - Hogarth, Blake and Morris


William Hogarth


William Hogarth was born on the 10th November 1697 in Bartholomew Close in London, England. Hogarth had many different areas of Creative output that he enjoyed but he was best known as a painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist. His first brush with the Creative industry was when he became an apprenticed to the engraver Ellis Gamble in Leicester Fields, where he learned to engrave trade cards and similar products.

   March of the Guards to Finchley, oil on canvas, 1750

Painter and his Pug, oil on canvas, 1745

William Blake

William Black was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. he was born on the 28th November 1757. William attended school only long enough to learn reading and writing, leaving at the age of ten, and was otherwise educated at home by his mother Catherine Wright Armitage Blake. On 4 August 1772, Blake became apprenticed to engraver James Basire of Great Queen Street, for the term of seven years. At the end of this period, at the age of 21, he was to become a professional engraver.

William Blake in an 1807 portrait by Thomas Phillips

William Morris

William Morris was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement.

Icon, Index and Symbol's Assignment. (Including Fluidity of Signs)

For this Assignment, I was to choose 10 images and organise them into each context I believed they came under. I was also to show the Fluidity of a sign. For this i chose the apple as it has become a well known symbol for the computer based company 'Apple' .


Icon

Index

Symbol

Icon + Index

Fluidity of Sign