Histories

"mutoscope"
1988


Mutoscopes were arcade machines allowing the viewing of still photographs in motion. Placed sequentially on a carousel then hand- cranked into motion … one paid a penny to see a locomotive coming at you or a Victorian pillow fights. These arcade machines proceeded the invention of motion film and projectors.

I pursued setting silhouette shapes in motion by constructing a version of the mutoscope.
Composing by placing white dots down the centers of the black shapes, the score begins …

140 index cards 4 X 6 inches each
3 inch cut-out silhouette shape
¼ inch white dots
½ inch white dots
glass lenses, rubber eye-piece, gears, & crank