Zoetrope:Whirligig of Life

The concept of the moving picture has a long history. The zoetrope, a device that produces the illusion of motion from the rapid movement of a succession of static pictures, has roots in ancient China. In the 19th century, American companies such as Milton Bradley patented the device and sold it as a toy for children. Though other technologies have since surpassed the zoetrope, the concept has survived into the 21st century. Artists and advertisers, for instance, have developed a linear zoetrope to create moving advertisements in subway systems.