The phenakistoscope (1833) was a pre-film device that created the illusion of fluid motion -- the first widespread one, in fact.
Long before Muybridge's famous 1878 study of horses, these discs delighted Europe.
Originally, they could only be viewed solo by looking in a mirror -- entertainment for one, like doomscrolling while your face hovered above on a video call.
If they could needed their diversions to make it through The Industrial Revolution, then maybe our lil memes will help us through now, too.
The phenakistoscope was eventually succeeded by the zoetrope.
The zoetrope improved the design by blocking off most of the disc movement and requiring no mirror.
It was popularized by Milton Bradley of Milton Bradley Games following his initial success marketing The Checkered Game of Life (1860).
