Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Frames
Mica Wheel Of Life

Artist:

Thomas Ross

Date:

late 1800s

Material:

Mica, brass center

Dimensions:

3⅛ in. (8 cm)

Location:

England

A mica disc for a Ross Wheel of Life. Mica is fragile (see bottom image below) and not completely transparent, but was occasionally used in magic lantern slides, particularly for moving elements in mechanical slides where its lighter weight was an advantage.

For a particularly effective use of this disc, see the music video Bright Air by Anne-Marie Sanderson.

References
Barnes, John. 1985. " The Projected Image: A Short History Of Magic Lantern Slides." The New Magic Lantern Journal Vol. 3, No. 3 (Oct.), pp. 2–7.
Sanderson, Anne-Marie. 2024. "Bright Air." Dec. 14, 2024. YouTube video, 3:20.

An animation of a running man
An animation of a gymnast (damaged)