Horses to Bullets
What is the link between a horse, the moon, and bullets in film?
Genius or criminal? And is it possible to be both?
Eadweard Muybridge's tale is captivating, marked by both innovation and controversy. Celebrated for his pioneering contributions to motion photography and early film projection, Muybridge's life was also mired in drama, notably the scandalous murder of his wife's lover. Just a few years after this tumultuous period, he was engaging in intellectual wagers with Leland Stanford (yes, that Stanford) about a seemingly simple yet intriguing question: Do all four hooves of a galloping horse simultaneously leave the ground?
Spoiler alert. They do.
Cinematic Milestones
These three cinematic milestones (pictured above) form a concise yet profound exploration of film history, providing students with a foundational understanding of the direct link between technology (science) and art. They reveal how the evolution of the art form paralleled technological advancements, with films like The Matrix harkening back to Muybridge's racetrack experiments.
Following Muybridge's chronophotography, which magically conjured the illusion of movement, film technology quickly advanced and pioneers like Georges Méliès were able to take us on a fantastical voyage in A Trip to the Moon, bringing Science Fiction to the screen. Muybridge's innovations are directly linked to modern cinematographic techniques like Bullet Time, used in The Matrix. The technique of manipulating time and space in film, traces its lineage back to Muybridge, underlining how past innovations continually shape the present landscape of filmmaking. Muybridge's work exemplifies the intersection of art and science, using the camera as a tool for both scientific exploration and artistic expression.
3 Questions you can use to start talking about film history
What does a horse have to do with the birth of cinema?
A wager, a horse, and 24 cameras unveiled what was imperceptible to the naked eye.
Where does the Science Fiction genre come from and what has it gifted us in the real world?
Georges Méliès rocket in A Trip to the Moon is not so far off the mark for what later spaceships looked like. Even if all the other imaginings of the moon were highly questionable, the act of getting to the moon in a life-size bullet is brilliant.
What is bullet time?
Take a look at the work of MIT electrical engineer Harold Edgerton (1903-1990) to gain an understanding of what the camera is doing in high-speed photography.
These explorations and subsequent discoveries take us on a journey across continents and eras, weaving through the arts and sciences. They connect three pivotal moments in film history with a singular narrative thread and bring together the theme of time and space, as a view to history but also as a technique in film.
Do you have a favourite science fiction film?
I am a fan of Blade Runner (The Final Cut) directed by Ridley Scott.
It’s got all the questions about our possible futures playing out in such a way that makes it still relevant today.
Are you looking for resources that are low-risk and easy to implement?
Find them here: filmmatters.gumroad.com
