zoetrope

[sardith]

Dr. Goodword,
I would really like to see your take on this interesting word. I have looked it up, of course, but it seems to have an interesting history, and I'd love to see what you can dig up, please?

[beck123]

The moving-picture gizmo called a zoetrope was invented in the 1830s as the "Daedalum," or Devil's wheel. In the late 1860's, it was re-invented separately in the U.S. and England, and its U.S. inventor gave it the name "zoetrope," which probably caught on because the competing gizmos had names that nobody could pronounce. I think the word was coined at that time (1867) from the Greek words for "life" and "turn," suggesting a "wheel of life."

[sardith]

Thank you, Beck

I had read about the invention in one of the definition references and of the Greek origin of the word, but that prompted further curiosity for me, remembering a Disney movie I watched with my children, and I guess that one of my questions for Dr. Goodword, is why you cannot refer to the moral of the 'Lion King' as being 'zoetropic', which appears to be a non-acceptable word in the dictionary, and I don't understand this. Help?

[beck123]

I can't speak for the Dr., but I don't see why you can't use "zoetropic." No license is required to coin new usage for words! It seems to make sense, so f it catches on, it catches on.

[sardith]

Thanks for pointing that out, Beck. The thought occurred to me, if it takes no license to participate in the 'circle of life', I guess it makes sense that I don't need one to coin new terms describing it!

[beck123]

It does, however, require a license to participate in the "traffic circle of life." Without one, you may face a substantial fine.

[LukeJavan8]

I can't speak for the Dr., but I don't see why you can't use "zoetropic." No license is required to coin new usage for words! It seems to make sense, so f it catches on, it catches on.

Unless you live in France where language is regulated.

[beck123]

And wine-making (they are losing their dominance in the world market because of this,) and cheese-making, and, and, and every other aspect of their socialist lives. I hope they wake up before it's too late, because if there is an Eden that blesses Mankind with all the necessities of life in a small place, it is France. In fact, the Great Leap that produced the modern human mind a thousand centuries ago probably occurred in what is now France.

[LukeJavan8]

Gallia omnia in partes tres.........

or whatever Caesar said about it. It is very unfortunate
that is one western culture about to sink below the
"l'eau'. Sarkozy is under the gun right now.
California Zinfandel has surpassed something in France, I read the the other day. We even have grapes in this
ungodly part of the country with fine winerys.

[beck123]

It won't be long before people wishing to see classic French culture will have to peer into a zoetrope or some similar device. (Again, I am clearly herding our commentary back toward the appropriate barn.)

[LukeJavan8]

Without completely understanding this 'zoetropic' thing,
especially in the movie industry, I can see where you are
going. The classic movies will be all that is left: in some
library or on line.

[beck123]

As the culture of Europe recedes into the 13th Century, thanks to its fecund new citizens, I was imagining that movies, as we know them, and all other artifacts of the modern world as well, will slip into oblivion. A zoetrope may well become the penultimate thrill in entertainment; the ultimate, of course, being public stonings and beheadings.

[LukeJavan8]

To say nothing of burnings
at the stake, the pillory,
hang-drawn-and quarterings.
Oh, weekend entertainmet at its
finest. Talk about reality
shows.

[beck123]

And "a bloody good show," as the fringes of the English-speaking world are know to say.

[Slava]

And "a bloody good show," as the fringes of the English-speaking world are know to say.

Hate to nag, but I'm feeling pernickety:

Shouldn't that be "a good bloody show"?