Magic Lantern

A magic lantern was a device in which entertained/entertains the uneducated mass. It was a
projection device that with using light and a blank screen would project images that were (early on)
hand painted on or were even (later on, which in turn helped the photographic process) printed on
to a glass sheet, which was helped by the invention of copper plates this allowed more mass
production of other slides and more stories via images were created, these were fed through the
magic lantern. The magic Lantern applied to all classes and provided entertainment for a large mass
of people, especially for those of the lower classes/ poverty this added more escapism and allowed
them rest bite from some of the everyday troubles that they may have had to deal with.
Magic Lantern was invented by the 16th century though they do not know of the actual date or the
actual creator in which the magic lantern was first invented; but through time it was still maintained
being one of the main image projector used, in is still popular in countries that are generally poverty
stricken such as Africa. But a magic lantern was exceedingly popular within the Victorian period as
the earliest films were produced in the 1890s, it was seen as a huge step in the film industry then.
The magic lantern provide them with a large amount of visual stimulation, as it was not just still
images, using a leaver on the side of a more advanced magic lantern can swap the slides moving
them up and down to show movement in the image, similarly there is a motion where you can insert
another slide which mirrors the idea of movement. On the other hand, many used more than one
magic lantern which would combine into one projected images all taking a part in creating a moving
aspect in an image. This all combined to creating more of a stimulating experience for those of the
public in viewed it.
Charles dickens was a large advocate in the way of the magic lantern, using in among his work. He,
when giving public speeches, would include the magic lantern, so for chapters of his work there
would be art being projected on to the wall to set the scene for the audience, to draw them in and
create the image in their head. For the time, Charles Dickens, was very diverse in ways that the
public found it inspiring as he incorporated his love and admiration for the growing technology in
cinematography, as well as incorporating it in to his love of writing. They even in productions of his
work such as Haunted man, they created an image of a ghost on stage alongside other actors, with a
magic lantern. A day after day, without my magic lantern, is immense was a quote that Charles
Dickens used in one of his books which showed the importance that the magic lantern was in his
life, but also it showed what inspired his stories. Overall it showed how effective the magic lantern
was and what impact it actually made/ makes in the world across loads of aspects, for example:
cinematography, literature, and entertainment.