magical rope ties and escapes harry houdini

We refer to this, if you enjoy magic, as ‘misdirection.’ Our wiring keeps us glued to the assistants. So, when we see Houdini’s assistants moving at great speed and swirling ropes around and around the magician, our eyes don’t focus on Houdini, or any other part of the frame. The principle of motion tells us that movement will always draw the eye through the lizard brain. Combined with the dense image composition, it’s a truly confusing frame. Then, there’s the motion of the men: fast, frenetic, and swirling. We don’t know exactly who is tying which rope in which place. This conscious design choice to pack the frame with figures means that it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on. The others obscure Houdini, in the center, for much of the film. In this example, the frame is full, even though there are only four people. That’s the amount of images in the frame. So, what principles of design go into this ancient video (believed to have been filmed in 1920)? Well, several of the same ones that we acknowledge as principles of Scribology: purposeful use of framing, motion, and image density. Then, two leave, and one observes while Houdini struggles, tips the chair over, and quickly frees himself. The video shows Houdini surrounded by three men, all working rapidly to bind him head to toe to the chair. To start, take a look at this trick: Houdini’s escape after he ties himself to a chair. If we see through the visual design of these short films, we see how he was able to command the attention of his audiences to craft a retainable message of empowerment and redefined possibility. The legendary turn-of-the-century performer Harry Houdini brought these thrills to his audiences across the world.ĭespite the century separating modern audiences from his performances, we still have footage of some of his most memorable acts. Even when we know that an entertainer is doing a trick, and not actually bending the laws of reality, the idea that she can convincingly simulate this power is thrilling and engaging. We’re given a chance to question what each of us are capable of. When we see someone perform a seemingly impossible task, we afford something even more valuable than entertainment.

Magical rope ties and escapes harry houdini