PHI PHENOMENON BY MAX WERTHEIMER

Max Wertheimer was an Austro-Hungarian-born psychologist who was one of the three founders of Gestalt psychology, along with Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Kohler. He is well known for his productive thinking and his idea of Phi Phenomenon and his contribution on Gestalt psychology. He began formulating in 1910 on phi phenomenon. He published his experiments in a paper which was tilted as experimental studies on the perception on movements. Phi phenomenon was a movement caused by light positions. Wertheimer illustrated his phenomenon on the objects which he built that had two lights on different locations. The lights were stationary; flashing at intervals caused the retina to catch it as a moving ray. He along with his partners started collecting the data and then started with the Gestalt movement.

            The quality of the data was quiet different from other parts of the elements. Phi phenomenon was the movement which had the total concept of eye being at the central position. As the eye it moves in response to the flashes of lights. The experiences of the observer are totally based on feedback from the moving eyes. Phi phenomenon is an illusion where certain perceptions of motions are produced in a succession of certain images. Phi phenomenon is used to refer an illusion which is not fully understood, as it’s a visual perception. Max Wertheimer led perception and gave birth to new ideas through discovery. Illusions entertain people, reflect their curiosity and also appreciate for creativity regarding human nature. The cinema has changed and even the audience wants something new, but with the blend of culture. Due to the increase in technology and all 3D cinemas came into this world. Cinema gave birth to illusions of motion picture where one can explore illusions as a medium to cinema.

            Its is popularly known for the motion illusion it creates and in reality the black space that comes between real movie frame are not seen, which makes phi phenomenon true for motion illusion in cinema and animation. Phi phenomenon can be observed when an audience is watching something on a screen where the projector projects two images at the same time. Due to the same timing and same spacing the viewer will experience a sensation of motion between those images.