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Five GIFers for the serious-minded

By Alice Northover


When people think of GIFs, they often imagine a silly animation for a quick joke. But like any medium, it has potential beyond our cat-centric imagination. “The GIF has evolved from a medium for pop-cultural memes into a tool with serious applications including research and journalism, and its lexical identity is transforming to keep pace,” Head of US Dictionaries, Katherine Martin, recently commented. So it’s only appropriate to highlight a few GIFers who take the file format beyond a basic form.

(1) New York Public Library’s Stereogranimator


Stereographs, common in the 19th and early 20th century, paired two slightly different photographs together to trick the eye into creating perspective and a three-dimensional image. Now, we can experience something akin to that through the GIF animation (or GIFing) of NYPL Labs Stereogranimator. The site includes more than 39,000 items from the stereograph collections of The New York Public Library, as well as nearly 650 stereographs from the Boston Public Library. The general public — and scholars — can now easily see (and share) 19th-century stereographic images in a whole new way.

GIF made with the NYPL Labs Stereogranimator - view more at http://stereo.nypl.org/gallery/index

GIF made with the NYPL Labs Stereogranimator

(2) Elspeth Reeve


Can GIFs be used in the serious work of journalism? Poynter’s Ann Friedman cooked up a handy journalist guide back in August, while New York Times’ Still Life series used GIFs to complement their articles on summer spaces, but The Atlantic Wire’s Elspeth Reeve stands out. From her coverage of the Olympics to the presidential debates, she uses GIFs to provide context and richness to her work. While GIFs are most often used as one-offs, Reeve constructs a narrative with image and text.

McKayla Maroney's vault. GIF by Elspeth Reeve.
(3) Gustavo Fajardo


The art world is always slightly ahead of the curve, and artists have been using GIFs to great effect long before the rest of us. Artists working with GIFs often play with graphic design and basic forms. Moreover, many GIF artists explore problems of modern life, particularly our tensions with technology. I’m cheating many fabulous artists by naming just one, so I encourage you to explore the GIF art world. (Thank you to Grove Art editor Jenny Bantz for her assistance.)

“Her father was a horse killer” (Genealogy decompressed 7.7) Series inspired by Alejandro Jodorowsky’s “Metagenealogia” 2012. Work by Gustavo Fajardo
(4) Infinity Imagined


Who’s out there GIFing for science? Infinity Imagined is a science Tumblr that explains many phenomenon (often beautifully) with GIFs. The animations help people understand patterns and processes better, such as how waves and ripples work. Infinity Imagined covers many aspects of science from physics to biology to fractals. (Hat tip to Stacey Thinx / It’s Okay to Be Smart Joe / Maria Popova.)

MRI scans of a human brain. GIF by Infinity Imagined
(5) NatGeo-GIFs


While not an official outlet for National Geographic, Felipe of São Paulo captures beautiful nature scenes, many from National Geographic films, in brief bursts. His smooth work lacks the characteristic jolts of many GIFs and creates a small cinematic experience for the viewer.

Although I’ve titled this post “Five GIFers for the serious-minded,” it’s important to recognize the flexibility and importance of humor. Our UK Word of the Year originated on a satirical British television show. Wit, invention, and genius are not restricted to so-called worthy endeavors. And it’s okay to laugh in an art museum.

And of course, please share your thoughts on the best GIFers in the comments below. There’s a whole world out there to discover.

Alice Northover joined Oxford University Press as Social Media Manager in January 2012. She is editor of the OUPblog, constant tweeter @OUPAcademic, daily Facebooker at Oxford Academic, and Google Plus updater of Oxford Academic, amongst other things. You can learn more about her bizarre habits on the blog.

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Recent Comments

  1. gustavo fajardo

    Thanks for featuring my artwork…

  2. Dain Fagerholm

    ZEFSIDE REPRESENT. DIE ANTWOORD RULEZ!!! I LOVE YOOU YO-LANDI!!!

  3. Dain Fagerholm

    Congrats Gustavo! 8)

  4. gustavo fajardo

    Thanks Dain! i admire your artwork so your words mean a lot to me :)

  5. […] OUP Blog offers up five gif-makers for the more serious-minded / buy Rick Joy’s Desert Nomad House / The Sketchpad, a weblog / all about facebook’s […]

  6. rosa spier

    I still think it’s silly.

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