GIFs are no longer mindless images that fill your Tumblr feed — they're a means of storytelling. But BuzzFeed isn't the only one in on the action. Cinemagram and Vine are trying to make super short films the artform for the masses, and it may just be that the prophetic Instagram-for-video comes in the form of a file format from 1987. The New Republic takes a look at the endless life of the endless format, showing how it's evolved from your Geocities page's 'Under Construction' image to the amazing artwork that it's used for today.
The endless life of GIFs
is The Verge’s executive editor. He has covered tech, policy, and online creators for over a decade.
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