The Millennium Camera, an innovative creation by an experimental philosopher from the University of Arizona, is designed to capture an image of Tucson, Arizona over a millennium. This cutting-edge project seeks to stimulate profound reflections on the evolution of humanity and our society over the 31st century.
The Camera’s Design
The camera is an elegant blend of simplicity and sophistication. It contains a long steel pole topped with a copper cylinder. Light entering the cylinder passes through a small aperture (the size of a pinhole) in a 24-karat gold sheet, before hitting a surface smeared with rose madder pigment.
The location of the camera is not random. It is strategically placed near a hiking trail on Tumamoc Hill, offering an excellent vantage point of Tucson's landscape. This location not only provides a great view but also invites passersby to think about the evolution of the next millennium as noted by an accompanying notice.
How it Works
The construction of the camera allows the most stable parts of the landscape to appear the clearest in the captured image. The frequently changing areas, on the other hand, will take on a more phantom-like appearance. This long-term process is based on the theoretical assumption that the rose madder pigment will slowly alter over centuries, leaving behind a discernible image.
The Project’s Stance
The Millennium Camera project is neutral regarding the planning for the future. It does not attempt to make any commentaries about future development. This neutrality extends to uncertainties surrounding the camera's functionality and lifespan. Despite these unknowns, the goal remains to keep it functioning until 3023.
The camera's creator has a clear view regarding the opening of the camera before the end of the millennium. He maintains that an early revelation would thwart the necessary imagination about the future. The creator's vision is to allow the camera to truly symbolize a lens into the future, fostering deep contemplation about humanity's trajectory in the 31st century.