9-Word Story Takes a Millennium to Read

A short tale written by a local artist will be revealed after 1,000 years

By MARIE C. BACA
Updated 3:33 PM EST, Tue, Jun 23, 2009

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If you think reading James Joyce takes a long time, try reading Jonathon Keats.

The San Francisco-based conceptual artist wrote a nine-word story and printed it on the cover of Opium Magazine.

When exposed to sunlight over hundreds of years, the words slowly appear one at a time, with the complete story supposedly revealed after 1,000 years.  

Keats told Wired that the project is an "exploration of deep time," and a response to break-neck speed of modern media consumption.

The story printed on the cover of this magazine takes 1,000 years to read.

Keats said that he believes the paper will survive after a millennium, although he's not sure that humankind will.

First Published: Jun 19, 2009 1:13 PM EST

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