Toward a More Hi-Def Beauty

[monk222]

~
Celebrities are considered attractive at least in part because they're suited to the technology of the age. The transition from silent movies to talkies destroyed many actors' careers, as did the shift from black-and-white to color. While almost all prime-time TV on the major broadcast networks is shot in high-def, there are only 18 million of the pricey, wide-screen sets in use. But that number is expected to more than triple by next year, and the new scrutiny that comes with high-def is already making some on-camera talent nervous. ''There are a lot of people who are going to be affected by this,'' says Deborah Paulmann, a makeup artist for ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien.''

-- "Not Ready for Their Close-Up" by Clive Thompson for The NY Times

The idea that high-definition TV would render more clearly the imperfections of our celebrities sounded like a healthy prospect, as it would promise to narrow the spotlit chasm between the impossibly pretty people and the ordinary folk. However, the new technology promises only to raise the bar. Still, who would have thought that hottie Cameron Diaz would not make the babe-grade!?

''I'm seeing people in a whole new way,'' says Phillip Swann, president of OnHD.TV, an online magazine. ''If somebody's aging or if they've got any old acne damage, it just jumps out at you. They've got no chance.'' The editors of OnHD.TV examined several dozen stars and compiled a list of heartthrobs who (they claim) wither under the unblinking gaze of high-def, including Cameron Diaz (''littered with unfortunate pockmarks''), Jewel (whose makeup ''looks like it was done by Ringling Brothers'') and Bill Maher (''scary''). I've seen the effect myself: when I recently watched a high-def close-up of Bradley Whitford -- a handsome star of ''The West Wing'' -- a normally insignificant mark on his forehead suddenly stood out like a third eye. I couldn't stop staring.

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

This is nuts. The benchmark for whether or not someone is considered attractive should be what they look like in real life. I am quite sure that if you were leaning across a coffee table talking to Cameron Diaz, you wouldn't even notice these "imperfections" which show up on high-definition. For what it's worth, as a woman and therefore possibly a more neutral observer, I think much of Cameron Diaz's beauty derives from her personality. She has a wonderfully lively and expressive face.

Definition beyond the level you would normally notice in real life has the effect of making people concentrate on the purely physical aspects of beauty even more than they do already, to the detriment or even exclusion of the personality component. I'm not at all in favour of this, and I'm rather strikingly reminded of an image I saw a few years ago. I used to read a certain football magazine (OK, soccer to you!) which had a female editor, and therefore was normally more balanced than the usual magazines, which were unpleasantly macho. However, one week she couldn't resist putting a close-up of Dani, a Portuguese player who was then with West Ham, on the front of the magazine; the headline possibly wouldn't be understood in America, but the gist of it was that he was a real sex symbol.

No, he wasn't. He was undeniably gorgeous according to most people's criteria, but his eyes were a complete turn-off: the lights were on, but nobody was at home.

He'd have done just fine on high-definition TV.

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

*chuckling* I'm sure you are quite right about my not being particularly concerned about Cameron Diaz's imperfections if I were in the glow of her presence and charm, as well as her still appreciable beauty no doubt! But as we are not likely to be sitting at the same coffee table, one may as well tune it to the best fantasy. Diaz has done well playing our ideals, but it is a competitive game, remorselessly so. And now that I think of it, I don't think her career has been sailing particularly smoothly of late, even without a lot of hi-def considerations.

It's a business of dreams and fantasies, and the more refined tastes probably do get washed out by the roar of the masses and the bigger market dollar. Maybe there is too much of this rather mindless dreaming and fantasizing, but we must have our opiate!

When one is feeling more philosophically ambitious, good books are always at hand. :)

[antilapsarian.livejournal.com]

I've heard several actresses lately comment about how they are not up to hi-def standards. Then again, who is? The only way to look good enough for it is plastic surgery, it seems. Then again, with our commercials even in a backlash against perceptions of female perfection, I think there is something to be said for people who choose to not get surgery and show their body off.

And what with Paris Hilton leaving the public eye soon to have babies, and with Britney bulging from a pregnant belly, maybe we'll start to focus more on talent and personality than looks? Yeah, right!

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

The article suggested that even plastic surgery probably cannot help, since even the subtlest scars show up priminently in hi-def.

Instead of focusing more on talent and personality, I imagine we'll just pick up another round of fresh hotties. And a star is born!

[shamelesss.livejournal.com]

well why cant we just accept their imperfections adding to their hottness?

[shamelesss.livejournal.com]

im sorry
i came back to this comment

i'm so inately liberal that it's disgusting

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

Hey, in this day and age, a strong and consistent liberal voice is especially valuable. Where would we be without a little inspiriting idealism?

[shamelesss.livejournal.com]

no where!

[wordlesswriter.livejournal.com]

it seems to me the only people who have to worry about their jobs will be the women. personaly I think there are way to many ugly men on tv or in the movies. casting seems to be "ok he has talent and she has nice tits. lets make a movie!!"

and why, why, is the only time I've ever seen Clint Eastwood bare ass in a movie was when he was old and saggy??? it was gross!!! he should have done it when he was young and buff, but no he waits til everyone would be sickened by the sight.

sorry, didn't mean to go into that rant. but if you ever saw "bridges to Madison County" you'd understand. I'm so sick of these baby faced little boys, we need a few younger guys who sport a good manly look. the few there was are getting old. we need the next generation of Clint Eastwoods, Harrison Fords, Mel Gibsons...
but then again I think Brad Pitt is ugly..
hmm... I think I went of subject. opps..
imperfections should be a good thing. sometimes a well placed scar can be sexy in it's uniqueness.

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

*chuckling* It's quite okay. I feel your pain. It is annoying when an itch isn't being scratched.

As for Clint Eastwood, didn't we get something in "Play Misty for Me"? Perhaps not.

As for casting women, I like what Glen Close had to say, which was that she figured the casters ask themselves this question: would I like to fuck her? That actually works for me, but I can see how that might not be the fairest thing in the world.

A little late on this one...

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

You might find it interesting to check out one of the "Celebrities Without Makeup" sites around the Internet. Here's two:

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/celeb.html

http://www.hereinreality.com/makeup.htm

The thing about HDTV is that absolutely no-one, but NO-ONE, can quite escape it. Lighting and makeup have always been the main thing that makes celebrities appear as beautiful as they do (not to mention digital retouching): HDTV cuts the effectiveness of both by a fair amount.

I would think and hope that the end result would be, as suggested, more realistic images.

Re: A little late on this one...

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

YEOWTCH! Maybe dreams really are better than reality. I'm pretty sure it's that way for me at least. Ah, but then there is that aching need for some touch... for connection, sigh.

(If you should like to see the whole article, assuming it no longer gives the full article on that line, I can copy and paste it for you.)

Re: A little late on this one...

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

I actually wouldn't mind reading all of it, wanna email it?

[hewet-ka-ptah.livejournal.com]

Monk, where you been?

Missing you.

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I appreciate it, Deb. I've been sort of lost in a dream world these days...