The article about whether HD technology makes porno films a little too, um, intimate, is a magnification of a debate that has been going about developing mediums for a very long time. There is a concern within the industry that High Definition will expose those flaws that are hidden in low quality porn watched over an internet connection. This suggests that there is an element of fantasy that is taken away by having a more accurate image. They suspect that some porn viewers do not want to see the entire physical truth of the girl, and favor a fantastic image that gives you the idea of the girl without giving too much away. To these viewers the truth is not appealing. However, there is an audience that finds the little details and flaws that are revealed by high definition more appealing. To them, it feels like they are having a more authentic sexual experience than it feels when they are watching non-high definition pornography. The flaws are like those of an in-the-flesh lover.
A similar issue pertains to the coverage of celebrity gossip and political scandal in the media. Less than half a century ago, other than the occasional scandal, celebrity gossip was little more than an after-thought. Public figures were high up on a pedestal, and usually able to maintain a clean image. Even though there were rumours about the personal lives of movie stars and politicians, the information spread very slowly, so it wasn’t quite the phenomenon it is today. The world wide web really changed all that. Camera phones, video blogs, message boards, and social networking (to name a few), have made it so that anyone with an internet connection can know exactly where their favorite stars were partying on a given night, and even see unflattering images of them at said location, within minutes of all of it actually happening. A whole industry is devoted to making sure such information is readily available. Essentially, there are no secrets. However, like the porn stars in the age of HD, the public figures are both scorned and hailed for the more extensive picture that is being shown of them.
It could be said that new technologies create new audiences. Before high definition porn existed, the audience whom it appeals to now probably never considered the fact that the porn they were already looking at wasn’t the complete picture. When the new technology was introduced, they were probably excited about it, because it is different from what they are used to seeing, and in a way, has a new kind of appeal. Many can learn to appreciate something simply because it is available to them.
It is likely that over time, most people will come to accept porn in high definition as the norm. There will probably always be a group of people who really want to see the older model, but that group will grow smaller and smaller over time