Shannon Stacey


Back away from the high def

A while back the husband, after months and months of drooling researching, succumbed to the lure of the high-def flat screen (a 46″), which naturally required upgrading some of our components. And, I’ve gotta say, it was worth it. When watching movies like Open Range, the gorgeousness of the picture is jaw-dropping.

But sometimes, especially with network programming, there’s just too much detail. I think the very first words I said when the high-def signal kicked in was “Wow, her skin’s not very nice, is it?” I don’t want to see the anchorwoman’s pores, thank you very much.

Same with digital cameras. Mine died on Christmas Eve day, requiring an emergency trip to Walmart. I jumped from…I think it was like a 4 megapixel to a 7.1. The clarity is amazing and the color more true, but almost too true. It’s as though the increase in resolution has taken away a slight retouching of the photos—the tall kid’s exzcema shows now, for instance. (I think there may be one or two too many consonants in exzcema, but I’ll be damned if I can spell it.)

The advancing of technology is great, but sometimes it makes everything too…stark.

I’ve begun to feel the same way about erotic romance. As the envelope has been pushed the level of detail, instead of enriching the scenes, is leading to starkness. (Is starkness a word? Not sure, but it’s the word I want.) When every body part, every act, is described in high-def, it starts becoming very unattractive. I don’t want to see the sexual equivalent of pores, thanks.

Anyway, that’s my random thought of the day. I’m getting tired of picking up an erotic romance, not knowing if I’m going to actually get an erotic romance or if I’m going to get a high-def, pore-revealing, over-detailed bludgeoning.

Unfortunately for me—both as a reader and as a writer—just like with TVs and DVDs, high-def sells the best.

5 comments to “Back away from the high def”

  1. Patti
    Comment
    1
      · January 16th, 2008 at 12:31 pm · Link

    All right Shannon you need to write a comedy because you are completely cracking me up! I thought you might not be into 80’s music henceforth the generational comment but if you can reference a Vulcan grip, or “Spockie pinch” as my brother used to say, then I guess we are all good.

    A Deadwood movie, huh? I did feel like it ended abrubtly. I think the Chinese guy’s comments were my hubby’s favs.

    Oh and what is a meme? Is that some fancy writer lingo?

    -Patti



  2. Michelle (MG)
    Comment
    2
      · January 16th, 2008 at 2:11 pm · Link

    I agree with all of this (especially the erotic bit! :???: ). Um, but also came to visit to say that I tagged you (not my fault Sylvia Day made me do it!) :nod:



  3. Karen Templeton
    Comment
    3
      · January 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm · Link

    I’m with you, honeychile — I don’t need to see the pores, either. Or any other orifices. :crazy:

    It’s funny, though, how readers will say they don’t want a lot of description of, say, what the characters look like, or setting detail, because they want to use their imaginations…but they want a complete blow-by-blow (as it were) of the sex.

    O-kay…. :roll:

    Hey. To each her own and all that. I just don’t write for those people.



  4. Shannon
    Comment
    4
      · January 16th, 2008 at 9:07 pm · Link

    A Deadwood movie, huh? I did feel like it ended abrubtly. I think the Chinese guy’s comments were my hubby’s favs.

    I guess the story was meant to be told over four seasons, but HBO sucks and cancelled it. After being barraged by Deadwood fans, the plan was to have two 2-hour movies instead of a season 4. We’re still waiting.

    Oh and what is a meme? Is that some fancy writer lingo?

    We don’t have fancy writer lingo. :) Unless you count OMGWTFBBQ. :eyebrow:

    A meme is…umm…a list, I guess. Like Ten Movies I Hate or something like that. You do it, then tell other people they have to do it, and then we all make lists instead of writing.

    It’s also something bloggers do instead of thinking of real content (so Michelle’s just in time! *g*) :woot:

    Hey. To each her own and all that. I just don’t write for those people.

    And I’m glad, because this person likes your books just the way they are. :thumb:



  5. Karen Templeton
    Comment
    5
      · January 16th, 2008 at 10:33 pm · Link

    Thankee, Miz Shannon.

    Actually, I was already thinking about a blog on this very topic, so I think I’ll take any further thoughts on over to my place.

    Y’all are welcome to mosey on over. :groucho:







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