Hot Media

1. vs Hot Media Cold Media

2. Hot Media • Prominent during Mechanical Age • Also referred to as “high definition” • Little interaction involved

3. Cold Media • Prominent during the Electric Age • Referred to as “low definition” • Audience must participate to complete information

4. Hot Media Loud Overpowering High Definition Intense Clear • “State of being filled with information” • A lot of information is given • Ex: Photograph, Alphabet, Film, Radio

5. Cold Media Shadowy Soft Low Definition Unclear Blurry • Very little information is given • Requires audience to participate to complete information • Ex: Cartoon, Speech, Television, Telephone

6. Hot Media Photograph • A photograph is clear and full of visual information and detail. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

7. Cold Media Cartoon • Cartoons are low definition simply because they provide low visual information. The viewer must use their imagination to fill in the blanks.

8. Hot Media Alphabet • The alphabet, when printed on paper is hot because it gives all of the information without any participation or completion by the reader.

9. Cold Media Speech • Speech is a cool medium because the listener must participate greatly in order to fill in much of the information that is being given.

10. Hot Media Film • Film and theater overload the audience with intense audio and visual information; No participation from viewer. • Pay each time for prepared space. • High definition.

11. Cold Media Television • Television is small, unclear, and weak to the audio and visual senses; Not overpowering. • Do not need to pay every time to watch. • Low definition.

12. Hot Media Radio • Radio is high definition. • Informs listener without any need for participation; not open for debate or discussion. • High quality sound.

13. Cold Media Telephone • The telephone has low quality, minimal sound. • Requires completion of information by listener. • Low definition.