I’m trying to understand Marshall McLuhan’s idea of hot vs. cold media.

Marshall McLuhan’s “hot vs cool” has nothing to do with excitement, quality, or how much you like something. It’s about one variable:

How much sensory data the medium gives you vs how much you must supply to complete it.

Hot media

• High definition (rich, detailed, saturated)
• Extends one sense intensely
• Low audience completion required
• More passive reception

Examples:

• Print
• Radio
• Film
• Photographs

They give you a lot of finished information.

Cool media

• Low definition (less detailed, more sparse)
• Requires participation to fill in gaps
• More involvement required
• More communal/interactive tendencies

Examples:

• Telephone
• Television (1960s low-res TV)
• Cartoons

They leave space for you to complete the experience.