Etymology

hot medium

Today it means: Any medium that is rich in sensory data (e.g. high-definition film) and thus requires relatively little involvement by the viewer, reader, etc. in order to be consumed. Full definition →

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The story

Coined by Marshall McLuhan, based on French anthropologist Lévi-Strauss' distinction between hot and cold societies.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.