CBC Archives

Have students define the word “cool.” You might also elicit from students current synonyms that mean the same thing. Follow the same process for the word “hot.”

Explain to the students that they will be examining Marshall McLuhan’s theories about the concepts of “hot” and “cool” as they pertain to media.

Divide the class into groups of two or three. Direct students to the Marshall McLuhan topic on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. In their groups, students should view clips #4, 7, and 8 and make notes about the important facts and points relating to McLuhan’s concept of “hot” and “cool.”

As a class, summarize McLuhan’s definitions of “hot” and “cool” and write them on the board.

Working in the same groups of two or three, students should prepare a media chart which lists as many forms of media as possible and designates them as “Hot” or “Cool” category. Groups will complete the chart by explaining why they designated each media form as they did. (Students can complete this part of the activity by using the download sheet McLuhan: Hot and Cool Media, or create their own chart.)

Have each student create a pair of collages, one depicting images of “hot” media and personalities and the other depicting images of “cool” media and personalities.