Barnabas New York City

This is a weekly (or as often as we can) blog of a community of male friends who share three things: A love for Jesus of Nazareth, a love for all things creative, and a love for New York City.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

That's Hot...or is it cool?

Ryann brought up the writings and person of Marshal McLuhan and his writings on media nd mediums. Ryann was recently encouraged to look into his writings by a friend to assist him to be a better photographer. Ryann was specifically directed to look at McLuhan's thoughts on "hot" and "cool" media. "Hot" being the type that usually leans towards single sensory communication with little encouragement to think deeply about the message. "Cool" media being multiple sensory and deeper messages and questions raised.

For example, a photograph would tend to be "hot" and a poem would be "cool".

Here's the website that Ryann was looking at that inspired his thinking:

http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/mcluhan.html

Ryann, being a product photographer would have a tougher time designing a "cool" style photograph of a product than say an abstract photograph which would draw a viewer in to think more deeply about what they see.

We in the church have lost the ability to design and create "cool" styles of medium in order to make the message clear as to who Jesus is. May we become "cool" communicators in the church.

Would love to hear your thoughts...

Kirk, Ryann, Bryan, and Kevin

2 Comments:

Blogger Barnabas NYC said...

Another article that has more depth on the subject of hot and cool media by McLuhan is here:
http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_09.22.05/city/panelist.php

11:12 AM  
Blogger thisisntjimmy said...

The idea that you can create something that's "cool" while also making it "clear" who Jesus is seems like an oxymoron.
I think it's possible, though.

For more thoughts on the medium of print alienating us from others, I recommend Walter Ong's Orality, Literacy, and Modern Media. (Ong was a Jesuit Priest!)

1:09 PM  

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