Mcluhan goes in depth to describe to his reader hot media and cold media. Hot media is anything in high definition, little audience participation is required and it is filled with data. Hot media to me seems more like non-fiction or informational. In addition to these, hot media could also be a large, extensive and highly detailed creative project, like a movie. A theatrically released movie is a good example of hot media because it requires no audience participation and has extreme attention to detail in a very high quality. Other examples can be found in print, such as books.
Cold or cool media is different. I associated the cold media Mcluhan discusses as lo-fi, or low production. Cartoons, or television could fall into this category. Cold media does not offer as much information. Cold media also expects high participation and engagement from its audience.
One technique Krauss discusses is mirroring (Boomerang). This technique is interesting because it is very conducive to the video medium, and I like how it reveals so much about the subject. This in particular could be very useful for the portrait project. As opposed to the literal video effect of mirroring that Krauss discusses, I could use a type of mirroring by structuring my scenes and shots in a similar way so they “mirror” one another.
Another strategy Krauss examines is setting up “vectors” and how the camera acts as a “parenthesis between camera and monitor”. I could apply this in the location I place the camera. By attempting to structure particular “vectors” like the piece Krauss discusses (Vertical Roll) I could create an interesting and atypical viewpoint for my audience.
A final strategy Krauss discusses very briefly at the end of the paper is minimalism. Although just given a very quick mention in the context of “the question of perception” and the work of Joel Shapiro, I think minimalism could be a powerful tool in a work like my portrait project (cold media). The lo-fi value is very conducive to a minimalist work. I don’t really understand how Krauss mentions minimalism in relation to Rauschenberg (I would certainly not consider a piece like “Bed” minimalist) or pop art, but I do like the ideas she discusses in this portion of the paper.