Centre for Digital Cultures

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

Contemporary culture is characterized by the ubiquity of digital media technologies and infrastructures, which are constantly configuring our techniques for processing, storing, and transmitting data. As a result, our everyday practices of connecting, relating, reading, writing, perceiving, sharing, competing, and communicating are undergoing significant changes. At the same time, these technologies are closely tied to major societal challenges such as climate change, global conflicts, digital divides and social unjustness. In this dynamic context, the Centre for Digital Cultures (CDC) directly addresses the emergence of new and complex qualities of vernacular socio-technical life. This involves the development of advanced theory and innovative study programmes. We are concerned with the question of how we can understand and shape digital cultures today​​​​​​​.

Main research areas

The digital shift re-shapes the cultural sectors, and, indeed, everyday life, politics, law, and economics. the Centre for Digital Cultures (CDC), affiliated to Leuphana University of Lüneburg, examines this shift through a range of interdisciplinary methodologies, including media, cultural and social studies, through knowledge creation and transfer, as well as by developing experimental and interventionist media practices. Established in 2012, as one of the first research centres in Europe to research the emergence of digital cultures, the CDC continues to produce cutting-edge research on socio-technical regimes of inclusion and exclusion. Since its inception, the CDC has built an innovative network and research environment, where academic institutions, practitioners, and civil society stakeholders engage with new concepts, formats, and applications within digital cultures.

Current Research Areas

  • Climate Futures
  • (B)Orders, Identities and Belonging in the Digital Age
  • Cities, Infrastructures, Logistics, Platforms 
  1. Published

    Welche Öffentlichkeiten? Einleitung

    Beyes, T., 2014, Soziale Medien – neue Massen: Medienwissenschaftliches Symposion der DFG. Baxmann, I., Beyes, T. & Pias, C. (eds.). Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 231-235 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    „Wer Bücher hört, kann auch Klänge sehen“: Bemerkungen zur Synästhesie des Hörbuchs.

    Hagen, W., 2014, Das Hörbuch: Audioliteralität und akustische Literatur. Binczek, N. & Epping-Jäger, C. (eds.). 1 ed. Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 179-192 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    WhatsApp und das prozessuale Interface: Zur Neugestaltung von Smartphone-Kollektiven.

    Denecke, M. & Otto, I., 2013, In: Sprache und Literatur. 44, 1, p. 14-29 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Where do the data live? Anonymity and Neighborhood Networks

    Heinrichs, R., 03.04.2021, Book of Anonymity. Collective, A. (ed.). punctum books, p. 226-254 29 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Whose Change is it, Anyway? Towards a future of digital technologies and citizen action in emerging information societies

    Shah, N., 2013, The Hague: Hivos, 40 p. (Hivos Knowledge Programm).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  6. Published

    Who's Hacking Whom?

    Ridgway, R., 02.2017, Hacks, Leaks, and Breaches. Coleman, E. G. & Kelty, C. M. (eds.). United States: CreateSpace Independent Publishing, Vol. 8. p. 120-126 7 p. (Limn; vol. 8).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Wir sind drin. Zur Gegenwart digitaler Kulturen

    Beyes, T., Metelmann, J. & Pias, C., 2017, Nach der Revolution: Ein Brevier digitaler Kulturen. Beyes, T., Metelmann, J. & Pias, C. (eds.). Berlin: Tempus Corporate GmbH, p. 5-11 7 p. (Edition Speersort)(Duisburger Dialoge).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Wissenschaftliche Kommunikation im Netz 2013: Von Open Access zu Open Science

    Heise, C., 12.04.2014, Jahrbuch Netzpolitik 2013. Beckedahl, M. (ed.). 1 ed. Berlin: newthinking communications, Berlin, p. 142-152 11 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransferpeer-review

  9. Published

    Witless slaves or lively artifacts? A debate of the 1960s

    Müggenburg, J. K. & Pias, C., 08.11.2017, In: arq: Architectural Research Quarterly. 21, 1, p. 33–44 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Workshop: Accessible interaction for visually impaired people

    Joisten, M., Zeng, L., Woletz, J., Brock, A. & Avila, M., 28.08.2015, Mensch und Computer 2015 - Workshop: 21st International Workshop on Intelligent and Personalized Human-Computer Interaction,. Weisbecker, A., Schmidt, A. & Burmester, M. (eds.). Oldenburg: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, p. 379-381 3 p. (Mensch und Computer 2015 - Workshop).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review