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

    Introduction: Games and subcultural theory

    Carbone, M. B. & Ruffino, P., 2014, In: GAME : the Italian journal of game studies. 3, 1, p. 5-20 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Introduction: Why does management education need reinventing?

    Beyes, T., Parker, M. & Steyaert, C., 2016, The Routledge Companion to Reinventing Management Education. Steyaert, C., Beyes, T. & Parker, M. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 1-20 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Introduction: The Creativity Complex

    Beyes, T. & Metelmann, J., 09.10.2018, The Creativity Complex: A Companion to Contemporary Culture. Beyes, T. & Mentelmann, J. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 9-18 10 p.

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

  4. Published

    Introducing ‘cultures of rejection’: an investigation of the conditions of acceptability of right-wing politics in Europe

    Bojadžijev, M. & Opratko, B., 20.10.2022, In: Patterns of Prejudice. 56, 4-5, p. 205-218 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Internet der Dinge: Über smarte Objekte, intelligente Umgebungen und die technische Durchdringung der Welt

    Engemann, C. (Editor) & Sprenger, F. (Editor), 2015, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. 400 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Intermediale Performances: Vom Umgang mit Medienkonvergenz 1966/2001

    Leeker, M., 2011, Blickregime und Dispositive audiovisueller Medien. Elia-Borer, N., Sieber, S. & Tholen, G. C. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 87-110 24 p. (MedienAnalysen; no. 13).

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

  7. Published

    Interfaces Ludiques

    Fuchs, M., 01.12.2011, Jusqu'ici, tout va bien: Rencontres des arts numériques, électroniques et médiatiques. Bébié Valérian, G. (ed.). Le Vigan, France: Oudeis, p. 18 - 23 5 p.

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

  8. Published

    Insensible and Inexplicable: On the two Meanings of Occult

    Sprenger, F., 2015, In: Communication +1. 4, 1, 24 p., 2.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Inkorporationskunst: Krise und Kuratoriat

    Beyes, T., 2013, What’s Next?: Kunst nach der Krise: Ein Reader. Hedinger, J. M. & Meyer, T. (eds.). Berlin: Kulturverlag Kadmos , p. 63-67 5 p. 014

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

  10. Published

    Im Netz der Dinge: Zur Einleitung

    Engemann, C. & Sprenger, F., 30.09.2015, Internet der Dinge: Über smarte Objekte, intelligente Umgebungen und die technische Durchdringung der Welt. Engemann, C. & Sprenger, F. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 7-57 51 p.

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