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

    Ein Vorwort in zehn Thesen

    Baxmann, I., Beyes, T. & Pias, C., 2014, Soziale Medien – neue Massen: Medienwissenschaftliches Symposion der DFG. Baxmann, I., Beyes, T. & Pias, C. (eds.). 1 ed. Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 9-15 7 p. (Medienwissenschaftliche Symposien der DFG).

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

  2. Published

    Ein Medium namens McLuhan: 37 Befragungen eines Klassikers

    Bexte, P. & Leeker, M., 2020, Lüneburg: meson press. 141 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Einleitung: Von der "Klein-Hypothese" zur Beratung der Gesellschaft

    Pias, C. & Vehlken, S., 2010, Think Tanks : Die Beratung der Gesellschaft. Brandstetter, T., Pias, C. & Vehlken, S. (eds.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 7-15 9 p.

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

  4. Published

    Einleitung - McLuhan neu lesen: Zur Aktualität des kanadischen Medientheoretikers

    Leeker, M. & Schmidt, K., 2008, McLuhan neu Lesen: Kritische Analysen zu Medien und Kultur im 21. Jahrhundert. De Kerckhove, D., Leeker, M. & Schmidt, K. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 19-50 32 p.

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

  5. Published

    Einleitung

    Bublitz, H., Kaldrack, I., Röhle, T. & Zeman, M., 2013, Automatismen - Selbst-Technologien. Bublitz, H., Kaldrack, I., Röhle, T. & Zeman, M. (eds.). 1. ed. Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 9-41 33 p. (Schriftenreihe des Graduiertenkollegs "Automatismen").

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

  6. Published

    Einleitung

    Pias, C. & Rieger, S., 02.2016, Vollstes Verständnis: Utopien der Kommunikation. Pias, C. & Rieger, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Berlin / Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 7-13 7 p.

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

  7. Published

    Einleitung: Im Kreativitätskomplex

    Beyes, T., 2018, Der Kreativitätskomplex: Ein Vademecum der Gegenwartsgesellschaft. Beyes, T. & Metelmann, J. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 9-18 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  8. Published

    Ein Forschungsstand: Bildbegriffe, Bildpolitiken, Bildpraktiken

    Tollmann, V., 2024, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 16, 31, p. 148-153 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  9. Published

    Eine strukturelle Version der Theorie der Statusinkonsistenz

    Wuggenig, U., 1990, Empirischer Theorienvergleich: Erklärungen sozialen Verhaltens in Problemsituationen. Opp, K. D. & Wippler, R. (eds.). Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, p. 37-70 34 p.

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

  10. Published

    Eine Partei lebt

    Novy, L. & Stauss, F., 2014, Wahl 2013: Macht, Medien, Milliardäre : Analysen zur Nationalratswahl. Hofer, T. & Tóth, B. (eds.). 2 ed. Münster: LIT Verlag, p. 125-135 (Politik Aktuell; no. 14).

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