Institute of Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

The ICAM researches the conditions, effects and aesthetics of digital media in connection with processes of culturalization, the technologization of social and economic relations, and the generation and archiving of knowledge. Our studies reflect on how (digital) media always also contribute to shaping the signs and objects they store, transmit or process in a specific way. At the same time, we are interested in how certain cultural techniques contribute to shaping the usage and areas of application of digital media.

Researchers at the ICAM explore the cultural and technological history of digital media—from cybernetics and the beginnings of the computer all the way to present-day network technologies, from textual and acoustic to visual forms of media representation, and from the classics to current concepts of media theory formation.

Main research areas

The ICAM researches the conditions, effects and aesthetics of digital media in connection with processes of culturalization, the technologization of social and economic relations, and the generation and archiving of knowledge. Our studies reflect on how (digital) media always also contribute to shaping the signs and objects they store, transmit or process in a specific way. At the same time, we are interested in how certain cultural techniques contribute to shaping the usage and areas of application of digital media.

In the different core areas researchers at the ICAM explore the cultural and technological history of digital media—from cybernetics and the beginnings of the computer all the way to present-day network technologies, from textual and acoustic to visual forms of media representation, and from the classics to current concepts of media theory formation. 

The ICAM maintains close institutional contact and cooperates with the Leuphana, e.g., the Moving Image Lab of the Innovation Incubator, the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Arts Program and the Leuphana Graduate School. Furthermore, the ICAM is responsible for the Audio and Video Labs of the Computer and Media Center of Leuphana. 

  1. 2024
  2. Published

    Identitäten im Netz: Performative Strategien in kollaborativer Online-Musikproduktion

    Stenzel, M., 2024, Hildesheim: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim. 384 p. (MusikmachDinge. ((audio)) Ästhetische Strategien und Sound-Kulturen; vol. 10)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Ökologie

    Hörl, E., 2024, Glossar der Gegenwart 2.0. Bröckling, U., Krasmann, S. & Lemke, T. (eds.). Berlin: Suhrkamp Verlag, p. 257-268 12 p. (Edition suhrkamp; vol. 2843).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaTransfer

  4. Published

    Sozialkybernetik in statu nascendi: Die Entstehungsgeschichte des chinesischen Sozialkredit-Systems

    Warnke, M. & Woesler, M., 2024, 1 ed. Berlin: Matthes & Seitz Berlin. 346 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  5. Accepted/In press

    Theorie des Quantum Computings

    Warnke, M., 15.02.2026, Handbuch Medientheorien im 21. Jahrhundert . Ernst, C., Schröter, J., Sudmann, A. & Krtilova, K. (eds.). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH

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

  6. Published

    Where there is no World and no Epoch: Bernard Stieglerüs Thinking of the Entropocene

    Hörl, E., 25.01.2024, Bernard Stiegler: Memories of the Future. Buseyne, B., Tsagdis, G. & Willemarck, P. (eds.). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., p. 107-123 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Zur Spaltung des Verstandes: Das Prinzip der Anarchie und die Kritik epochaler Ökonomien

    Schneider, N., 31.01.2024, Reiner Schürmann, Diskordanz der Zeiten. Schneider, N. (ed.). 1. ed. Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 195-206 12 p. (TransPositionen).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  8. Published

    A Thinking of Suspension: Melancholy and Politics Where There Is No Epoch

    Hörl, E. & Schott, N. F. (Translator), 08.02.2024, On Bernard Stiegler: Philosopher of Friendship. Nancy, J.-L. (ed.). 1 ed. London: Bloomsbury Academic, p. 63-80 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  9. Published

    Übung im Denken: Der Moment des »Dazwischen« in Manon de Boers An Experiment in Leisure

    Gräfe, A., 05.2024, Denken des Medialen: Zur Bedeutung des »Dazwischen«. Schürmann, E. & Sternagel, J. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 137-152 16 p.

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

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Langeweile Aushalten: Kontingenzerfahrung in der Gegenwartskunst

    Gräfe, A., 06.2024, Berlin: Kulturverlag Kadmos . 226 p. (Kaleidogramme; vol. 203)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch