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. Published

    Kybernetische Maschinen – artifizielles Leben oder lebhafte Artefakte?

    Müggenburg, J. K., 10.2019, Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion: Handbuch zur Geschichte – Kultur – Ethik. Liggieri, K. & Müller, O. (eds.). Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, p. 122–127 6 p.

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

  2. Published

    Langeweile Aushalten: Kontingenzerfahrung in der Gegenwartskunst

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

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    La pensée du suspens. Mélancolie et politique dans le sans-époque

    Hörl, E., 2021, Amitiés de Bernard Stiegler: Douze Contributions réunis par Jean-Luc Nancy. Nancy, J.-L. (ed.). Paris: Galilée Editions, p. 45 - 68 24 p. (La philosophie en effet).

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

  4. Published

    Lautsprecher. Medienaufführungen: Vom kulturellen Wandel eines Übertragungsmediums

    Großmann, R., 05.2013, In: Positionen. 95, Mai 2013 "Oberflächen", p. 18-20 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    La vie, la nature, la technique

    Hörl, E. H. & Gorz, A., 2015, Le fil rouge de l’écologie: Entretiens inédites en francais, édition établie et présentée par Willy Gianinazzi. Gorz, A. (ed.). Paris: École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, p. 19-81 53 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  6. Published

    Lebende Prototypen und lebhafte Artefakte: Die (Un-)Gewissheiten der Bionik

    Müggenburg, J., 2011, In: Ilinx. Berliner Beiträge zur Kulturwissenschaft. 2, p. 1-20 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Leben nach Wahl? Zur medialen Inszenierung von Lebensführung und Anerkennung

    Thomas, T., 2008, Medien - Diversität - Ungleichheit: zur medialen Konstruktion sozialer Differenz. Wischermann, U. & Thomas, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 225-243 19 p. ( Medien - Kultur - Kommunikation).

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

  8. Published

    Lebenstreue Medien: Von immersierten Körpern zu digitalen Menschmodellen

    Kasprowicz, D., 01.2016, Die mediatisierte Gesellschaft: Leben und arbeiten mit immersiven Medien. Hochscherf, T. (ed.). Marburg: Schüren Verlag, p. 27-39 13 p. (Jahrbuch für immersive Medien; vol. 2015).

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

  9. Published

    Lebhafte Artefakte: Heinz von Foerster und die Maschinen des Biological Computer Laboratory

    Müggenburg, J., 2018, Göttingen: Konstanz University Press. 379 p. (Konstanz University Press)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Lebhafte Artefakte oder „Wenn Roboter Hände schütteln“

    Müggenburg, J. K., 15.02.2019, Zehn Minuten Philosophie. Jamme, C. & Drechsler, K. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 149-154 6 p.

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