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

    Media Genealogy: Back to the Present of Digital Cultures

    Apprich, C. & Bachmann, G., 23.06.2017, Digitisation: Theories and Concepts for Empirical Cultural Research. Koch, G. (ed.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 293 - 306 14 p.

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

  2. Published

    Mediale Teilhabe in Technologien relationaler Verschaltung

    Hörl, E. & Ochsner, B., 2023, Mediale Teilhabe: Partizipation zwischen Anspruch und Inanspruchnahme. Ochsner, B. (ed.). Lüneburg: meson press, p. 21-44 24 p.

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

  3. Published

    Mediale Unterhaltungsangebote aus gesellschaftskritischer Perspektive: von der Kritik an der Kulturindustrie zur Analyse der gegenwärtigen Gouvernementalität

    Thomas, T. & Langemeyer, I., 2007, Kritische Theorie heute. Winter, R. & Zima, P. V. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 259-281 23 p. (Cultural Studies; vol. 20).

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

  4. Published

    Medialisierter Beziehungsalltag: wie im Medienhandeln Gemeinschaft und Rückzug gestaltet werden

    Röser, J., 2007, Beziehungskulturen. Faulstich, W. (ed.). München [u.a.]: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 130-139 10 p.

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

  5. Published

    Medialität, Performativität und Sprachförmigkeit des Geldes. Drei Dimensionen über das Geld als Denkform zu reflektieren

    Krämer, S., 11.2016, Geld! Welches Geld?: Geld als Denkform. Brodbeck, K.-H. & Graupe, S. (eds.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, p. 153-172 20 p.

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

  6. Published

    Medialität und Heteronomie. Reflexionen über das Botenmodell als Ansatz einer Medienphilosophie

    Krämer, S., 26.02.2018, Handbuch der Medienphilosophie. Schweppenhäuser, G. (ed.). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft - WBG, p. 33-44 12 p.

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

  7. Published

    Media of Trust: Visualizing the Pandemic

    Hoof, F., 2020, Pandemic Media: Preliminary Notes Towards an Inventory . Melamed, L., Keidl, P. D., Hediger, V. & Somaini, A. (eds.). Lüneburg: meson press, p. 231-240 20 p.

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

  8. Published

    Media Organize: A Companion to Technological Objects

    Conrad, L. (Editor), Beyes, T. (Editor), Beverungen, A. (Editor), Pias, C. (Editor), Denny, S. (Editor) & Steinbrügge, B. (Editor), 2021, Hamburg: Kunstverein in Hamburg. 196 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsTransfer

  9. Published

    Média(technika)történeti episztemológia

    Vehlken, S., 2014, In: Partitura. 9, 1, p. 37-42 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Media use in Germany around the attacks in the United States

    Röser, J. & Schaefer, G., 2002, Communication and terrorism: Public and Media Responses to 9/11. Greenberg, B. S. (ed.). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, p. 85-97 13 p.

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