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

    Schlüsselwerke der Cultural Studies

    Hepp, A. (Editor), Krotz, F. (Editor) & Thomas, T. (Editor), 2009, 1. ed. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 338 p. (Medien - Kultur - Kommunikation)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    Schönheit und Ästhetizität: zur Verwissenschaftlichung künstlerischer Kategorien

    Großmann, R., 2000, In: Positionen. 44, p. 40-44 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Schönheit und Ästhetizität: Zur Verwissenschaftlichung künstlerischer Kategorien

    Großmann, R., 2008, Schönheit als verweigerte Gewohnheit: Der Schönheitsbegriff und die avancierte Musik im 20. Jahrhundert. Demuth, M. (ed.). Pfau Verlag, p. 51-65 15 p.

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

  4. Published

    Schräge Vögel: Vom ›technological morass‹ in der Ornithologie

    Vehlken, S., 2012, Selbstläufer/Leerläufer: Regelungen und ihr Imaginäres im 20. Jahrhundert. Schneider, M. & Rieger, S. (eds.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 133-156 24 p.

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

  5. Published

    Schriftlichkeiten

    Großmann, R., 2011, In: Positionen. 86, p. 8-9 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Schwärmen

    Vehlken, S., 10.2022, Historisches Wörterbuch des Mediengebrauchs. Christians, H., Bickenbach, M. & Wegmann, N. (eds.). 1 ed. Wien: Böhlau Verlag GmbH, Vol. 3. p. 404-429 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  7. Published

    Schwärme. Zootechnologien

    Vehlken, S., 2007, Politische Zoologie. von der Heiden, A. & Vogl, J. (eds.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 235-257 23 p.

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

  8. Published

    Schwarm-Werden: Epistemische Rekursionen selbstorganisiernder Kollektive

    Vehlken, S., 2013, Automatismen - Selbsttechnologien. Bublitz, H., Kaldrack, I., Röhle, T. & Zeman, M. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 289-306 17 p.

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

  9. Published

    Schwarz-weiß in Farbe: Gut und Böse in den Massenmedien

    Pinseler, J., 2007, In: Kursiv. 1, p. 40-45 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Schwerpunkt "Protokolle"

    Leistert, O. (Editor) & Shnayien, M. (Editor), 17.04.2023, transcript Verlag. 160 p. (Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft; vol. 15, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch