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

    Standpunkt, Standard, Stillstand: immer Ärger mit E-Mail

    Siegert, P. F., 2008, Mensch - Technik - Ärger?: zur Beherrschbarkeit soziotechnischer Dynamik aus transdisziplinärer Sicht . Gumm, D. (ed.). Berlin [u.a.]: LIT Verlag, p. 119-132 14 p.

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

  2. Published

    Stilgeschichte des berechneten Kinos

    Warnke, M., 2006, NMI 2005: Neue Medien der Informationsgesellschaft: "Film & Computer" . Rebensburg, K. (ed.). Shaker Verlag, p. 293-310 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  3. Published

    Stille, Geräusch, Rauschen: Ästhetische und medientechnische Anmerkungen

    Großmann, R., 06.12.2018, In: Texte zur Kunst. 28. Jg., 112, p. 30-45 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Stille Wasser sind kalt: Winde, Wellen und suprafluide Gewässer nahe Null

    Vehlken, S., 2007, Stehende Gewässer: Medien der Stagnation. Butis, B. (ed.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 225-237 13 p.

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

  5. Published

    Störung als Normalfall

    Pias, C., 2011, Störfälle. Koch, L., Petersen, C. & Vogi, J. (eds.). 2 ed. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 27 - 43 17 p. (Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaften).

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

  6. Published

    Street Wisdom

    Vehlken, S., 01.2020, Universalenzyklopädie menschlicher Klugheit: Festschrift für Bernhard Siegert. Krajewski, M. & Maye, H. (eds.). Berlin: Kulturverlag Kadmos , p. 212-213 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  7. Published

    Subversive Gamification

    Fuchs, M., 27.02.2018, Playful Subversion of Technoculture. Cermak-Sassenrath, D. (ed.). Singapore: Springer Verlag, p. 198 - 208 11 p. (Gaming Media and Social Effects).

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

  8. Published

    ‚Suicidal Attacks’ und ihre medialen Repräsentationen: Geschlechtertheoretische Überlegungen und Befunde

    Thomas, T. & Virchow, F., 2010, Medien – Krieg – Geschlecht: Affirmationen und Irritationen sozialer Ordnungen. Thiele, M., Thomas, T. & Virchow, F. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 235-256 22 p. (Medien - Kultur - Kommunikation).

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

  9. Published

    'Summoning art to save the city': A Note: 'Saving' the city: Collective low-budget organizing and urban practice

    Beyes, T., 2015, In: Journal of Management Inquiry. 15, 1, p. 207-220 13 p., 15.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Supercomputing

    Vehlken, S. & Engemann, C., 15.12.2011, Takt und Frequenz. Balke, F., Siegert, B. & Vogl, J. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 143-161 17 p. (Archiv für Mediengeschichte; vol. 2011, no. 11).

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