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

    The Case of Willetta Huggins

    Wiechern, A.-L., 2020, Stimmen Hören. Klaut, M., Schnödl, G. & Pias, C. (eds.). Berlin: ciconia ciconia Verlag, p. 277-284 8 p. (Ciconia ciconia; vol. 34).

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

  2. Published

    The Corrupt State of Artificial Intelligence: Clemens Apprich on Machine Learning and Bias

    Apprich, C., 03.2018, In: Texte zur Kunst. 109, p. 136-141 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  3. Published

    The Depths of Illusion: Knowing Reality Through Computer Simulation

    Dippel, A. & Warnke, M., 16.12.2024, 1 ed. Berlin: transcript Verlag. 138 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  4. Published

    The Environmentalitarian Situation: Reflections on the Becoming-Environmental of Thinking, Power, and Capital

    Hörl, E., 01.07.2018, In: Cultural Politics. 14, 2, p. 153-173 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The eyes of the olms

    Berz, P., 2009, In: History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences. 31, 2, p. 215-238 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    The Form of Becoming: Embryology and the Epistemology of Rhythm, 1760-1830

    Wellmann, J., 03.2017, New York: Zone Books. 423 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The Game Player's Duty: The User as the Gestalt of Ports

    Pias, C., 2011, Media Archaeology: approaches, applications, and implications. Huhtamo, E. & Parikka, J. (eds.). Berkeley: University of California Press, p. 164-183 20 p.

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

  8. Published

    The Great Pacific Garbage Catch: Müll als Medium einer ›Plastic Oceanography

    Vehlken, S., 10.2020, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 23, 2, p. 84-98 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The Hidden Space of Production: Virtuality in Henri Bergson and Gilbert Simondon

    Kasprowicz, D., 2017, You were not expected to do this : On the Dynamics of Production: Distraction/Interference - Resistence/Accident. Blanga-Gubbay, D. & Ruchaud, E. (eds.). 1 ed. Düsseldorf University Press, p. 111-126 16 p. (materialisierungen; vol. 5).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The Instrument

    Großmann, R., 2021, The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Anthropology of Sound. Schulze, H. (ed.). 1 ed. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, p. 59-76 18 p. 3

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