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

    You cannot not transact - Big Data und Transaktionalität

    Engemann, C., 2014, Big Data : Analysen zum digitalen Wandel von Wissen, Macht und Ökonomie. Reichert, R. (ed.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 365-384 19 p.

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

  2. Published

    Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie: Technik und Technikdiskurse

    Voller, C. (Editor), 04.2016, Walter de Gruyter. 241 p. (Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie; vol. 3, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    Zeugen in der Kunst

    Krämer, S. (Editor) & Schmidt, S. (Editor), 2016, Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag. 246 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Zeugenschaft als philosophisches Problem - Zur Einleitung in diesen Band

    Krämer, S., Schmidt, S. & Schülein, J.-G., 2017, Philosophie der Zeugenschaft: Eine Anthologie. Krämer, S., Schmidt, S. & Schülein, J.-G. (eds.). Münster: mentis Verlag, p. 7-24 18 p.

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

  5. Published

    Zootechnologien: Eine Mediengeschichte der Schwarmforschung

    Vehlken, S., 17.04.2012, Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag. 448 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Zootechnologies: Swarming as a Cultural Technique

    Vehlken, S., 01.11.2013, In: Theory, Culture & Society. 30, 6, p. 110-131 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Zootechnologies. A Media History of Swarm Research

    Vehlken, S. & Pakis, V. (Translator), 28.10.2019, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. 400 p. (Recursions)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Zuhause in der Mediengesellschaft: Medien und Kommunikationstechnologien im häuslichen Alltag

    Röser, J., 2004, Wissensgesellschaft: neue Medien und ihre Konsequenzen. Kübler, H.-D. & Elling, E. (eds.). Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung

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

  9. Published

    Zukunft schreiben: Science Fiction und andere Zeitmaschinen

    Hickethier, K. & Spreen, D., 1999, Berlin: Ästhetik & Kommunikation e.V. 124 p. (Ästhetik & Kommunikation; vol. 104)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  10. Published

    Zum Tode von Trutz von Trotha

    Spreen, D., 2013, In: Ästhetik & Kommunikation. 44, 161, p. 85-90 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch