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. Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › Peer-reviewed
  2. Published

    'Svjedok – Der Zeuge' (2012) oder: Kann ein Film ein Zeugnis sein?

    Krämer, S., 2016, Zeugen in der Kunst. Krämer, S. & Schmidt, S. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 141-162 12 p.

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

  3. Published

    Synchronschwimmen: Von Schlafmaschinen zu Swarm Intelligence

    Vehlken, S., 2013, Kulturtechniken der Synchronisation. Kassung, C. & Macho, T. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 131-160 29 p.

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

  4. Published

    "Technisches Leben": Simondons Denken des Lebendigen und die allgemeine Ökologie

    Hörl, E. H., 08.2017, Black Box Leben. Muhle, M. & Voss, C. (eds.). Berlin: August Verlag, p. 239-266 27 p. (Schriften des Internationalen Kollegs für Kulturtechnikforschung und Medienphilosophie; vol. 28).

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

  5. Published

    The Anthropocenic Illusion: Sustainability an the Fascination of Control.

    Hörl, E., 2015, Art in the Periphery of the Center. Wuggenig, U., Behnke, C., Knoll, V. & Kastelan, C. (eds.). Berlin: Sternberg Press, p. 352-368 17 p.

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

  6. 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

  7. Published

    The Instrument as Medium: Phonographic Work

    Großmann, R., 2020, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sound Art. Krogh Groth, S. & Schulze, H. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Bloomsbury Academic, p. 436-445 10 p. 23. (Bloomsbury handbooks).

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

  8. Published

    The Power of Information: A Journey Back in Time to the Faultlines of Globalization, Art, and Media in the Early 1990s

    Bunz, M., 2013, The whole earth: California and the disappearance of the outside. Diederichsen, D. & Franke, A. (eds.). Berlin: Sternberg Press, p. 172-176 5 p.

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

  9. Published

    The Sharing Turn: Why We are Generally Nice and Have a Good Chance to Cooperate our Way Out of the Mess We Have Gotten Ourselves Into

    Graßmuck, V., 2012, Media, Knowledge and Education: Cultures and Ethics of Sharing: Medien - Wissen - Bildung: Kulturen und Ethiken des Teilens. Sützl, W., Stalder, F., Maier, R. & Hug, T. (eds.). Innsbruck: innsbruck university press, p. 17-34 18 p.

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

  10. Published

    The state of the internets: Notes for a new historiography of technosociality

    Shah, N., 01.01.2017, The Routledge Companion to Global Internet Histories. Goggin, G. & McLelland, M. (eds.). New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 49-60 12 p.

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

  11. Published

    Thinking and Diagrams - An Introduction

    Krämer, S. & Ljungberg, C., 11.07.2016, Thinking with Diagrams : The Semiotic Basis of Human Cognition. Krämer, S. & Ljungberg, C. (eds.). Boston: Walter de Gruyter, p. 1-19 19 p. (Semiotics, communication and cognition; vol. 17).

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

  12. Published

    Total Gamification: Introduction

    Fuchs, M., 01.06.2015, Diversity of Play. Fuchs, M. (ed.). 1 ed. Lüneburg: meson press, p. 7-19 13 p.

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

  13. Published

    Trickkisten: Heinz von Foerster und der Zauber der Kybernetik

    Müggenburg, J. K., 2016, Trick 17 : Mediengeschichten zwischen Zauberkunst und Wissenschaft. Vehlken, S., Müller-Helle, K., Müggenburg, J. & Sprenger, F. (eds.). Norderstedt: meson press, p. 59-84 26 p.

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

  14. Published

    Truth in testimony: Or can a documentary film ‘bear witness’? Some reflections on the difference between discursive and existential truth

    Krämer, S., 07.12.2016, In the Beginning was the Image: The Omnipresence of Pictures: Time, Truth, Tradition. Benedek, A. & Veszelszki, Á. (eds.). Frankfurt: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 29-39 11 p. (Visual learning; vol. 6).

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

  15. Published

    Über Konstruktion und Dekonstruktion von Gehörlosigkeit bei Kindern

    Bosteels, S., Blume, S. & Bösenberg, E. S. (Translator), 2012, Verbesserte Körper - gutes Leben?: Bioethik, Enhancement und die Disability Studies. Eilers, M., Grüber, K. & Rehmann-Sutter, C. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 123-144 22 p. 6. ( Praktische Philosophie Kontrovers / Practical Philosophy controversial / Philosophie pratique en controverse; vol. 5).

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

  16. Published

    Übung im Denken: Der Moment des »Dazwischen« in Manon de Boers An Experiment in Leisure

    Gräfe, A., 05.2024, Denken des Medialen: Zur Bedeutung des »Dazwischen«. Schürmann, E. & Sternagel, J. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 137-152 16 p.

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

  17. Published

    (Un-)Möglichkeiten kritischer Geschlechtertheorie und -politik: Öffentliche Kontroversen

    Thomas, T., 2012, Medien, Öffentlichkeit und Geschlecht in Bewegung: Forschungsperspektiven der kommunikations- und medienwissenschaftlichen Geschlechterforschung. Maier, T., Thiele, M. & Linke, C. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 27-49 22 p. (Critical media studies; no. 8).

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

  18. Published

    Unterwachen und Schlafen: Einleitung

    Andreas, M., Kasprowicz, D. & Rieger, S., 2018, Unterwachen und Schlafen: Anthropophile Medien nach dem Interface. Andreas, M., Kasprowicz, D. & Rieger, S. (eds.). Lüneburg: meson press, p. 7-31 25 p.

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

  19. Published

    Using the Domestication Approach for the Analysis of Diffusion and Participation Processes of New Media

    Peil, C. & Röser, J., 09.2012, The Social Use of Media: Cultural and Social Scientific Perspectives on Audience Research. Bilandzic, H., Patriarche, G. & Traudt, P. (eds.). Bristol: Intellect, p. 221-240 20 p. 12. (European Communication Research and Education Association).

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

  20. Published

    Variations on Klee’s Cosmographic Method

    Hörl, E., 2014, Grain, Vapor, Ray: Textures of the Anthropocene. Klingan, K., Sepahvand, A., Rosol, C. & Scherer, B. M. (eds.). London: The MIT Press, Vol. Ray: Vol. III. p. 180-192 13 p.

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

  21. Published

    Végétal Cristalline

    Bösenberg, E. S., 10.07.2017, (Mit) Pflanzen kartographieren. Loreck, H., A. K. & Lindeborg, S. (eds.). Hamburg: Materialverlag-HFBK Hamburg, p. 148-151 4 p.

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