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

    Lautsprecher. Medienaufführungen: Vom kulturellen Wandel eines Übertragungsmediums

    Großmann, R., 05.2013, In: Positionen. 95, Mai 2013 "Oberflächen", p. 18-20 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Postmoderne Medientheorien

    Vehlken, S., 2014, Handbuch Medienwissenschaft. Schröter, J. (ed.). Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, p. 115-124 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  3. Published

    Das Atom-Ei des Columbus: Kernkraft und Computersimulation im Zeitalter der Hypothetizität

    Vehlken, S., 2014, Trial and Error: Szenarien medialen Handelns. Wolfsteiner, A. & Rautzenberg, M. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 149-172 20 p.

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

  4. Published

    Reality Mining: Neue Mengen-Lehren in Social Simulations

    Vehlken, S., 01.11.2014, Soziale Medien - Neue Massen: Medienwissenschaftliche Symposien der DFG. Baxmann, I., Beyes, T. & Pias, C. (eds.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 185-203 19 p.

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

  5. Published

    Gesichter im Sand: Schwärme zwischen Nicht-Identität und Pattern Recognition

    Vehlken, S., 15.07.2013, Im Netz der Eindeutigkeiten: unbestimmte Figuren und die Irritation von Identität. Andreas, M. & Frankenberg, N. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 165-188 24 p.

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

  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

    "Sonic Fiction" - Zum Begreifen musikalisch-medialer Gestaltung: Ein Plädoyer zum (Wieder-)Lesen der Textsammlung »Heller als die Sonne« von Kodwo Eshun

    Großmann, R., 2013, Die Metapher als 'Medium' des Musikverstehens: Wissenschaftliches Symposium, 17. Juni – 19. Juni 2011, Universität Osnabrück. Enders, B., Oberschmidt, J. & Schmitt, G. (eds.). Osnabrück: EPOS-Verlag, p. 161-172 12 p. (Osnabrücker Beiträge zur Systematischen Musikwissenschaft; vol. 24).

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

  8. Published

    Simondon et la question de l'information

    Hui, Y., 2015, ARTS, ESTHÉTIQUE, VIE CULTURELLE PHILOSOPHIE EUROPE. Barthelemy, J.-H. (ed.). 6 ed. Paris: L'Harmattan, p. 29-47 17 p. (Cahiers Simondon; no. 6).

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

  9. Published

    As You Like It: Critique in the Era of an Affirmative Discourse

    Bunz, M., 04.2013, Unlike Us Reader: Social Media Monopolies and Their Alternatives. Lovink, G. & Rasch, M. (eds.). Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, Vol. 8. p. 137-145 (Inc Reader).

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

  10. Published

    Maulwurf

    Fuchs, M., 2012, Lexikon der Raumphilosophie. Günzel, S. (ed.). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft - WBG, p. 248 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch