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. 2015
  2. Published

    Das Unwort erklärt die Untat: Die Berichterstattung über die NSU-Morde – eine Medienkritik; Eine Studie der Otto Brenner Stiftung

    Virchow, F., Thomas, T. & Grittmann, E., 2015, Frankfurt: Otto Brenner Stiftung. 95 p. (OBS-Arbeitsheft; vol. 79)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesTransfer

  3. Published

    Das Unwort erklärt die Untat: Die »Döner-Mordserie« und der Umgang mit Gewalt an Migrantinnen und Migranten in den Medien

    Virchow, F., Thomas, T. & Grittmann, E., 2015, In: Wissenschaft und Frieden. Dossier 77, Rechter Terror in Deutschland, p. 8-10 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Denk mal! 2016

    Pfaller, R., Horn, E., Klein, S., Bernard, A. & Rammler, S., 2015, Frankfurt am Mainz: S. Fischer Verlag. 268 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesTransfer

  5. Published

    Der Sinn der Lehre: Ethnographie, Affekt, sensemaking

    Beyes, T. & Steyaert, C., 2015, Vom Sinn der Soziologie: Festschrift für Thomas S. Eberle . Maeder , C., Brosziewski , A. & Nentwich, J. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer, p. 197-211 15 p.

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

  6. Published

    Die Adresse des freien Bürgers: Digitale Identitätssysteme Deutschlands und der USA im Vergleich

    Engemann, C., 2015, In: Leviathan, Berliner Zeitschrift für Sozialwissenschaft. 43, 1, p. 43-63 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die Berichterstattung über die Mordserie des NSU im Lichte journalistischer Selbstkritik

    Virchow, F., Grittmann, E. & Thomas, T., 2015, In: Theorie und Praxis der sozialen Arbeit. 2015, 4, p. 297-306 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Die Farm der Daten: Über den Auszug des Digitalen ins Grüne

    Engemann, C., 2015, In: Zeitschrift für Ideengeschichte. 9, 2, p. 47-52 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Fort da. Ein Zirkular über bewegte Bücher: Fragen von Claus Pias. Antworten von Andreas Bernard, Timon Beyes, Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, Christian Kracht, Thomas Macho, Eckhart Nickel, Joseph Vogl und Sigrid Weigel

    Pias, C., Bernard, A., Beyes, T., Gumbrecht, H. U., Kracht, C., Macho, T., Nickel, E., Vogl, J. & Weigel, S., 2015, Das bewegte Buch: ein Katalog der gelesenen Bücher; mit 104 Beispielen aus dem Deutschen Literaturarchiv Marbach. Gfrereis, H. & Pias, C. (eds.). Marbach: Deutsche Schillergesellschaft e.V., p. 68-87 20 p. (Marbacher Magazin; vol. 150/151/152).

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

  10. Published

    Grammophon-Erziehung und Beat-Bildung: Szenen medien/musikalischer Bildungs-Phantasmen

    Pelleter, M., 2015, Medien – Bildung – Dispositive: Beiträge zu einer interdisziplinären Medienbildungsforschung. Othmer, J. & Weich, A. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 141-155 15 p. (Medienbildung und Gesellschaft; vol. 30).

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

  11. Published

    Graphismus als Potenzial: Reflexionen über die epistemische Verschränkung von Räumlichkeit und Anschauung

    Krämer, S., 2015, Notationen in kreativen Prozessen. Czolbe, F. & Magnus, D. (eds.). Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann, p. 17-36 20 p.

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