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. 2013
  2. 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

  3. Published

    Spaghetti Code

    Berz, P., 2013, Katalog der Unordnung: 20 Jahre IFK. Lethen, H. (ed.). Wien: Internationales Forschungszentrum Kulturwissenschaften, p. 43-47 5 p.

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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Published

    The Silent Revolution: How Digitalization Transforms Knowledge, Work, Journalism, and Politics Without Making too Much Noise

    Bunz, M., 2013, London: Palgrave Macmillan. 134 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Valuation Beyond the Market: On Symbolic and Economic Value in Contemporary Art

    Wuggenig, U. & Rudolph, S., 2013, Art Production Beyond the Art Market?. van den Berg, K. & Pasero, U. (eds.). Berlin / New York: Sternberg Press, p. 101-149 49 p.

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

  8. Published

    Visual Frames – Framing Visuals: Zum Zusammenhang von Diskurs, Frame und Bild in den Medien am Beispiel des Klimawandeldiskurses

    Grittmann, E., 2013, Visual Framing: Perspektiven und Herausforderungen der visuellen Kommunikationsforschung. Geise, S. & Lobinger, K. (eds.). Köln: Herbert von Halem Verlag, p. 95-117 23 p.

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

  9. Published

    WhatsApp und das prozessuale Interface: Zur Neugestaltung von Smartphone-Kollektiven.

    Denecke, M. & Otto, I., 2013, In: Sprache und Literatur. 44, 1, p. 14-29 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  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

  11. 2012
  12. Published

    "Being There!": Epistemologische Skizzen zur Smartphone-Fotografie

    Hagen, W., 12.2012, Bildwerte: Visualität in der digitalen Medienkultur. Freyermuth , G. S. & Gotto, L. (eds.). transcript Verlag, p. 103-135 33 p.

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