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

    The Actions that Make a Musical Instrument: Exploring Club-DJing as an Instrumental Practice

    Förstel, A., Hardjowirogo, S.-I. & Egermann, H., 2015, Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Computer Music Multidisciplinary Research: 16 – 19 June, 2015; Plymouth, UK. Kronland-Marinet, R., Aramaki, M., Ystad, S. & Eaton, J. (eds.). Plymouth: The Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics, p. 762–769 8 p. (Publications of the LMA).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    T. Haigh (Hrsg.): Exploring the Early Digital

    Müggenburg, J. K., 20.03.2020, 3 p. Berlin : Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  3. Published

    Text und Technik

    Warnke, M., 2000, Deutschunterricht zwischen Kompetenzerwerb und Persönlichkeitsbildung: Germanistentag des Fachverbandes Deutsch im Deutschen Germanistenverband e.V. in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Lüneburg. Witte, H., Garbe, C., Holle, K., Stückrath, J. & Willenberg, H. (eds.). Schneider Verlag Hohengehren, p. 160-178 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Testimony/Bearing Witness: Epistemology, Ethics, History and Culture

    Krämer, S. (Editor) & Weigel, S. (Editor), 08.2017, London: Rowman & Littlefield International. 294 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Television memories and cultures of viewing: Domestizierungsprozesse in Großbritannien 1950 - 1965

    O'Sullivan, T. & Peil, C. (Translator), 2007, MedienAlltag: Domestizierungsprozesse alter und neuer Medien. Röser, J. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 71-88 18 p.

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

  6. Published

    Technologien als Diskurse: Konstruktionen von Wissen, Medien und Körpern

    Lösch, A. (Editor), Schrage, D. (Editor), Spreen, D. (Editor) & Stauff, M. (Editor), 2001, Heidelberg: Synchron. 256 p. (Diskursivitäten; vol. 5)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  7. 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

  8. Published

    Technikvergessenheit? Ernst Kapps und Georg Simmels nichtinstrumentelle Techniktheorien

    Schnödl, G., 2016, In: Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie. 3, 1, p. 131-150 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Technik – Magie – Medium: Geister, die erscheinen

    Kümmel, A. (Editor) & Spreen, D. (Editor), 2004, Berlin: Ästhetik & Kommunikation e.V. 128 p. (Ästhetik & Kommunikation; vol. 35, no. 127)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  10. Published

    Tausch, Technik, Krieg: Die Geburt der Gesellschaft im technisch-medialen Apriori

    Spreen, D., 1998, Berlin: Argument Verlag. 199 p. (Argument-Sonderband; vol. N.F. 261)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review