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

    Jugend und gewalthaltige Massenkultur: Zur Soziologie der Unterhaltung und der Sozialisationsfunktion der Medien

    Spreen, D., 2012, Wissen sie, was sie tun? : Zur filmischen Inszenierung jugendlicher Gewalt. Herrmann, J., Metelmann, J. & Schwandt, H.-G. (eds.). Marburg: Schüren Verlag, p. 16-48 32 p.

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

  2. Published

    Joseph Weizenbaum: Geschichten

    Warnke, M., 2008, In: FIfF-Kommunikation. 25, 2, 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    John Ford's 'Rio Grande': Momism, the Cold War, and the American frontier

    Glasenapp, J., 01.07.2005, In: Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik. 53, 3, p. 273-283 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Je vous salue!

    Hörl, E., 07.2024, In: Berliner Debatte Initial. 35, 1, p. 6-8 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Je možná metafyzika mediality?

    Krämer, S., 2016, Medienwissenschaft: východiska a aktuální pozice německé filozofie a teorie médií. Krtilová, K. & Svatoňová, K. (eds.). Prag: Academia Verlag, p. 69-88 20 p. (Vizuální studia; vol. 5).

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

  7. Published

    Itineraria Picta: Itineraria Scripta

    Fuchs, M., 2019, Ludotopia: Spaces, Places and Territories in Computer Games. Aarseth, E. & Günzel, S. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 215-230 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  8. Published

    Is there a diagrammatic impulse with Plato? ‘Quasi-diagrammatic-scenes’ in Plato’s philosophy

    Krämer, S., 11.07.2016, Thinking with Diagrams: The Semiotic Basis of Human Cognition. Krämer, S. & Ljungberg, C. (eds.). Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, p. 163-177 15 p. (Semiotics, communication and cognition ; vol. 17).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Introduction to Thinking the Problematic: Decentring as Method and Ethos

    Leistert, O. & Schrickel, I., 06.10.2020, Thinking the problematic: genealogies and explorations between philosophy and the sciences. Leistert, O. & Schrickel, I. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 9-34 26 p. (Philosophy).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    Introduction to General Ecology: The Ecologization of Thinking

    Hörl, E. H. & Schott, N. F. (Translator), 05.2017, General Ecology: The New Ecological Paradigm. Hörl, E. & Burton, J. (eds.). London: Bloomsbury Academic, p. 1 – 75 75 p. (Theory).

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