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

    Die Geburt des Pop aus dem Geist der phonographischen Reproduktion

    Großmann, R., 2008, PopMusicology: Perspektiven der Popmusikwissenschaft. Bielefeldt, C., Dahmen, U. & Großmann, R. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 119-134 16 p. (Kultur- und Medientheorie).

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

  2. 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

  3. Published

    Die environmentalitäre Situation: Überlegungen zum Umweltlich-Werden von Denken, Macht und Kapital

    Hörl, E., 09.2018, Internationales Jahrbuch für Medienphilosophie: Ökonomie / Ökologie. Mersch, D. & Mayer, M. (eds.). Berlin, München, Boston : Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Vol. 4. p. 221-250 29 p. (Internationales Jahrbuch für Medienphilosophie; vol. 4, no. 1).

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

  4. Published

    Die Einzeller und die Lust: Boelsche - Freud - Ferenczi

    Berz, P., 2012, Freuds Referenzen. Kirchhoff, C. & Scharbert, G. (eds.). Berlin: Kulturverlag Kadmos , p. 15-33 19 p. (LiteraturForschung; no. 15).

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

  5. Published

    Die Ebstorfer Weltkarte: Der Computer als Medium für selbstbestimmtes Lernen

    Warnke, M., 1992, In: Computer + Unterricht. 2, 5, p. 27-31 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Die Disruptivität der Spätmoderne: Figurationen des Un/Verfügbaren: Interview mit Erich Hörl, geführt von Katharina Block

    Block, K. & Hörl, E., 2024, Un/Verfügbar: Natur - Technik - Politik. Block, K., Murawska, O. & Schlitte, A. (eds.). 1 ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Vol. 1. p. 169-198 30 p. (Kulturtheorien – Theoriekulturen; vol. 1, no. 1).

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

  7. Published

    Die Diskursstelle der Medien: Soziologische Perspektiven nach der Medientheorie

    Spreen, D., 2001, Technologien als Diskurse: Konstruktionen von Wissen, Medien und Körpern. Lösch, A., Schrage, D., Spreen, D. & Stauff, M. (eds.). Heidelberg: Synchron, p. 21-41 20 p. (Diskusivitäten; vol. 5).

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

  8. 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

  9. Published

    Die Banalisierung des Militärischen und die Militarisierung der politischen Kultur

    Virchow, F. & Thomas, T., 2007, Information warfare: die Rolle der Medien (Literatur, Kunst, Photographie, Film, Fernsehen, Theater, Presse, Korrespondenz) bei der Kriegsdarstellung und -deutung = Information warfare. Glunz, C. (ed.). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht GmbH and Co. KG, p. 41-54 14 p. (Krieg und Literatur; no. 12/2006)(Schriften des Erich-Maria-Remarque-Archivs ; vol. 22).

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

  10. 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