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

    Das revolutionäre Potential im Wiederholungszwang der Nostalgie

    Gräfe, A., 2026, Transformationsangst und Nostalgie: Über die Vergangenheitssehnsucht der Gegenwart. Loheit, J. & Pabst, S. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, Vol. Edition Kulturwissenschaften. p. 101-113 12 p.

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

  2. Published

    Das relationale Apriori Wiens / Das städtische Apriori des Relationalismus: Stadt, Raum und Text in Robert Musils „Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften“

    Schnödl, G., 15.12.2016, In: Le Foucaldien. 2, 1, 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Das Rauschen der Schwärme

    Vehlken, S., 2010, In: Mare. 78, p. 54-55 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer

  4. Published

    Das Protokoll ermöglicht eine Bruderschaft: Zu Offenheit, dem Sozialen und der Dekolonisierung von Protokollen

    Leistert, O., Kyong Chun, W. H. & Shnayien, M., 2023, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 15, 1, p. 86-94 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Das Phänomen Trump als Effekt von Microtargeting und Psychometrie

    Leistert, O., 29.09.2021, Data Politics: Zum Umgang mit Daten im digitalen Zeitalter. Bachor, M., Hug, T. & Pallaver, G. (eds.). 1 ed. Innsbruck: innsbruck university press, p. 19 - 33 15 p. (Edited Volumes).

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

  6. Published

    Das Monster am Ende des Buches

    Pias, C., 05.2018, In: Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaften. 12, 1, p. 109-114 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  7. Published

    Das Medium in Turings Maschine

    Warnke, M., 1997, HyperKult: Geschichte, Theorie und Kontext digitaler Medien. Warnke, M., Coy, W. & Tholen, G. C. (eds.). Basel: Stroemfeld, p. 69-82 14 p.

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

  8. Published

    Das Märchen von der Gewalt durch Medien

    Röser, J., 2001, In: COVER. 1, 1, p. 97-98 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Das Lego-Ornament der Masse

    Gräfe, A., 01.07.2022, Im Sinne der Materialität : Film und Gesellschaft nach Siegfried Kracauer. Hunter, L. & Trautmann, F. (eds.). Berlin: Bertz+Fischer Verlag, p. 91-103 13 p. (IfS - Aus der Reihe; vol. 1).

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

  10. Published

    "Das ist einfach nur unprofessionell": eine Antwort auf Klaus-Jürgen Buchholz

    Pinseler, J., 01.01.2001, In: Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft. 49, 4, p. 551-552 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch