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. Special Journal issue › Research
  2. Published

    Sonderheft Medienökonomien, Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft, Vol 18, Nr. 1

    Hoof, F. (Editor), Dommann, M. (Editor) & Hediger, V. (Editor), 04.2018, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. 210 p. (Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft; vol. 18, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. 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

  4. Published

    The Social Productivity of Anonymity: Special Issue of Ephemera Journal

    Bachmann, G. (Editor), Knecht, M. (Editor) & Wittel, A. (Editor), 2017, 2 ed. Warwick Business School. (Ephemera: Theory & Politics in Organization; vol. 17, no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  5. Published

    Wie Digitalität die Geisteswissenschaften verändert. Neue Forschungsgegenstände und Methoden.

    Huber, M. (Editor) & Krämer, S. (Editor), 27.06.2018, Wolfenbüttel: Herzog August Bibliothek. (Zeitschrift für Digitale Geisteswissenschaften. Sonderbände; vol. 3)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  6. Published

    Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie: Technik und Technikdiskurse

    Voller, C. (Editor), 04.2016, Walter de Gruyter. 241 p. (Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie; vol. 3, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  7. Published

    Zukunft schreiben: Science Fiction und andere Zeitmaschinen

    Hickethier, K. & Spreen, D., 1999, Berlin: Ästhetik & Kommunikation e.V. 124 p. (Ästhetik & Kommunikation; vol. 104)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  8. Post-doctoral dissertations › Research
  9. Published

    Games und Gamification: Kulturhistorische, medienwissenschaftliche, politische und ästhetische Dimensionen

    Fuchs, M., 23.11.2020, Lüneburg. 318 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesPost-doctoral dissertations

  10. Published

    Kulturinformatik: Schriften 1997 bis 2007 [kumulative Habilitation]

    Warnke, M., 2008, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. 466 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesPost-doctoral dissertations

  11. Monographs › Research › Peer-reviewed
  12. Published

    Computer Game Worlds

    Pias, C., 2017, Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag. 355 p. (sequenzia)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Cyborgs und andere Techno-Körper: Ein Essay im Grenzbereich von Bios und Techne

    Spreen, D., 2000, 2. ed. Passau: Erster Deutscher Fantasy Club. 184 p. (Sekundärliterarische Reihe; vol. 27)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review