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

    Wolfgang Ernst Gedruckte Schriften 1990/2017

    Sander, P. & Schäfer, P., 12.04.2019, Archäographien: Aspekte einer radikalen Medienarchäologie. Hiller, M. & Höltgen, S. (eds.). Basel: Schwabe Verlag, p. 237-252 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  2. Published

    Die totale Produktion: Technik, Kapital und die Logik der Unendlichkeit

    Granel, G., Hörl, E. (Editor) & Strack, L. (Translator), 04.2020, Wien: Verlag Turia + Kant. 279 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Umweltlich-Werden. Zur Kritik der environmentalitären Macht-, Welt- und Kapitalform

    Hörl, E., 2019, Hybride Ökologien. S. W., Kesting, M., Muhle, M. & Nachtigall, J. (eds.). Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 213-226 14 p. (Schriftenreihe des cx centrum für Interdisziplinäre Studien der Akademie der Bildenden Künste München).

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

  4. Published

    Die Problematik Granels

    Hörl, E., 04.2020, Die totale Produktion: Technik, Kapital und die Logik der Unendlichkeit. Hörl, E. (ed.). Wien: Verlag Turia + Kant, p. 7-37 31 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  5. Published

    Critique and the Digital

    Hörl, E. (Editor), Pinkrah, N. Y. (Editor) & Warnsholdt, C. L. (Editor), 2021, Zürich/Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag. 296 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesTransfer

  6. Published

    Modeling the Pacific Ocean

    Vehlken, S. (Editor), Vagt, C. (Editor) & Kittler, W. (Editor), 2021, Oakland: University of California Press. (Media and Environment; vol. 3, no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  7. Published

    Schwärmen

    Vehlken, S., 10.2022, Historisches Wörterbuch des Mediengebrauchs. Christians, H., Bickenbach, M. & Wegmann, N. (eds.). 1 ed. Wien: Böhlau Verlag GmbH, Vol. 3. p. 404-429 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  8. Published

    Traffic Life: Temporal Dynamics and Regulatory Dimensions in Agent-Based Transport Simulations

    Vehlken, S., 2020, In: Mobilities. 15, 5, p. 725-739 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    REST in Peace: Floating Tanks als Medientechnik zwischen Balance und Exzess

    Hauss, P. & Vehlken, S., 10.02.2020, Balance: Figuren des Äquilibriums in den Kulturwissenschaften. Goebel , E. & Zumbusch, C. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, p. 217-238 22 p. (Studien aus dem Warburg-Haus; vol. 23 ).

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

  10. Published

    Accounting for Information Infrastructure as Medium for Organisational Change

    Boell, S. K. & Hoof, F., 02.01.2020, In: Accounting History Review. 30, 1, p. 45-68 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review