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. Accepted/In press

    Kulturfreie Bilder: Erfindungen der Voraussetzungslosigkeit

    Pias, C. (Editor), 29.05.2013, (Accepted/In press) 1 ed. Berlin: Kulturverlag Kadmos . 215 p. (Copyrights; no. 19)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    Synchronschwimmen: Von Schlafmaschinen zu Swarm Intelligence

    Vehlken, S., 2013, Kulturtechniken der Synchronisation. Kassung, C. & Macho, T. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 131-160 29 p.

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

  3. Published

    Dekonstruktion und Evidenz: Ver(un)sicherungen in Medienkulturen. Sulzbach / Taunus: Ulrike Helmer Verlag, 2011, 292 S.

    Maier, T., 11.2012, In: Feministische Studien. 30, 2, p. 343-345 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  4. Published

    Move(ns). Zum Bildtransfer in der Architektur

    Stöcklmayr, N., 2012, Image Match : Visueller Transfer, 'Imagescapes' und Intervisualität in globalen Bildkulturen. Baleva, M., Reichle, I. & Lerone Schultz, O. (eds.). München: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 193 - 211 19 p.

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

  5. Published

    Constructions and Reconstructions. The Architectural Image between Rendering and Photography

    Stöcklmayr, N., 2012, In: Photoresearcher. 18, p. 69 - 77 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Symbolischer Wert und Warenwert

    Rudolph, S. & Wuggenig, U., 2012, Das Kunstfeld: Eine Studie über Akteure und Institutionen der zeitgenössischen Kunst am Beispiel von Zürich, Wien, Hamburg und Paris. Munder, H. & Wuggenig, U. (eds.). Zürich: JRP Ringier Verlag, p. 315-341 27 p.

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

  7. Published

    Einleitung: Von der "Klein-Hypothese" zur Beratung der Gesellschaft

    Pias, C. & Vehlken, S., 2010, Think Tanks : Die Beratung der Gesellschaft. Brandstetter, T., Pias, C. & Vehlken, S. (eds.). Zürich, Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 7-15 9 p.

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

  8. Published

    Zur Zukunft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Medien: Grundversorgung in 140 Zeichen?

    Graßmuck, V., 12.2012, Jahrbuch Netzpolitik 2012: Von A wie ACTA bis Z wie Zensur. Beckedahl, M. & Meister, A. (eds.). Berlin: epubli GmbH, p. 117-121 5 p.

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

  9. Published

    Schwarm-Werden: Epistemische Rekursionen selbstorganisiernder Kollektive

    Vehlken, S., 2013, Automatismen - Selbsttechnologien. Bublitz, H., Kaldrack, I., Röhle, T. & Zeman, M. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 289-306 17 p.

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

  10. Published

    Exkursion in die Coy-Galaxis

    Graßmuck, V., 2012, Per Anhalter durch die Turing-Galaxis. Knaut, A., Kühne, C., Kurz, C., Pohle, J., Rehak, R. & Ullrich, S. (eds.). Münster: MV Wissenschaft, p. 9-17 9 p.

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