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. 2017
  2. Published

    Gamification: Geheimwaffe oder Bullshit?

    Fuchs, M., 01.01.2017, In: form Design Magazine. 269, p. 57-60 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Home for Hire: How the sharing economy commoditises our private sphere

    Bialski, P., 01.01.2017, Sharing Economies in Times of Crisis: Practices, Politics and Possibilities. Ince, A. & Hall, S. M. (eds.). Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 83-95 13 p. (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    The state of the internets: Notes for a new historiography of technosociality

    Shah, N., 01.01.2017, The Routledge Companion to Global Internet Histories. Goggin, G. & McLelland, M. (eds.). New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 49-60 12 p.

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

  5. Published

    Beating Time: Futuristische Geschichten und vergangene Zukünfte der Drum-Machine

    Pelleter, M., 2017, Good Vibrations: Eine Geschichte der elektronischen Musikinstrumente. Restle, C., Brillmaier, B. & Hardjowirogo, S.-I. (eds.). Berlin: Deutscher Kunstverlag, p. 41-45 5 p.

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

  6. Published

    Computer Game Worlds

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

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Das Ereignis, „wenn man sich im Bett umdreht“ – Zur Zukunft des Subjekts bei Alain Badiou und Robert Musil

    Schnödl, G., 2017, Zurück in die Zukunft: Die Bedeutung von Diskursen über „Zukunft“ in der Wissenschaftsgeschichte. Freitag, K. & Groß, D. (eds.). Kassel: Kassel university press, p. 75-90 16 p. ( Studien des Aachener Kompetenzzentrums für Wissenschaftsgeschichte; vol. 18).

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

  8. Published

    Die Rettung des Ontologischen durch das Ontische? Ein Kommentar zu 'operativen Ontologien'

    Krämer, S., 2017, In: Zeitschrift für Medien- und Kulturforschung. 8, 2, p. 125-142 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Ecologies of Making: On Tim Ingold´s General-Ecological Critique of Worldmaking

    Hörl, E., 2017, +ultra knowledge & gestaltung. Doll, N., Bredekamp, H. & Schäffner, W. (eds.). Leipzig: E.A. Seemann, p. 45-53 9 p.

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

  10. Published

    Entwickler

    Bialski, P., 2017, Nach der Revolution : Ein Brevier digitaler Kulturen . Beyes, T., Metelmann, J. & Pias, C. (eds.). Berlin: Tempus Corporate GmbH, p. 140-148 9 p. ("Duisburger Dialoge" der Haniel Stiftung).

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

  11. Published

    Gerhard Rühm oder: Vom Eigensinn der Medien

    Krämer, S., 2017, Gerhard Rühm. Brugger, I. & Eipeldauer, H. (eds.). Berlin: Hatje Cantz Verlag, p. 27-32 6 p.

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