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. 2013
  2. 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

  3. Published

    "Sonic Fiction" - Zum Begreifen musikalisch-medialer Gestaltung: Ein Plädoyer zum (Wieder-)Lesen der Textsammlung »Heller als die Sonne« von Kodwo Eshun

    Großmann, R., 2013, Die Metapher als 'Medium' des Musikverstehens: Wissenschaftliches Symposium, 17. Juni – 19. Juni 2011, Universität Osnabrück. Enders, B., Oberschmidt, J. & Schmitt, G. (eds.). Osnabrück: EPOS-Verlag, p. 161-172 12 p. (Osnabrücker Beiträge zur Systematischen Musikwissenschaft; vol. 24).

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

  4. Published

    Spaghetti Code

    Berz, P., 2013, Katalog der Unordnung: 20 Jahre IFK. Lethen, H. (ed.). Wien: Internationales Forschungszentrum Kulturwissenschaften, p. 43-47 5 p.

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

  5. 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

  6. Published

    The Power of Information: A Journey Back in Time to the Faultlines of Globalization, Art, and Media in the Early 1990s

    Bunz, M., 2013, The whole earth: California and the disappearance of the outside. Diederichsen, D. & Franke, A. (eds.). Berlin: Sternberg Press, p. 172-176 5 p.

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

  7. Published

    The Silent Revolution: How Digitalization Transforms Knowledge, Work, Journalism, and Politics Without Making too Much Noise

    Bunz, M., 2013, London: Palgrave Macmillan. 134 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Valuation Beyond the Market: On Symbolic and Economic Value in Contemporary Art

    Wuggenig, U. & Rudolph, S., 2013, Art Production Beyond the Art Market?. van den Berg, K. & Pasero, U. (eds.). Berlin / New York: Sternberg Press, p. 101-149 49 p.

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

  9. Published

    Visual Frames – Framing Visuals: Zum Zusammenhang von Diskurs, Frame und Bild in den Medien am Beispiel des Klimawandeldiskurses

    Grittmann, E., 2013, Visual Framing: Perspektiven und Herausforderungen der visuellen Kommunikationsforschung. Geise, S. & Lobinger, K. (eds.). Köln: Herbert von Halem Verlag, p. 95-117 23 p.

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

  10. Published

    WhatsApp und das prozessuale Interface: Zur Neugestaltung von Smartphone-Kollektiven.

    Denecke, M. & Otto, I., 2013, In: Sprache und Literatur. 44, 1, p. 14-29 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Zum Tode von Trutz von Trotha

    Spreen, D., 2013, In: Ästhetik & Kommunikation. 44, 161, p. 85-90 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  12. 2012
  13. Published

    "Being There!": Epistemologische Skizzen zur Smartphone-Fotografie

    Hagen, W., 12.2012, Bildwerte: Visualität in der digitalen Medienkultur. Freyermuth , G. S. & Gotto, L. (eds.). transcript Verlag, p. 103-135 33 p.

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

  14. Published

    Monstrous Bodies in Rudolf Virchow's Medical Collection in Nineteenth-Century Germany

    Stammberger, B., 12.2012, Exploring the Cultural History of Continental European Freak Shows and Enfreakment. Zittlau, A. & Kerchy, A. (eds.). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 129-149 21 p.

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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Published

    Sabine Ritter: Facetten der Sarah Bartmann. Repräsentation und Rekonstruktionen der 'Hottentottenvenus'

    Stammberger, B., 01.10.2012, In: Soziologische Revue. 35, 4, p. 477-479 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  18. Published

    Motive vernetzen – Meta-Image als Bild-Zettelkasten: Bilddiskurse in Zeiten des Internet

    Warnke, M., 09.2012, In: FIfF-Kommunikation. 29, 3, p. 50-52 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  19. Published

    Using the Domestication Approach for the Analysis of Diffusion and Participation Processes of New Media

    Peil, C. & Röser, J., 09.2012, The Social Use of Media: Cultural and Social Scientific Perspectives on Audience Research. Bilandzic, H., Patriarche, G. & Traudt, P. (eds.). Bristol: Intellect, p. 221-240 20 p. 12. (European Communication Research and Education Association).

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

  20. Published

    Decoding media images of political leaders: The perspective of young adults on the relation of gender and power

    Müller, K., 23.07.2012, In: Interactions - Studies in Communication & Culture. 2, 3, p. 261-277 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Zootechnologien: Eine Mediengeschichte der Schwarmforschung

    Vehlken, S., 17.04.2012, Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag. 448 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  22. Published

    Das Zuhause als mediatisierte Welt im Wandel: Fallstudien und Befunde zur Domestizierung des Internets als Mediatisierungsprozess

    Röser, J. & Peil, C., 15.02.2012, Mediatisierte Welten: Forschungsfelder und Beschreibungsansätze. Krotz, F. & Hepp, A. (eds.). 1 ed. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 137-163 26 p. (Medien - Kultur - Kommunikation).

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