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. 2016
  2. Published

    Quantified Selves and Statistical Bodies

    Abend, P. (Editor), Fuchs, M. (Editor), Reichert, R. (Editor), Richterich, A. (Editor) & Wenz, K. (Editor), 04.04.2016, 1 ed. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. 196 p. (Digital Culture and Society; vol. 2, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    “Sposi, Amici, al ballo, al gioco!”: Brevi cenni di ludicizzazione … del diciottesimo secolo

    Fuchs, M., 02.04.2016, Oltre il gioco: Critica della ludicizzazione urbana. Bittanti, M. & Zilio, E. (eds.). 1 ed. Milano: Unicopli, p. 23-34 12 p. 1. (Ludologica: Videogames d'autore; vol. 28).

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

  4. Published

    Century of Play: 18th Century Precursors of Gamification

    Fuchs, M., 01.04.2016, In: Kinephanos. Special issue, p. 9-33 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Point, line, surface as plane. From notational iconicity to diagrammatology

    Krämer, S., 01.04.2016, Theorizing Images. Paic, Z. & Purgar, K. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 202-227 26 p.

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

  6. Published

    Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialtheorie und Philosophie: Technik und Technikdiskurse

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

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  7. Published

    Spuren, Graphé, Wissenskünste. Zur Episteme der Spur

    Krämer, S., 10.03.2016, Der Spur auf der Spur : Sur les traces de la trace. Attia, S., Streble, I., Le Bouëdec, N. & Volkwein, A. (eds.). Heidelberg: Winter Universitätsverlag, p. 19-30 12 p. (Germanisch-romanische Monatsschrift/Beiheft; vol. 71).

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

  8. Published

    Cybernetics: The Macy Conferences 1946-1953. The Complete Transactions

    Pias, C. (Editor), 03.2016, Zurich: Diaphanes Verlag. 736 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    Phonographic work: Reading and writing sound

    Großmann, R., 03.2016, Sound as popular culture: a research companion. Papenburg, J. G. & Schulze, H. (eds.). Cambridge: The MIT Press, p. 355-366 12 p.

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

  10. Published

    Sound as Musical Material

    Großmann, R. & Hanacek, M., 03.2016, Sound as popular culture: a research companion. Papenburg, J. G. & Schulze, H. (eds.). Cambridge: The MIT Press, p. 53-64 12 p.

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

  11. Published

    On the Existence of Digital Objects

    Hui, Y., 29.02.2016, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 314 p. (Electronic Mediations; no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook