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. 2015
  2. Published

    Neighborhood Technologies: Media and Mathematics of Dynamic Networks

    Vehlken, S. (Editor) & Harks, T. (Editor), 15.04.2015, Zürich/ Berlin: Diaphanes Verlag. 240 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Neighborhood Techologies: An Introduction

    Vehlken, S. & Harks, T., 15.04.2015, Neighborhood Technologies: Media and Mathematics of Dynamic Networks. Vehlken, S. & Harks, T. (eds.). Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 9-16 8 p.

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

  4. Published

    Sluts 'r' us: Intersections of gender, protocol and agency in the digital age

    Shah, N., 06.04.2015, In: First Monday. 20, 4, 5463.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Friedrich Kittler und der »Mißbrauch von Heeresgerät«: Zur Situation eines Denkbildes 1964 – 1984 – 2014

    Pias, C., 04.2015, In: Merkur. 69, 791, p. 31-34 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Ideologie, Hegemonie und Diskurs

    Thomas, T., 04.2015, Handbuch Cultural Studies und Medienanalyse. Hepp, A., Krotz, F., Lingenberg, S. & Wimmer, J. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Vol. 2. p. 67-77 11 p. (Medien; Kultur; Kommunikation).

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

  7. Published

    Against Water: A Reply to Christopher M. Kelty

    Müggenburg, J., 27.03.2015, In: spheres - Journal for Digital Cultures. 1, p. 1-5 5 p., 8.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Clean by Nature. Lebhafte Oberflächen und das holistisch-systemische Erbe der zeitgenössischen Bionik

    Müggenburg, J., 11.03.2015, Das Wissen der Oberfläche: Epistemologie des Horizontalen und Strategien der Benachbarung. Rieger, S. & Lechtermann, C. (eds.). Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag, p. 233-252 20 p. (sequenzia).

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

  9. Published

    Glaubwürdigkeit als Gegenstand der Medienkritik: Befunde einer Studie zur medialen Berichterstattung über die NSU-Morde

    Thomas, T., Grittmann, E. & Virchow, F., 01.01.2015, In: Communicatio socialis. 48, 2, p. 138-151 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Über Klangerzeuger, Metallkisten und Breakbeat-Labore: Konstellationen aus Sound, Technik, Wissen und Praxis

    Hardjowirogo, S.-I. & Pelleter, M., 01.2015, In: Navigationen. 15, 2, p. 99-111 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    30 Years After Les Immatériaux: Art Science & Theory

    Broeckmann, A. (Editor) & Hui, Y. (Editor), 2015, 1. ed. Lüneburg: meson press. 245 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch