In order to grasp the underlying meaning of the various projects by Fons Elders, we asked him if there is ‘a thread of Ariadne’ in his projects. LP & RT
“I rarely reflect explicitly upon the relation of my projects and motivations. It is only by retrospect that I clearly see a specific, ongoing logic in my activities.
A philosopher asked me in 1986 what I was doing. My answer: “I am working on a housing project in the city of Amsterdam, not far from the place where we are standing.” While explaining the aims of the project: The House of the Four Winds, he looked at me, and said: but this has nothing to do with philosophy. A friend, standing next to me, answered: but this is his philosophy.
When my oldest brother came to our house in 1980 to congratulate the family with the birth of our daughter Tara, he said to me: you are a Greek philosopher. I wondered what this statement meant. When he saw my amazement, he added: because you want to realize what you think. Intuitively, I felt that he was right. Theory and praxis are two sides of the same coin. For me, understanding is an absolute necessity in order not to walk through life as a blind man. Thinking precedes my actions, except when I am drunk. My course on systematic philosophy for educational TV (1972), carried the title: Analyze Decondition. My last words in Analyze Decondition were an appeal to build beautiful houses, not only for the happy few but for everyone. The House of the Four Winds, eighteen years later, was the result.
Both philosophy and architecture are disciplines that deal with the most profound questions: space and time. Hermes (Mercurius / Papageno) is my guide during a life long space-time journey. Hermes symbolizes the ‘tertium datur’: there is always a third possibility. Nothing excludes each other in reality; only in the Aristotelian logic of the excluded third.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall, I founded the Forum 2001 Foundation as a vehicle to work for the cultural and political unification of Europe. I wonder in which direction the 21st century is moving. In order to clarify this question, Europe is in need of ‘Designed2Meet’-Centres, such as Salauna in Sardinia, laboratories for creative ideas about Europe’s role in a globalized world. We work actually on the realization of the D2M-Centres. The future of the next generations is more important than our past. Europe’s 20th century was very dark. Europe has to re-invent herself in the 21st century. I want to contribute to this process.”
In preparation / in voorbereiding
Islam Unknown - Interviews by Fons Elders with Asma Barlas - Nasr Abu Zayd - Abdullahi Ahmed An-na'im - Amna Nusayr - Reza Aslan - Anouar Majid - Ömer Özsoy - Mehmet Asutay (Europa en Islam - Interviews door Fons Elders met Asma Barlas - - Nasr Abu Zayd - Abdullahi Ahmed An-na'im - Amna Nusayr - Reza Aslan - Anouar Majid - Ömer Özsoy - Mehmet Asutay).
vanaf 2 mei 2010
Achtdelige televisiereeks Islam in de spiegel van…
Televisieinterviews door Fons Elders met acht prominente moslims. Acht intellectuelen die zich durven uitspreken, altijd bereid tot een dialoog, afkomstig uit een islamitisch land, en zelf moslim. Allen hebben een grondige kennis van de islam en het westen. Stuk voor stuk zijn ze bewuste en doelgerichte bruggenbouwers. In opdracht van NIOPress. Meer info.
2009 - 2010
Seminars Academie Libre Ambulante
Meer info: www.academielibre.eu
2009
Production of Haiku Quartet Game.
by Elders Special Productions B.V.
Info www.haiku-cards.eu.
TV interview: The World View of Noam Chomsky by Fons Elders (49’52’’)
Broadcasted June 25, 2008 at 23.20, Hilversum 2 / NET II
A project with a European dimension: D2M {designed to meet}.
D2M refers to an international conference resort Sala-una in the province Galluria (Sardinia) near the ancient city of Tempio Pausania. A businessplan and building permission for Salauna are available. Information about participation as investor: esp.bv@xs4all.nl.
More information at www.designed2meet.org.
Salauna distinguishes itselfs by various features:
- its 21st century architecture, designed to meet;
- its positive relationship with the local and regional culture;
- its focus on the cultural unification of Europe, the Mediterranean cultural space, and the effects of globalisation on value systems worldwide;
- a permanent presence of creative, talented guests, occupying a Chair (“Chair Residents”), carrying the name of the sponsoring companies (“Chair Holders”);
- face to face contact with lecturers worldwide through video-phone/webcam;
- all year round programmes with internationally known scholars, artists, politicians, economists, ecologists, writers, musicians, poets, philosophers and spiritual leaders. Certain programmes are designed for distribution by internet.
Salauna has been designed by architect Michele Saee (L.A., Paris and Beijing), www.michelesaee.com. Michele Saee designed a Centre that unfolds into the landscape, becoming part of it owing to its curves and to the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces, including an amphitheatre. Apart from conference facilities, the resort contains 120 hotel rooms and quarters for artists and writers in residence. The Centre aims to generate exchanges between the different target groups: corporate managers and executives, NGO’s, university faculties, academies – who may use the Centre for conferences, managemant training and so on – individual scholars and artists involved in the Centre’s special courses, and tourists.” (Hans Ibelings, in A10 # 2 new European architecture mar/april 2005 p.15.)
“The conference centres which Fons Elders builds in Italy, have to become the laboratories for a new European renascence.” (Edo Dijksterhuis, in Het Financieele Dagblad (The Financial Journal), August 27, 2005.The interview in Dutch, English or Italian.)
The twelf selling points of SALA-UNA
Sala-una embodies the potential to become a unique conference-resort on Sardinia, the island in the heart of the Western part of the Mediterranean Sea. The location is situated on the territory of the 2000 year ancient city Tempio Pausania, in the northern province Galluria.
Forum 2001 Foundation signed a contract with the municipality for a 99-year lease of a location of 10 ha, bordering on a natural reserve of 20.000 ha..The municipality of Tempio granted a building permit.
Architect of Sala-una is Michele Saee who lives and works in Los Angeles, holding also office in Paris and Beijing.
We are entering the final phase of the development process, negotiating with potential investors the mutual conditions for participating in the property of the building, or in the exploitation by buying conference space.
The twelf selling points of Sala-una, named after a nearby mountain river, may be listed as follows:
- first class quality in style, functionality and leisure with a distinctive character
- cooperation with an outstanding international hotel-chain
- the 21st architecture of Sala-una is not only a 'must' for everyone interested in architecture, but also a powerful mean to put Sala-una on the map of conference centres for international corporations, business schools and academies
- the fusion between building and the mountainous environment.
they are there for each other, and always were; the 'chi, kami or spirit’ of the building and the landscape breathe peace of mind and open the heart of the guests
- no neigbouring buildings, and extra security, if required;
- the 'mission' of Sala-una: designed2meet: is simple { D2M} and yet a decisive factor for successful meetings
- the presence of creative chair-residents enhancing the chances toward unexpected, meaningful encounters
- the positioning of Sala-una as a European Centre,
contributing to Europe's cultural and political unification
- the ICT room facilitates worldwide communication, and yet the presence of untamed nature is offering the guests the experience of an unspoiled environment
- the richness of the mediterranean culture, cuisine and hospitality;
- an amphitheatre on the roof with 450 seats for public performances
- a yearly meeting of investors, chairholders, Board and staff
September 18 - October 18, 2007
A journey to Japan in the early autumn
One of the places to visit and to stay for a while, is Koyasan, founded by the monk Kukai. His aim: "All beings in this world ultimately vanish, but I shall work towards the salvation of all sentient beings until the day the Dharma ( Buddhist law) comes to an end."
See Haikus
Novembre 9, 2006
Dancing through infinity
Lecture where science & art approach one another.
This year the TU/e celebrates its 50th anniversary and the Van Abbemuseum celebrates its 70th anniversary. Reason enough to celebrate with an encounter between art and science. Robbert Dijkgraaf works in the field of string theory, which forms a link between Einstein's theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. American David Kremers is a visual artist, connected to Caltech, California Institute of Technology. He visualises scientific data from bio technology, and makes the invisible tangible. Both speakers attempt to get a grip on the invisible layers of reality, not daunted by the infinite space which they encounter. After two short lectures about space, Robbert Dijkgraaf and David Kremers debate about the deeper layers of reality. Philosopher Fons Elders accompanies the Dance through Infinity.
With: David Kremers, Robbert Dijkgraaf, Fons Elders (chairman of discussion)
Location: TU/e, Trappenzaal, Vertigo, 20-21.30 p.m., entrance €2,50.
Download invitation Dancing thorough infinity (English)
May 7, 2006
Piranesi events Het Sublieme en de Westerse cultuur.
(The Sublime and Western culture). Lecture by Fons Elders
Huize Piranesi: location for Masterclass, a movie by Hans van Teeuwen.
Piranesi events ART? No Thing
Presentation of ART? No Thing by Fré Ilgen and drawings by Sylvester Brobbel. Contributions by Jeroen van den Berg, Roé Cerpac, Fons Elders, Fré Ilgen, Mark van Tongeren and Jonas Snijder
Piranesi events De ontologie van de wereldboom
(Ontology of the World-Tree) Lecture by Karin Verelst
Piranesi events Het wereld beeld van Edward Said
(The world view of Edward Said) Lecture by Heiko Jessayan
Piranesi events Waar is thuis en hoe kom ik daar
(Where is home and how do I get there), by Peter van Kraaij. Music and theatre performance by Walpurgis (Antwerpen, Belgium)
Piranesi events Hommage Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Opening of Huize Piranesi followed by Performance kimono Fashion show by Colette van Landuyt; Fire ceremony, dance and music. Production by Elders Special Productions bv
The re-structuring of the farmhouse, built in 1883, see Piranesi for more information.
Reconstruction of a 14th century private habitat: L’appartement de l’écrivain, St. Jean de Valériscle, France
October 26, 2001
The sublime and the beautiful : on ontology and creative imagination.
Valedictory lecture in the Dom Church of Utrecht.
Since the 18th century, after two millenniums of relative harmony, the Sublime and the Beautiful have gone their own way. The Sublime manifests itself by preference as intensity,silence, emptiness, absurdity, even violence; the Beautidul as harmony and order. The Sublime and the Beautiful derive their inspiration from two innate, unconscious desires: death and Eros. Today, the Sublime dominates the Eros principle. The violence of the Sublime, no longer united with the Beautiful and Eros, has led to the destruction of the two great Buddha statues in Afghanistan; the Twin Towers in New York; the war in Afghanistan, Irak and Lebanon.
The plea of the author is to search for a renewed relationship between the two sources of the creative imagination: death and Eros.
Symposium Gaia and Culture
The fifth symposium held by the Forum 2001 Foundation was organized with the support of the students of the University for Humanist Studies in Utrecht, The Netherlands; the members of the Hermes Committee of Sinalunga: Mr Fabio Barbetti, Mr Luigi Scaperrotta, Mr Angelo Terrosi, Cavaliere Dott. Vais Vitti, and the hospitality of the Contessas Cecilia and Giuliana Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja of La Fratta, Sinalunga, Tuscany. June 22-24, 2001
Lectures by Peter Westbroek, Warwick Fox, F. David Peat, Karin Verelst, Grazia Marchianò, Mogobe Ramose, DuoDuo, Fons Elders, Gert Jan de Bruyn, Jacqueline Cramer, Chris Dutilh, Allerd Stikker, Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis
Music by Ahmed Ben Dhiab and Ruggero Tajé
The theme of Gaia and Culture comprises ancient and modern, sacred and profane visions on nature and their intimate relationship with the culture in which they flourished or still flourish. Cf. bibliography: Visions of Nature. Studies on the Theory of Gaia and Culture in Ancient and Modern Times. VUB BrusselsUniversity Press, 2004f. bibliographyreface, introductiTHons and Gaia postscript by Fons Elders, foreword by David Rothenberg and contributions byTH Peter Westbroek, Tatjana Kochetkova, Warwick Fox, Koo van der Wal, Hubert Dethier, F. David Peat, Karin Verelst, Karel van der Leeuw, Ulricht Libbrecht, Pasquale Simonelli, Grazia Marchianò, Mogobe Ramose, DuoDuo, Fons Elders, 2000
De verzoening van Prometheus en Hermes.
(The reconciliation of Prometheus and Hermes). The Millennium Night. VPRO-Television. In collaboration with Tara Elders as Hermes / Pagageno. Further contributions by Wim de Bie, Lia Dorana, Rudi Fuchs, Ronald Plasterk, Klaas Vos,. Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: TD41811 (DIGI-BETA) V76681 (VHS).
The Millennium Night of VPRO TV was a 24 hour series of individual contributions of each three minutes. My contribution “The reconciliation of Prometheus and Hermes” was a Socratic dialogue, in which Prometheus and Hermes are asking questions about the alienation between two mainstreams in European culture, viz. the classic and the romantic mind. Prometheus gave the humans the Fire that belonged to the gods; Hermes (Papageno in The Magic Flute) is the ‘tertium datur’, the one who solves contradictions, knowing that there is always a third possibility. He communicates between the visible and unvisible dimensions. The title refers to the reconcilation between Enlightenment and Illumination.
Sinalunga, Southern Tuscany
Fons Elders, as president of Forum 2001 Foundation, signs a contract for the purchase of the grounds for the international centre Hermes within the borders of the municipality of Sinalunga, Tuscany. The purchase took place in collaboration with the Hermes Committee of Sinalunga (cf. 2001 / Symposium: Gaia and Culture)
Symposium The Conference of the Birds, On World Citizenship and It’s Musical Spirits
The fourth Symposium organized by the Forum 2001 Foundation and the municipality of Tempio Pausania. Contributions by the musicians Jin Hi Kim, Joseph Celli, Mor Thiam, Farzaneh Joorabchi, Behazad Yahagi, Jamshid Mirhadi, Ahmed ben Dhiab Ruggero Tajé, Sandro Fresi et Iskeliu – Coro “G. Gabriel”, Victor Wentink and Edwin van der Heide. Speakers: Antonio Dibeltulu, Albert Anderson, Henk Manschot, Gabor Papp, Mogobe Ramose, DuoDuo, Stan Meuwese, Nenad Fiser, Fons Elders and Rodrigo de Zayas. Tempio Pausania, Sardinia. June 25-27, 1999
Designs for Salauna
Presentation of the preliminary designs by Gian Piero Frassinelli ( Florence) and Michele Saee (Los Angeles) at the Symposium: The Conference of the Birds, on world citizenship
Sponsors: Autonomous Region Sardinia; Municipality of Tempio Pausania, and Mr. D. Huijgers of Intercapital BV
Symposium Mythological Europe revisited, Humanism and the Third Millennium
Third symposium organized by the Forum 2001 Foundation in 'La Fratta', Sinalunga, Tuscany. April 18-25, 1998 in collaboration with KaAp of the Arnhem Institute for the Arts.
Lectures by Rebecca Armstrong,Tjeu van den Berk, Hans van de Braak, Fons Elders, Grazia Marchianò, Caitlin Matthews, Andrei Oisteanu, Rodrigo de Zayas; contributions by Francesco Francioni, pro-rector of the Siena University, Ahmed Ben Dhiab with moonsongs,
Kathleen Caulfield with the story of the ass; Colette van Landuyt with a fashionshow, and the orchestra a Plettro Senese “A. Bocci”.
Sponsors: Mr. D. Huijgers of Intercapital BV, The Netherlands; Mr. L. Scaperrotta of Makor, Sinalunga; Banca dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A.; COOP Centro Italia, and the EU, Brussels
The symposium included an International Workshop of the Mythic Journey. The sixty-five participating students were divided in four groups, each group under the guidance of a mentor, viz. Roy Cerpac, Manel Esparbé I Gasca, Colette van Landuyt and Frans Oosterhof. The students were chosen by the respective faculties of the Institutes for the Arts in Athens, Reykjavik, Barcelona, Helsinki, Sarajevo, Arnhem, Cluj/Napoca, Gent, Krakow, Milan, Essen, Budapest, Manchester, Viterbo, Dublin, Prague, Copenhague, and St. Etienne.
Together they represented the different traditions and cultures of Europe and various artistic disciplines. Cherifa Hendriks wrote in a letter to Christian, september 3, 1998: “After La Fratta I felt a big urge to meet more people. More people with the same interests but from different countries with different beliefs and backgrounds. What happened there was really remarkable. People who had never met each other before tried to communicate in a creative way and tried to make the best connection to those ‘strangers’ as they could. Not only personally, but most of all professionally.” Cf. bibliography: Mythological Europe Revisited, VUBUniversityPress, Brussels 2000.
Construction of private habitat De Kapberg
The ‘Kapberg’ derives its main form { 7,5 x 7,5 x 7,5 meter) from the cubic square of the adjacent ‘Stolp’-farm, while two slanting roofs enlarge the basis to 10 x 14 meters. In collaboration with architect Ronald van Duivenbode.
Symposium Humanism toward the third millennium II
Second symposium organized by the Forum 2001 Foundation in Tempio Pausania, Sardinia, 1994.
Lectures and contributions by Paul Briot, Hubert Dethier, DuoDuo, Fons Elders, Miriam Eliav-Feldon, Nenad Fiser, Grazia Marchianó, Támás Ungvári, Giacomella Orofino, Arne Naess, Andrei Oisteanu, Gabor Papp, Mogobe Ramose, Rob Tielman, Kit Fai Tsui and Miklós Vásárhelyi.
Main themes: Renaissance humanism in commemoration of Pico della Mirandola (d. 1494) and the contemporary crisis of values in Europe.
Sponsors: Municipality of Tempio Pausania; region Sardinia; Stichting Weezenkas and private donations.
DuoDuo wrote about the symposium in NRC Handelsblad, December 8, 1994:
“During the final dinner, the writers and intellectuals from various countries were cheerfully toasting, drinking and chatting with each other. Only one writer from Sarajevo sat silently staring at the steak which remained untouched on his plate. Only when it had grown cold, only when one Rumenian intellectual stood up and asked everyone for a moment’s silence for the dead of Sarajevo, only when everyone present had placed their own book in front of him as a gift for Sarajevo’s destroyed library, only then he let his tears flow. It was a touching sight. I heard voices, voices of people, voices that confirm humanness. I heard my own voice: no, not love of country, but love of people! “
Symposium Humanism toward the third millennium
First symposium of the Forum 2001 Foundation in Tempio Pausania, Sardinia.
Lectures by Mohammed Arkoun, DuoDuo, Fons Elders, Franco Ferrucci, Grazia Marchianó, Andrei Plesu, Mogobe Ramose, Rob Tielman, followed by an interview for HOS TV by Fons Elders with the Algerian born historian and philosopher Mohammed Arkoun on humanism and the culture of power.
Sponsors: Municipality of Tempio Pausania, Stichting De Weezenkas, The Netherlands, HOS TV and private donations.
Over menselijke waardigheid / On human dignity
Inaugural lecture for the chair “Theory of world views” at the University for Humanist Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The lecture was part of a performance with paintings by Richard Hefti; the sculpture Triumph of Love by Tom Puckey; masks by Philip Boas for nine girls in the role of ‘dianges’ (contraction of ‘diable’ and ‘ange’); live music by Jan Boerman and a juggler, who managed to keep his balls in the air during the oration of 45 minutes. Location: F.H. Fentener van Vlissingen Hall, Conservatorium of the Utrecht School for the Arts. (Foto’s beschikbaar)
Vierwindenhuis, Wittenburg, Amsterdam
12 years of ongoing actions, reflections, writings and interviews by Fons Elders, the initiator, supported by his family, friends, future inhabitants, officials, project developers, notary Strang, architects, Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten: 12 years went by before the members of the association of owners of Het Vierwindenhuis (House of the Four Winds (VWH) / Casa dei Quattri Venti) could enter their flats.
A festive opening, followed by a party, in the presence of the Italian ambassador and the alderman of the City of Amsterdam, the builders of VWH, many friends and family members, initiated this historic moment that enriched Amsterdam not only with refreshing architecture, due to the Florentine architect dr. Gian Piero Frassinelli (former Superstudio) but with a way of living that satisfies both the needs of the individual as those of the family and the larger community of neighbours. The House of the Four Winds is a social-spatial experiment that shows how privacy and social contacts can be mutually beneficial. The Ministry of Housing supported the ideas of Elders through SEV, its intermedium for experimental housing.
1977-1989
Vierwindenhuis (House of the Four Winds / Casa dei Quattri Venti): Development of the project from idea to final construction, www.vierwindenhuis.nl.
Cf. bibliography.
Joseph Brodsky, Nobel pricewinner for literature in 1987, accepts an invitation by Fons Elders / ESP bv to visit The Netherlands. NRC Handelsblad (1.11.1988) writes: after his performance in the Aula of the University of Amsterdam, Brodsky answers a question with the words: “It happens that the creation supersedes its creator”, or a question about his most important theme: “What time is doing with the human being. The result you see here”.
Studium Generale Ideeën achter Vormen (Ideas behind Forms) at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, in collaboration with the students of the department for Industrial Design. Lectures by Charles Jencks, Ton Alberts, R.D.E.Oxenaar, Fré Ilgen, Umberto Barbieri, Tom van Leeuwen, Jochen Gros.
Project on Space and Time in Philosophy and Architecture
Research sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Culture.
Journeys to Indonesia, Thailand, India and China; lecturing at the IVEK, Institute for Aesthetics and Culture at the University of Amsterdam; University of Leyden; Academy of Architecture, and Gerrit Rietveld Academy, both in Amsterdam.
Students participated during the six-month courses in the research about space and time, which function as basic, constitutive ideas in our perception.
A travel of six weeks by car with his family through the USA, going from East to West, South and North, touching the borders of Mexico and Canada. It happened once that a tankstation in the South refused to fuel the dodge-stationwagon with a license plate of the state Connecticut: “Yankee, go home”. The Civil War 0f 1861-65 was still alive.
Journey to the Dogon
A six-week research project with family and friends in Mali. Living in Kundo Ando, participating in the culture and the way of life of the Dogon.
The journey was the source of a renewed vision on education and men-women relationship; the beginning of some understanding of animism as a world view; the seed for the ideas which lead to the House of the Four Winds, and above all: patience as an outstanding virtue.
De tekeningen van Kundu Andu (fragment) (quicktime movie 7,2 MB) | [download quicktime player]
1975
Experimental landscape project Zeevang
See for more information Piranesi.
Elders, Fons. Landschapsexpressies. 1975. Televisieprogramma.
Onderdeel van televisieprogramma Tros Aktua; met verklaringen door hemzelf en drs. Van Velzen (CRM). Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: G53715 (Film). Tijdsduur: 37 minuten.
A six months voyage with family through North Africa, Sahara desert, Sicily, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and India-administered Kashmir, back through former Yugoslavia.
A dream in Turkey on the way home revealed to me that the philosophy books which I had been studying, including my books Philosophy as Science Fiction (1968) or Analyze Decondition (1972), could be very different in their content or even disagree fundamentally, but that all of them had one element in common: all these books were written on a chair.
It was the discovery of the profound difference between a sedentary mind-set (Western philosophy) and a nomadic way of thinking. This lead finally to the insight which is the motto of the entire website: who really thinks, is not bothered by ideas.
TELEAC tv presents a philosophy course in 14 lectures, written and presented by Fons Elders, under the title: Analyze Decondition, an introduction into systematic philosophy. The lectures were filmed in or around the farmhouse, with the exception of the last lecture about political philosophy. This lecture was filmed on the Dam square with students of the Theatre school, dancing near the national Monument, honouring the end of WW II.
Badscene: leader Analyseer - Deconditioneer (Quicktime movie, 1,6 MB) | [download quicktime player]
Elders, Fons. Mensen over mensen. 1972. Televisieprogramma.
Teleac cursus Filosofie. Les 10: 'Mensen over mensen'. Tijdsduur 26 minuten. Presentatie door Fons Elders. Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: M46150 (film).
Elders, Fons. Filosofie 12. 1972. Televisieprogramma.
Teleac cursus filosofie. Presentatie door Fons Elders. Tijdsduur 26 minuten. Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: M56957.
The Dutch Broadcasting Foundation in association with the International School of Philosophy at Amersfoort and the Institute of Extra-Mural Education at the University of Utrecht, invited Fons Elders to arrange and moderate a series of four hour-long television debates between some of the world's most eminent thinkers:
Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault; Leszek Kolakowski and Henri Lefèbvre; Alfred Ayer and Arne Naess; John Eccles and Karl Popper
Elders, Fons. Internationaal filosofenprojekt [Beeld & Geluid] 1971. Hilversum NOS. Videobanden. [*]
Een serie van 4 videobanden betreffende een door het Bureau Vormingswerk van de Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, de Internationale School voor Wijsbegeerte te Amersfoort en de NOS-tv ontwikkeld project, met de bedoeling het filosofisch denken onder de aandacht van een ruimer publiek dan alleen vakspecialisten te brengen. Hiertoe vonden debatten plaats tussen enkele bekende filosofen. Gespreksleider: Fons Elders.
IFP-Chomsky_Foucault (fragment 1) (quicktime movie, 5,9 MB) | IFP-Chomsky_Foucault (fragment 2) (quicktime movie, 2,7 MB) | [download quicktime player]
VPRO – radio Deze Dag (This Day), a series of early Monday morning talks, each 5 minutes, about actual questions.
Erotisch Syndicaat (ES) (Erotic Syndicat) was founded during the summer by artist Elsje van Beek, philosopher Fons Elders, member of the Amsterdam council Irène van de Weetering, the lawyer Jaq van der Meulen and the psychiatrists Pieter Bakker en Joost Mathijsen. In 1970 ES boasted 450 paying members.
The overall aim, next to the organisation of erotic parties, theatre and debates, was the removal of article 240 in the Penal Code in order to enlarge the freedom of expression in theatre, film and the public space.
Symposium Omgaan met de Dood (Intercourse with Death), organized by the medical faculty of the University of Amsterdam. Participants: Ruth D. Abrams; Arthur Barron; R.F. Beerling; F. Elders; A. de Froe; A. Koolhaas; Lawrence leShan, and S. Vinkenoog.
Barron, A. e.a. Omgaan met de dood. 1969. Televisieprogramma.
Over kinderen; inleiding door Fons Elders (2 minuten) , voordracht door Fons Elders, op trap liggend (ca. 1,5 minuut). Totale duur 22 minuten. Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: M34597 (film).
Rood, wit, blauw. 1969. Televisieprogramma.
Over nudisme; diverse shots en verklaringen van nudisten in kamp; m.m.v. Fons Elders. Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief te Hilversum: G32644 (Film); AR42435 (BCN); V42435 (VHS).
The first Teach-in God-after-the-death-of-God, organized by VPRO TV in Hotel Krasnapolski, in Amsterdam was opened with critical introductions about Christendom by Fons Elders and Harry Mulisch. Moderator: prof. Sperna Weiland. The general debate was vivid and sometimes polemic.
Gerard Reve intervened with the remark that Good Friday three o’clock was the most beautiful moment of the year.
Opening by Fons Elders of an exhibition about death with paintings, drawings and photos. After a brief speech, he carried Jan van Herwijnen’s painting of a nude, dead boy, being himself naked, only dressed in red boots, through the corridor of the former Dutch Bank (Nederlandse Bank) at the Rokin. When VPRO TV showed the opening, Henk Schaafsma, vice-director of the School for Journalism, described the event of the presence of a nude, white man on television as the first time ever in its history, worldwide. Five years later, this story seduced Michel Foucault to accept Elders’ invitation to have a debate with Noam Chomsky on Dutch television, saying: But then I want to be nude with you and Chomsky on television.