Philosopher and writer Désanne van Brederode will give this year's Abraham Kuyper Lecture i n the Aula of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. In her lecture, she will explore how playfulness and rituals can contribute to connection in a society that seems increasingly hardened.
As usual, the Abrah am Kuyper Lecture marks the final chord of the year of the Writer in Residence (Vrije Schrijver). Van Brederode fulfilled this role for th e academic year of 2024/2025. In her closing lecture, she argues for more space to play. Play without direct purpose, but as a way to stre ngthen empathy, imagination and interconnectedness.
Désanne pr eviously said in an :
"It is important that we play more without a clear goal. I also think that playfulness is the solution to many p roblems. That a lot of polarisation does not benefit at all from even more talking, even more clarifying. In fact, where people can meet, space is often created."
After her lecture, VU literature scholar Jacqueline Bel and alumnus and 'change expert' Sander Balkene nde reflect on the theme. Balkenende's work focuses on rituals in the workplace, also exploring the boundaries: when rituals lose their po wer or overshoot their purpose. Moderator and writer Ernest van der K wast links the various contributions into an inspiring whole.
L inked to the Abraham Kuyper Lecture this year was a column competitio n for students. Some students read the column they wrote about their own ritual.
VU Choir
The evening will end w
ith a performance by the VU Choir. The choir will perform pieces from
Karl Jenkins' impressive The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. T
he piece is about peace and thus ties in perfectly with the theme of
connection.
Admission prices
External
relations: € 15.00
Employees and alumni VU: € 7.50
Student
s VU and members VUvereniging: free of charge (this will be checked)<
br>Please note: no refunds possible
About the
Abraham Kuyper Lecture
With the annual Abraham Kuyper Lec
ture, VU Amsterdam, in the spirit of its founder, aims to keep alive
the social debate that is so characteristic to VU. To this end, a Wri
ter in Residence (Vrije Schrijver) is invited every year to reflect i
n an essayistic manner on a topical theme in which the university as
a social institution finds itself.
The language of
the lecture will be Dutch, but translation will be available for Eng
lish speakers.
The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is made possible in part by: VUvereniging | Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
DESCRIPTION: As usual, the Abraham Kuyper Lecture marks the final chor d of the year of the Writer in Residence (Vrije Schrijver). Van Brede rode fulfilled this role for the academic year of 2024/2025. In her c losing lecture, she argues for more space to play. Play without direc t purpose, but as a way to strengthen empathy, imagination and interc onnectedness. Désanne previously said in an : "It is important that we play more without a clear goal. I also think that playfulness is the solution to many problems. That a lot of polarisation does not benef it at all from even more talking, even more clarifying. In fact, wher e people can meet, space is often created." After her lecture, V U literature scholar Jacqueline Bel and alumnus and 'change expert' S ander Balkenende reflect on the theme. Balkenende's work focuses on r ituals in the workplace, also exploring the boundaries: when rituals lose their power or overshoot their purpose. Moderator and writer Ern est van der Kwast links the various contributions into an inspiring w hole. Linked to the Abraham Kuyper Lecture this year was a column com petition for students. Some students read the column they wrote about their own ritual. VU Choir