IJSBREKER 16: LICHAMEN - TOONBEELDEN

The topic ‘body culture’ is explored within an experimental television format. Through live radio links three different localities are connected during a live programme annex triptych: a centre for bodybuilding, a photo shoot for a fashion magazine, and the studio in Brussels, where a female philosopher asks critical questions on a culture which she feels is tempted into narcissism and imitational behaviour. The programme, drawn up as a comparative study of a number of aspects of contemporary body culture – the ‘decorated’ world of fashion models and the ‘muscular’ world of bodybuilders – quickly sidetracks into an unreal clash between various irrefutable discourses and mentalities. Part of the BRT (Belgian radio and television broadcast network) television series ’Ijsbreker’ (’Icebreaker’).

Original broadcast date: 09/05/1984

Content:
00’00" Titles. Presentation of the speakers invited to talk on the theme of "body culture" in Studio 3 : Rit Van Den Bergh (unemployed philosopher), in Bruges ; Julien Blommaert (Bruges Athletic Centre), in Vosselaere ; Pierre Eggermont (Models Office) and Wiel Elbersen (chief editor of Flair). 02’23" On the three screens : pictures of bodybuilders in training, models, Studio 3 central control room. 03’45" Van Den Bergh talking about fashion and the body. 05’00" Eggermont talking about his role as the director of a models agency and presenting his staff. 11’00" Julien Blommaert (IFBB president) showing his body-building centre and introducing his brother Jacques Blommaert (president of the national body-building federation). Demonstrations by body-builders. 24’40" Blommaert, Elbersen and Van Den Bergh talking about body-building as a way of life. 32’20" Elbersen talking about his work at Flair. 44’10" Delaender showing her body and talking about manipulations, imitation and the criteria of beauty. 63’00" Interventions by Gerdi Esch (creating fashions), Caro Vandewalle and Patsy Delaender. 70’00" Voice off reading credits over pictures. 73’40"
(Source: Jef Cornelis 1964 - 1990, Espace Art Contemporain : Maison de la culture et de la Communication de Saint-Etienne, 1991)