I'm the sort of person who likes to undo everything.

Consumer society tantalises us. We then try within ourselves to control the needs that are being constantly stimulated.

We know that ever woman wants to be thin. Our images of womanhood are almost synonymous with thinness.

Boys, young men, men of all ages are being captivated by the new visual grammar which pushes men to pout and posture.

When I was growing up, one or two girls were beautiful, but it was not an aspiration, right?

Beauty has been democratised. No longer the preserve of movie stars and models but available to all. But while the invitation to beauty is welcomed, it has become not so much an option as an imperative.

Public intellectuals come from a range of areas and use their expertise to comment more widely than just their field. They want to make a contribution to public space, and they stick their necks out to do it.