What is beauty? Hear our panel discussion on desire in print

Independent magazines are renowned for their loveliness: the thick paper, gorgeous photography and enticing design are all there to make you want to buy a copy. But what is their own definition of beauty? And how does that compare to the sort of images we’re used to seeing in mainstream editorial and advertising?

We brought together three magazines for a panel discussion on beauty, and asked them to tell us why they do what they do. Each title takes its own distinct approach to the subject: Beauty Papers casts a playful and provocative look at the fashion industry; Staple wants to reflect the times we live in more broadly; and Ladybeard offers a feminist critique of beauty. There are lots of differences between these magazines, but plenty of shared experience too – listen to the podcast below and you’ll hear the ideological and aesthetic intersections, as well as the places where they diverge.

This episode was recorded live at The Book Club in Shoreditch on Tuesday 22 May 2018. We have lots of other conversations with independent magazine makers waiting for your ears – check us out on Soundcloud or iTunes for the full archive, and of course if you follow us while you’re there we’ll be able to deliver next week’s episode to you as soon as it’s ready.