As cosmetic surgery becomes the norm, what’s next? Join one of Australia’s leading plastic surgeons and a panel of experts for the beauty forecast...

Skin Deep

Location:

Level 2, 400 George Street
2000 NSW
Australia

Venue:
Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre
Skin Deep
Skin Deep

Featuring

Jane Park

Jane Park

Jane Chi Hyun Park is a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, a cultural consultant, and author of Yellow Future: Oriental Style in Hollywood Cinema. Her work explores changing notions of race and gender in popular culture and the public sphere in the US, Australia and South Korea.

Philippa McGuiness

Phillipa McGuinness

Phillipa McGuinness is the author of Skin Deep: The Inside Story of Our Outer Selves and The Year Everything Changed–2001 both published by Vintage. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald, Griffith Review and The Weekend Australian Magazine. A former non-fiction book publisher, she is currently editor of Openbook magazine at the State Library of NSW.

Stephanie Darling

Stephanie Darling

"I am obsessed with beauty, fashion, lifestyle, words and pictures and have worked in the magazine industry for over 30 years, with the best of the best, on Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Madison and now as Beauty Director for Sunday Life in the Sun Herald and The Age on Sunday. My proudest moment to date is being a published author of Secrets of a Beauty Queen (Penguin/Random House)."

Headshot of Dr Justine O'Hara

Dr Justine O'Hara

Dr Justine O'Hara is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with over 15 years' experience nationally and internationally. She is a Consultant and Head of Department at Concord Hospital in Plastic Surgery and Burns, with appointments at Macquarie Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital, Hunter's Hill Private Hospital, Castlecrag Private Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital. She is also a co-chair on the Severe Burns Injury Service of NSW and its Supervisor of Training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Event Details

As cosmetic surgery becomes the norm, what’s next? Join one of Australia’s leading plastic surgeons and a panel of experts for the beauty forecast you actually need, as they discuss designer bodies, perfect skin, surgery-as-hacking and the shifting foundations of what is normal or natural.

As surgical and non-invasive procedures become normalised, is a transhuman future on the horizon, where our bodies are modified with technological implants? Or is the pendulum swinging back towards a more ‘natural’ look – an ideal that shifts widely across cultures, communities and generations. And in the digital world where no-one knows what’s real anyway, does it matter?

Join veteran beauty journalist Stephanie Darling, who has tried every treatment and seen countless health and beauty trends come and go, in conversation with leading plastic surgeon Dr Justine O'Hara and Senior Lecturer in Gender and Cultural Studies at The University of Sydney, Dr Jane Park. Together with moderator Pip McGuinness, the author of Skin Deep, they’ll tackle the new frontiers of beauty, as well as the racial and gendered prejudices that shape social media trends, beauty products and cosmetic procedures.

This event is part of Vivid Ideas' Human Nature series. Challenge the 'natural' ways of thinking, and explore the emerging new normals across sex, relationships, body politics, travel and more.

Access and Inclusion

  • Auslan Interpreted Auslan Interpreted - Auslan interpreted events are for audiences who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as their primary means of communication. Experienced Auslan theatre interpreters stand to the side of the stage and translate what the speakers are saying or Auslan signing the text and dialogue live. Audiences requiring this service are seated in the section closest to the interpreter to ensure good sightlines.
  • Companion Card Acceptance Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.
  • Hearing Loop Hearing Loop - A hearing loop (sometimes called an audio induction loop) is a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids. The hearing loop provides a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by the hearing aid when it is set to 'T' (Telecoil) setting. Many venues have an induction hearing loop system. Check if your venue has this system.
  • Wheelchair Accessible Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.