Phenomena S2 E9: Flesh

Flesh
Written By Eliot Salandy Brown

This article is part of our special series on Flesh

Since the sexual revolution of the 1970s, the Western world has been obsessed with representations of sex. And within this historical explosion of sexual imagery, many companies capitalised on the powerful narrative that consumption could deliver sex appeal and in turn, increase one’s chances for finding a partner.

More recently, however, we’re seeing a shift where sex appeal is becoming increasingly dissociated from the idea of romantic love and folded into a wider and more varied set of personal narratives.

To unpack this further, host Eliot Salandy Brown sits down with Sandra Cariglio, a partner at ReD Associates, and Polly Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of sexual wellness brand Unbound, as part of our ongoing special series on our evolving relationship to flesh and the body.

Together, they tackle big questions such as: Does sex still sell? How are behaviours and values around intimacy changing? And if the desire to seduce isn’t driving consumption in fashion and beauty like it used to, what will take its place?

Host: Eliot Salandy Brown

Guests: Sandra Cariglio and Polly Rodriguez

 

This podcast is part of our special series on Flesh

Eliot Salandy Brown

Eliot heads ReD Associates’ mobility/automotive practice. In this work, he leads projects that set strategic directions for how mobility and automotive companies approach the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. The projects under his leadership include a foundational study investigating the future value of driverless cars to our cities and communities, and a new approach to digital service innovation for a major automotive company. In all of his work with clients, Eliot is focused on ensuring that human needs and behavior are fully integrated into the development of new technologies.

He has lectured and run courses on automotive, corporate strategy, and executive MBAs at New York University, Columbia University, Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, and Duke University; and his client work was awarded the Gold Award in 2018 from the Industrial Designers Society of America (ISDA). Eliot, a British-Trinidadian, holds a Masters in Sociology from the London School of Economics.

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