The Importance of Authenticity

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The urban sociologist Sharon Zukin argues that cities are actually a bad place to find authenticity because they change so much. The idea is that, you know, like as a modern subject, all of us are walking around trying to create the story for ourselves that creates our identity. And when we find stuff that we, that resonates with us that we like, right? Like we try to rein that into be part of our identity. But instead of hunger, I am talking about like a ruthless competition, but instead of hunger,. like thirst is one, you have it more often.

Paris Marx is joined by David A. Banks to discuss how cities have been reshaped to attract tech companies and what the consequences have been for the people who live in them.

David A. Banks is the author of The City Authentic: How the Attention Economy Builds Urban America. He’s a lecturer in the Geography and Planning department at University at Albany, SUNY. David also writers Other Day and co-hosts Iron Weeds. Follow David on Twitter at @DA_Banks.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

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