The Other Stuff with internetVin The Other Stuff #02: Benjamin Parry
Aug 6, 2025
Benjamin Parry, a writer and commentator on urbanism, economics, and technology, dives into the complexities of modern China. He explores why Chinatowns endure worldwide and contrasts their aesthetics with contemporary Chinese cities. Parry highlights Shenzhen's rapid growth and its role as a manufacturing powerhouse, delving into the impacts of migrant labor on food culture and social dynamics. The discussion touches on China's innovation landscape, accelerated subway construction processes, and the challenges facing Canada amidst shifting global dynamics.
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Civilizational Cultural Durability
- Chinese civilization carries a highly persistent cultural "package" that reproduces identity across places and generations.
- Benjamin Parry compares its stickiness to Jewish cultural continuity to explain global Chinatown presence.
Shenzhen: New City, Recreated Past
- Shenzhen feels like a brand-new, high-modern city built within decades rather than centuries.
- Parry notes developers recreate 'textured' historic quarters from scratch, producing a kind of Disneyfied heritage.
Pearl River Delta Megacity
- The Pearl River Delta forms a single continuous megacity from Macau to Hong Kong, powering massive manufacturing.
- Parry calls Shenzhen the nerve center embedded within this integrated urban-industrial web.