2. A Walnut for SAMO with Givens Parr

2. A Walnut for SAMO with Givens Parr

Givens Parr (“Yolk” and cover paintings, Issue One) and John journey to Basquiat’s grave in Green-Wood Cemetery during a rainstorm and discuss cosmic symbols, image versus text, making art for one person instead of the algorithm, playful approaches to southern identity, the modernist writer Lu Xun, and the intuition to leave: from the nihilistic Taipei art scene to the harried Calvinism of Ivy dramaturgy.

1. Abolish the Telegraph! with Kelly Karivalis

Kelly Karivalis (“Auction in Ephrata” and “The Last Bouquet,” Issue One) and John go gaga for Neil Postman’s theory that the telegraph was the first villain of the electronic age and discuss the noble escapism of gardening, how AOL instant messenger infused a generation of writers with the fear of someone looking over their shoulder, and going on a strict Instagram diet for Lent.