Corbin Louis’s zine poetry project “Hypomania” investigates mental illness, addiction, and chronic pain. In his conversation with curator Daemond Arrindell, he discusses his subversive approach to poetry, the toxicity of American culture, and the Via Dolorosa. “In the land of commercials, in the land of big studio movies, in factory-made clothes . . . anything that speaks authentically against that is an effort toward subversion. Me, specifically, I try to have this approach of, like, radical honesty. I think it’s the artist’s job to say crazy, fucked-up shit and keep people on their toes, you know what I mean?”

Music by Amy Rubin and Dawn Clement, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.