December 04, 2003
Dayton City Paper
Dayton, OH
Arts & Culture: Alix Olson

Performing Politics
Activist and poet Alix Olson speaks out

Sharp-tongued performance poet Alix Olson is known as one of America's most articulate and politically active lesbian and women's rights activists. She wowed the judges at the 1998 National Poetry Slam competition while representing the Nuyorican Poets' Café in Manhattan, winning with her humorous piece on material culture, "America's On Sale!"

While on tour for her sophomore album, Independence Meal, Olson took some time to speak with DCP before her performance this weekend at the Canal Street Tavern, bringing her witty honesty about politics and sexuality along for the ride.

DCP: When did you first begin performing spoken word/performance poetry?
AO: About six years ago, I went to the Nuyorican Poets Café in (Greenwich) Village and performed a piece. This guy came up to me, pulled me aside and said he wanted to be my mentor. That was Keith Roach, an ex-Black Panther.

DCP: Tell me about how you won the 1998 National Slam Poetry Competition. What did it take to win?
AO: The slam is a funny thing. Five people are chosen in an audience to give the awards while thousands of people are cheering in the background. There are so many slam teams. It's an energy rush of politics colliding. It's like a democracy with different candidates coming up and delivering their personal ideologies.

DCP: For those readers who aren't familiar with slam poetry, what are some of the differences between performing poetry and simply reading it aloud?
AO: The difference is like reading sheet music or hearing someone play music live. My work is intended to be performed.

DCP: What do you enjoy most about performing?
AO: When there's an electric connection between an audience and a performer, it's unexplainable. It's very human with one person onstage with a microphone and an audience laughing or feeling sad together. They come together as a human group and feel an emotional connection.

DCP: Who are some other poets and writers you admire?
AO: I was really influenced by music more than poetry. There's a musical cadence to poetry. I grew up listening to The Beatles and Neil Young with my dad. In middle school, I listened to the Indigo Girls. Also, I grew up reading activists. I started reading Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich and, more recently, Michael Moore. I thought he was right on with his documentary, Bowling for Columbine.

DCP: What are some issues that you're passionate about and that come through in your writing, and where do
you get your inspiration to write?
AO: I'm interested in the Bush/Cheney oil consortium. It's something that I watch closely. I'm curious to see where it's headed. There's a whole sentiment about Bush being a pro-military guy and treating the soldiers overseas like G.I. Joes. However, most of the people remaining there are poor, black males.

DCP: What are your opinions of the current political state of the country, and how do they filter through your new album?
AO: People are moving more left of center and getting more progressive. On the new CD, other than politics, I've got a couple pieces about love and breakups. I called it Independence Meal because it's about being an independent person in this world. I like to use the word independent instead of single. It's about sitting down and enjoying yourself.

DCP: How do you advocate lesbian and women's rights through your work?
AO: I do my best to be honest. I'm interested in the dynamics between power and powerlessness. This is true with gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity. It's cliché, but right now straight white men have more positions of power. In my work, I try to point out discrepancies in power and to be honest about the anger that comes as a result. If only more women would be angry out loud. "Mute"causes anger inside of you. Exploding is better than imploding. It also helps to do it with humor and articulation. That's why I love spoken word. It's an articulate form of outburst.

DCP: What is one of your most controversial pieces?
AO: I have a piece on my new album called "Wholly Human." It's against organized religion in that it points out hypocrisies in the church such as the molestation of young boys by priests and making sinners do Hail Marys outside of the church. Also, ìSubtle Sisterî is about being told by a male poet to calm down and be more subtle instead of in-your-face. Lack of subtlety is important when expressing powerful emotions like anger.

DCP: What are some of your goals for the future?
AO: My life goal is just to learn as much as I possibly can about the world and other cultures. As for my career goals, I'm taking off three months to do a live CD and a DVD with behind-the-scenes footage. My tour manager is also a documentarian and has been taping every show, interviewing the audience and documenting our life on the road. Will be putting it all together soon.

Alix Olson will perform at the Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St. in Dayton, on Sunday, Dec. 7, for ages 18 and up. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission costs are $10 in advance. For more information, visit www.alixolson.com.