The Perfect "Conversation" With Alexis Clements

At the London School of Economics, Alexis Clements, a Brooklyn-based writer, performer, and pamphleteer, studied information theory. Developed by C.E. Shannon in a paper titled "A Mathematical Theory of Communication," information theory clarified and encouraged the use of bits for clear communication, and reads (well, the less technical parts, anyway) as something like an exercise in digital semiotics.

"Essentially," Alexis says, "he was coming up with a theory about how to package the signal in the way that would reduce the possibility of interference the most. All these philosophers glommed onto it and thought it would be really cool to quantify information."

Often, we think about fields like computer science, information theory, and logic as obtuse and disconnected from day-to-day experience, yet the qualitative ideas that come out of them sometimes have broad influence in how we think about our lives and social structures. So . . .

"I wrote a paper about how it doesn't work, to try to reduce information to numbers in that way. I wrote my thesis on signal transmission, which is oddly appropriate to this [show]."

In September, Alexis, 30, will head to the 2010 Philly Fringe with her solo performance, Conversation, in tow.

"The main character in the show," Alexis says, "has a deep social fear—she's exploring that. She wants to stop being anxious about the things she says. She's spent all these years figuring out theories about how to have the perfect conversation.

"The deep emotional resonance the things we say have—it's a funny thing in we human beings. It seems very odd to me that humans have adapted to be more afraid of social interaction than just about anything."

Alexis wouldn't tell me quite how, but during the show, audience members will be put on the spot.

"Part of the draw is that afterwards [the character] invites everybody to hang out for wine and snacks. I'm excited about talking to different people in different communities, seeing how different audiences react to being asked to speak up during the show."

Click "more" to read about how Alexis funds a unique venture like this one (in a unique way).

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