Margaret Atwood is considered a radical artist due to her exploration of societal power structures, gender dynamics, environmental concerns, and the way she challenges traditional narrative forms. Her work often critiques the status quo, pushing readers to reconsider dominant ideologies and envision alternative realities.

Atwood’s most famous work, The Handmaid’s Tale, is a dystopian critique of patriarchal control and totalitarianism. Set in a theocratic society where women’s rights are stripped away, the novel highlights the dangers of religious extremism and the erosion of civil liberties. Her writing also interrogates the intersections of gender, race, and class within systems of oppression, offering a feminist perspective on how power is distributed in society.

Atwood often reimagines myths, history, and classic stories to challenge accepted narratives. For example, in The Penelopiad, she retells The Odyssey from Penelope’s point of view, offering a feminist critique of ancient mythology. This reworking of traditional narratives allows Atwood to give voice to marginalized characters and reveal hidden ideologies.

Gender and identity are central themes in Atwood's work. She dissects the ways in which societal structures shape personal identity, often showing the constraints placed on women while exploring how individuals resist or subvert those limitations. In The Blind Assassin, for instance, she delves into the restrictions faced by women in the 20th century.

Environmental concerns also play a significant role in Atwood’s writing. In her MaddAddam trilogy, she critiques biotechnological dystopias, corporate greed, and environmental collapse. Atwood warns against unchecked scientific progress and the exploitation of natural resources, while also highlighting the social inequalities that arise as a result of environmental destruction.

Atwood’s narrative style is another radical element of her work. She blends genres, such as speculative fiction and historical fiction, and employs unconventional storytelling techniques, like unreliable narrators and fragmented timelines. This innovative approach challenges readers to engage deeply with the text and its themes.

Atwood is also a fierce advocate for feminism, and her work consistently addresses issues related to female agency and empowerment. While her novels often depict harsh realities for women, they also show acts of resistance and resilience, offering a nuanced view of gender struggles.

In her article Abortion, Everyday, Jessica Valenti positions herself as a radical writer by challenging the dominant narratives surrounding abortion and emphasizing its normalization in everyday life. Rather than framing abortion as a rare or exceptional event, Valenti argues that it is a common, everyday experience for many women, especially those who are marginalized or disenfranchised. By centering abortion as a routine and necessary healthcare decision, she confronts the stigmatization and moralistic discourse that often surrounds it.

Valenti’s radicalism in Abortion, Everyday lies in her refusal to accept abortion as a taboo subject and in her critique of the way the media, politicians, and society treat it as something "shameful" or "tragic." She challenges the rhetoric that frames abortion solely as a difficult or last-resort choice, calling for a shift in how abortion is discussed—moving from a rare, exceptional act to a normalized part of reproductive health and women's autonomy. Her writing emphasizes the need for broader access to abortion care and the ways in which reproductive justice intersects with race, class, and economic inequality.

Through this article, Valenti deconstructs the moral frameworks that restrict access to abortion, pushing for a vision of reproductive rights that is uncompromising, intersectional, and grounded in everyday realities. By making abortion more visible and by framing it as a routine part of many women's lives, she challenges societal norms and contributes to a more radical, inclusive feminist discourse. Valenti’s work in Abortion, Everyday is a call for solidarity, understanding, and a commitment to reproductive justice that transcends mainstream debates and prioritizes the lived experiences of women.

Being a queer music artist in America can come with a unique set of struggles, shaped by both the broader cultural context of American society and the specific challenges within the music industry itself. Although progress has been made in recent years, queer musicians still face significant obstacles—ranging from societal discrimination to industry barriers—while navigating their artistic identity.

On our 'Queer Artists' Page you can find a list that is always being updated, of all of the queer artists we know and love. If you have any artists to add to the list there is a link on that page to let us know what additions we should make!