Amanda Palmer has admitted that she doesn't consider herself a feminist, but that her art takes on an accidental feminist role.
Speaking at the BIGSOUND music conference this morning, Palmer was asked how much feminism plays a role in her art.
“Feminism ends up playing an accidental role,” she said. “I never write or attack anything as a 'feminist'… but the fall-out is very 'feministy'.”
She said that not only had feminist conversation come back into the mainstream, but even the return of the word 'feminist' was heartening.
“There was a whole generation of young girls who were embarrassed of the word… but the baggage that comes along with being a feminist is evaporating.”
She added, “My agenda is an artist's agenda. Sometimes I think artists get into a lot of trouble in the political. They can get trapped.”
In the keynote speech she also addressed her record-breaking Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, which raised $1.2 million dollars. She admitted it was a steep learning curve, considering the costs involved with producing the incentives. Offering free shipping on things such as books, artworks and turntable, her strong Australian and New Zealand fan base drove the shipping costs up to $300,000 in total.
Following the campaign she also came under attack for asking musicians to play for free, sa she had done in the past.
“I was so used to years and years of our community being off the radar,” she said. “The Dresden Dolls did some crazy things… but no one was watching. After the Kickstarter I kept operating the same way that I had done successfully for many years.”
Earlier this year the musician and artist went topless on stage in protest of a review in UK tabloid the Daily Mail, which focused on a wardrobe malfunction.
Stay tuned to theMusic.com.au to see the keynote interview in full.
