Art is too serious to be taken seriously.
Ad ReinhardtRead
In those days, a gay man was made to feel nothing but shame about his feelings and his sexuality. I wanted my drawings to counteract that, to show gay men being happy and positive about who they were. Oh, I didn't sit down to think this all out carefully. But I knew - right from the start - that my men were going to be proud and happy men!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of representing gay men positively and proudly in art, countering shame with happiness.
Tom Of Finland speaks to the societal challenges faced by gay men in his time, highlighting how shame was prevalent regarding their feelings and sexuality. Through his art, he aimed to create a powerful representation of joy and pride, showcasing gay men as happy and fulfilled individuals, therefore challenging the negative stereotypes and promoting acceptance and visibility.
Themes
GayPrideHappinessArtAcceptance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a LGBTQ+ pride event, one might say, 'As Tom Of Finland illustrated, we can take pride in who we are and celebrate our identities.'
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