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
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.
In practice
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.'
In Seattle, I soon found that my radical ideas and aesthetic explorations - ideas and explorations that in Richmond, Virginia, might have gotten me stoned to death with hush puppies - were not only accepted but occasionally applauded.
Because you have things like 'American Idol' and you've got radio stations that play music made entirely by computers, it's easy to forget there are bands with actual people playing actual instruments that rock.
It is not a torment to be an artist. It is a privilege.
Part of any book is establishing the rules at the end of the world. My first book, 'The Intuitionist,' takes place in an alternative world where elevator inspectors are important, so you have to establish rules, and part of that is, How do people talk? How do they behave?
Now and again thousands of memories _x000D_ converge, harmonize, _x000D_ arrange themselves around a central idea _x000D_ in a coherent form, _x000D_ and I write a story.
...And, all at once, the moon arouse through the thin ghastly mist, And was crimson in color... And they lynx which dwelleth forever in the tomb, came out therefrom. And lay down at the feet of the demon. And looked at him steadily in the face.
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