The art, life and times of Tom of Finland

You’ve seen the drawings, now meet the man. Sydney Star Observer is giving away four copies of the documentary Daddy And The Muscle Academy: The Art, Life And Times Of Tom Of Finland, which has just been released on DVD.

The film features extensive interviews with the late artist, whose sexy drawings for Physique Pictorial in the 1950s soon evolved into more pornographic etchings. The documentary details not just Tom’s aesthetic concerns, but his political and erotic imperatives, as he presented a hyper-masculine gay male ideal to counter notions of homosexual men as effete and weak. It’s fascinating viewing, as pornography becomes a vital site of identification for gay men starved of positive representation in film and literature. Be warned though: there’s little discussion of some of Tom’s more controversial images, especially those involving sexy Nazis and police officers and rape.

There’s also an astonishing slide show of 100 of TOF’s most outrageous images. To win a copy, simply email [email protected] by noon Friday 28 January and tell us why Tom Of Finland’s cartoons light your candle. We’ll email back the four best answers.