'Richard's focus is on celebrating living out out loud and expressing his childhood fantasies from a homoerotic perspective.'
Imagine you're a fisherman, tired from a long and unfruitful day at sea. You don't want to return home just yet... you're both exhausted and disappointed that your seafood haul wasn't nearly what you had hoped for. You pull your boar into shore, strip off your clothes and your dirty fishing gear and step into the ocean to cleanse both your body and your soul.
Barely into the surf you feel a ripple. Something is near, swimming a few feet away under the surface. Initially startled, you turn to return to the safety of the sand and shore. As you turn you stop in your tracks. Bobbing in and out of the water in front of you is the biggest, and most beautiful sea creature you've ever seen before. Your instincts as a fisherman instantly take over and you know it's time to net the big one.
For most of us, growing up, the roles in children's stories, fairy tales and Disney movies were limited. There was the beautiful princess, the handsome price and evil witch. All were written as straight. There was the odd side character or court jester who was given negative, and stereotypical gay characteristics for laughs, but there were not gay characters to root for or relate to.
This is one of the reasons I so loved the series of shoots from Richard Rothstein, taking classic stories and fairy tales and giving them a homonormative twist. In addition to the reasons behind them, the series of shoots were also incredibly creative, incredibly erotic and so much fun visually.
'After having barely survived the arrogance and dominance of the the heteronormative narrative that dominates our society and dominates art. Mermaids. Pooh. I want mermen. I want a beautiful young twink Snow White kissed and swept away by a glorious prince on a white stallion (not mare). I want Prince Phillip awakening me with a kiss after the witch’s curse threw me into a coma.
I want gay Hercules vanquishing evil evangelicals and Islamist extremists. I want a twunk Goldilocks encountering three great big burly and hair muscle bears. And I want a lustful big bad wolf blowing three little pigs. That’s the new normal and I’m going to be part of the wave with my photography.'
One of my favorites in Richard's homonormative series of shoots was the first one he sent on featuring his take on The Little Mermaid. With the recent release of a new life action version, I was drawn back to Richard's shoot and realized again not only it's brilliance, but how really how ahead of it's time it really was.
In the series, Richard featured two of my favorite models, both of whom I was introduced to via Richard's work. Serg Richard's friend and muse took on the role of the Merman, splashing, swimming and frolicking so beautifully in the sea. Serg was so seductive diving in and out of the waves he quickly drew the attention of a local fisherman. Taking on the role of the angler was model Rob Eco, one of the first models from Richard's Manhattan Men that I was fortunate to have featured over a decade ago on the site.
The internet went crazy when news that actress Halle Bailey was cast Ariel. People don't like change, they also don't like change that triggers their racist and homophobia ideologies. Can you imagine if what would have happened if Ariel had been Aaron with Lukas Gage cast as the young Merman who falls for the handsome prince.
Given the current hate and intolerance for all things LBGTQ related, especially anything Trans related, you can just imagine that so many people on-line and so many bigoted politicians would have had a field day of hate filled targeting, banning and cancelling.
In addition to how fun, creative and visually stunning the series was, it was also incredibly important. With all that's going on, it's even more relevant, and more important to be seen today. Sadly, Richard is not shooting as much as he used to but I would love if he decided to add another chapter or two this series. There's such a need, not to mention so many tales that should be re-told.
Tales With Males:
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