Gary I.
Yelp
"ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries is the largest repository of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) materials in the world. Founded in 1952, ONE Archives currently houses over two million archival items including periodicals, books, film, video and audio recordings, photographs, artworks, organizational records, and personal papers. ONE Archives has been a part of the University of Southern California Libraries since 2010."
I'm on the One Gay & Lesbian Archives e-mail list so the announcement of Jiraiya (gee rah ee ya), a Japanese Manga/cartoon artist, whose depictions of massively muscled, bull-necked, burly, sturdy, strapping, masculine Japanese men, caught my eye.
To me his style reminds me of touches of elements of Botero of South America with large, zoftig, good natured whimsical figures combined with the power, masculinity, & brotherly love presented by Tom of Finland.
Of course, the majority of Jiraiya's aethetic is based on Japanese sensibility & manner, and the pictures exude ultra masculine, aggressive attitude, but they also show a tender, loving, brotherly/fatherly benevolence.
Technically, his pictures exhibit an accurate photo realism that shows fine detail & workmanship that requires long hours to attain. His manga story illustrations reminds me of the more graphic comic style of Bill Schmeling, "The Hun", where humorous men-to-men rutting is depicted in all its power & raunchy intensity & glory.
However, Jiraiya with a droll smile told the audience at the One Institute that his comics, read by his largely male Gay public, were equivalent to reading of the Harlequin romantic novels.
To be on the e-mail list for future events , send a message to askone@usc.edu