Homoerotic Archaeology: Torso (July 1982)

Friday, July 5, 2019

Torso (July 1982)

Born in Natick, Massachusetts, in June of 1952, Andrew Robert Okun (later christened Al Parker by Rip Colt, the founder of Colt Studios and the discoverer of Okun's talent) would establish himself as one of the foremost actors, directors, and producers of homoeroticism. Showcased in numerous magazines and films, Okun reached legendary status during the 1970s and 1980s and, as Roger Edmonson attests in his biography on the man, still maintains a cult following decades after his death in 1992. Yet, the artist's life was not without complications: raped at knife-point at the age of fifteen, Okun's emotional trauma manifested itself in nymphomania and substance abuse, which strained his fourteen-year relationship with Richard Cole (who performed with his partner in videos under the name Steve Taylor) and lead to his contraction of HIV. This July 1982 issue of Torso features Okun at his prime, along with a spread titled "Fraternity Flesh," and advertisements for Target magazine, HIM's video Workout, and products by Marksman Production.

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What is Homoerotic Archaeology?

In 2016, I discovered several discarded boxes at an estate sale. Under their flimsy flaps were hundreds of well-worn issues of homoerotic magazines from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. I purchased them out of mild intrigue and, as I perused their pages, I was startled to realize that something commonly disregarded as pornographic smut earnestly chronicled the evolution of gay culture: the social and sexual liberation of the 1970s, the crushing devastation from AIDS during the 1980s, and the gradual strengthening of the community in the 1990s. As a gay man, I was touched by the subtle narrative these publications told. As a historian, I was motivated to digitally preserve their content. And, as an educator, I was driven to create a platform to share that information freely with others interested in the progression of gay society. Homoerotic Archaeology is that venue. Here you will find the advertisements, articles, short stories, and (of course) pictures found in these magazines lovingly preserved and presented for future generations of gay men to enjoy and study.

Why Preserve Homoerotica?

As early as the 1970s, scholars such as June Rook have stressed the need to preserve homosexual history in an effort to combat repression and establish a cultural background for future generations. Much of the preservation process admirably focuses on the substantial works of homosexual artists and thinkers; however, it sadly ignores other elements quintessential to the community’s history, particularly homoerotica. Although frequently labeled obscene filth, homoerotica has, just like the significant creations of artists and thinkers, been a prevalent part of the group’s culture and has played an integral role in shaping identities and perceptions (consider how influential Tom of Finland’s hypermasculinity has been in molding the body ideals of modern gay men). Due to this factor, the conservation of homoerotica is just as essential as the preservation of major artistic and theoretical homosexual works.