Post #106562 by bigbrotiki on Thu, Aug 5, 2004 5:00 PM

On 2004-08-05 16:31, Trader Woody wrote:
...Questions about how all the facets of Polynesian Pop Culture became known as 'Tiki'.

The term Tiki style was not used in the 50 and 60s (nor was "Tiki Drinks" by the way!), some people referred to it as "Kon-Tiki style", but the term mostly used was "Polynesian style".
It is a post modern term that began to appear in the 80s. The term Polynesian Pop was my creation.

But, it wasn't until 'The Air-conditioned Eden', (A one-off tv show on the BBC in England) was aired that I realised all this great stuff was known as 'Tiki'. 'The Book of Tiki' was mentioned, but didn't actually appear for at least 5 or 6 years later!

Because it took me that long, even after that show, to find a publisher (note: a European documentary, and a European publisher !?). The director's concept was quite vague until he met me, but he then used the basic concept of the BOT mock up (which I volunteered gladly) for the documentary.

So, what I'm wondering is what were the realities of looking for Tiki in the days when it was past it's prime and on the way out? The times when nobody cared and a mug went for $1 if you were lucky?

Aaaah...THOSE actually were the good ole' Tiki days !!!

What made people care about something that the world had shrugged off as a passing fad?

The amazing creative inspiration documented in the multitude of artistic recreations and applications of the Tiki image....
The eternal call of the primitive...
AND: People always need new toys.