What's wrong with Jimmy Buffett? - Beyond Tiki

B bigbrotiki Tiki Socialite Tiki Island, above the Silverlake Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 11621	B bigbrotiki Posted posted on Wed, May 15, 2002 8:20 PM Since I happen to have it on file, allow me to quote from the Book of Tiki (below), which defines mid-century American Tiki style as a unique culture of it's own, differentiating it (simply by it's content) from A.) true Polynesian culture, B.) Hawaiiana tourist kitsch, and C.) generic tropicalness as examplified by Jimmy Buffet Hippies in Hawaiian shirts. Tikiphiles are often very much into A.), allowed to fall for B.), but view C.) with a mixture of distrust and disgust, as it spelled the beginning of the end of true American Tiki culture. B.o.T., page 52/53: "In the 70’s, the thus segregated Polynesian style was watered down further through a certain “Jimmy Buffet-ization”, the introduction of a generic tropical island theme with no definite identity. Be it the Carribean, Mexico, or Polynesia, everywhere was “Margharita-ville”. The popular T.V. show “Fantasy Island” typified this new p.c. detachment from cultural complicity, creating a world of white wicker colonial style decor mixed with exotic plants. The fern bar replaced the Tiki bar."

Since I happen to have it on file, allow me to quote from the Book of Tiki (below), which defines mid-century American Tiki style as a unique culture of it's own, differentiating it (simply by it's content) from
A.) true Polynesian culture,
B.) Hawaiiana tourist kitsch, and
C.) generic tropicalness as examplified by Jimmy Buffet Hippies in Hawaiian shirts.

Tikiphiles are often very much into A.), allowed to fall for B.), but view C.) with a mixture of distrust and disgust, as it spelled the beginning of the end of true American Tiki culture.

B.o.T., page 52/53: "In the 70’s, the thus segregated Polynesian style was watered down further through a certain “Jimmy Buffet-ization”, the introduction of a generic tropical island theme with no definite identity. Be it the Carribean, Mexico, or Polynesia, everywhere was “Margharita-ville”. The popular T.V. show “Fantasy Island” typified this new p.c. detachment from cultural complicity, creating a world of white wicker colonial style decor mixed with exotic plants.
The fern bar replaced the Tiki bar."

Post #1509 by bigbrotiki on Wed, May 15, 2002 8:20 PM