How much escapism is too much escapism? - General Tiki

T Thomas Member Lake Mojave Joined: Mar 15, 2005 Posts: 372	T Thomas Posted posted on Mon, Dec 12, 2005 1:40 PM For me it's not a compartmentalized part of my life, as "escapism" suggests. I guess maybe there are two kinds of escapism, "sociological" and "chronological." As far as functioning in society, I don't tie a necktie or associate with any people with whom I would feel a need to hide my tastes and interests in tiki and things that are (for me, at least) "tiki-like." There's really no problem there and nothing to escape from in my opinion. However, I do like to cultivate environments in my home that obscure, sometimes obsessively, high (contemporary) technology. I just don't like the aesthetic of it -- it looks cold and suggests "work" even if it is consumer tech. (Translation: it isn't tiki!) So, I like the idea of "hiding" the audio components, for example, in an old-time stereo cabinet. TVs and PCs can reside in bamboo cover-up thingies until needed. Silly? Definitely. But for me, for whatever reason, tech. is "public" and cold. I want my home space to be both tiki and of an earlier, vaguely pre-hi-tech, time. In that ("chronological") way, I am escapist about it. Tiki an escape from the world? I think it's the other way around. The world is an escape from tiki. It's important to be stubborn about these things. As Bogart said, "the problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."

For me it's not a compartmentalized part of my life, as "escapism" suggests. I guess maybe there are two kinds of escapism, "sociological" and "chronological." As far as functioning in society, I don't tie a necktie or associate with any people with whom I would feel a need to hide my tastes and interests in tiki and things that are (for me, at least) "tiki-like." There's really no problem there and nothing to escape from in my opinion. However, I do like to cultivate environments in my home that obscure, sometimes obsessively, high (contemporary) technology. I just don't like the aesthetic of it -- it looks cold and suggests "work" even if it is consumer tech. (Translation: it isn't tiki!) So, I like the idea of "hiding" the audio components, for example, in an old-time stereo cabinet. TVs and PCs can reside in bamboo cover-up thingies until needed. Silly? Definitely. But for me, for whatever reason, tech. is "public" and cold. I want my home space to be both tiki and of an earlier, vaguely pre-hi-tech, time. In that ("chronological") way, I am escapist about it.

Tiki an escape from the world? I think it's the other way around. The world is an escape from tiki. It's important to be stubborn about these things. As Bogart said, "the problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."

Post #202768 by Thomas on Mon, Dec 12, 2005 1:40 PM