Post #247861 by Kaiwaza on Wed, Aug 9, 2006 1:15 PM

Wow..since I usually just prowl around in the tiki music forum, today is the first time I'm seeing this thread. I've read all 13 pages of it.
Despite what anyone says, defining "tiki" or "Polynesian pop" will, I imagine, be ongoing as definition always change over time, as well as concepts. I do know when something strikes me as "wrong" although I may not be able to define why exactly.
I don't care if something is old or new, but somehow COLORS bother me. That's why I dislike all those party items we see everywhere. I'm sorry, PURPLE just doesn't seem a very "tiki-like" color. I think of warm earth tones, orange, maybe a bit of yellow. Only a few flowers should be purple.
I don't consider tiki as a style to HAVE to be Polynesian in origin as for me it has always seemed a blending or confusion of Asian, Pacific, African, West Indies culture, art, & music...intentionaly vague sometimes. I mean, as someone pointed out earlier, how the heck are monkeys in fezzes Polynesian? I have no problems with a few pirates or parrots thrown in. After all, I live in Waikiki and everyday of the week I can walk outside and see people having their pictures taken by the beach with live parrots on their arms & shoulders. And I'm all for incorporating Indonesian & Philippine carvings and artwork. Lots of what is sold in Waikiki at the souvenir stalls is carved in Asia, and I think would look fine in a tiki environment.
However, any mention of beer, rock bands, and motorcycles seem to kill the tiki vibe for me.
I've never actually thought of spray-painting or reworking some of those cheap party tiki masks, etc., but that's not a bad idea for those on a budget. And I have seen some cheap tiki candles, etc that seem to be in a more appropriate color scheme that would do quite well.
It's been a very intersting series of posts to read, and I think TC is right to take an "educational" stance on defining things. Just know that in the 1950s & 60s when this stuff was going on , no one had a style book in front of them. They used their own sense of judgement.