Post #295835 by Thomas on Fri, Mar 30, 2007 9:24 PM

The whole pirate thing turns me off. Looters, organized criminals, predators, and terrorists in actual historical reality. The stereotypical, romanticized image that comes to us through literature and pop culture seems best left to kids. Don't mean to be harsh and offensive, but really.

Things overtly Latin and/or Caribbean, fantastic though they so often are, tend to bring to mind unsoothing realities like: Iberian colonialism of the new world; plantation economies; slavery and racial politics; etc. That's some very heavy reality baggage.

The idealized tiki guy/gal has been all around the world and can dance the samba with the best of them. Knows how to play steel drums too, by the way. But in his/her personal and home style, that oasis of personal relaxation and expression, the imagery derives from and the sounds suggest: Polynesia. That's, like, pretty much just the way it is. Is this a rule? Is it enforced by percentages? Hardy har har. No, it's just the way it is. Tiki is a link to a faraway, exotic, cultural sphere with a whiff of timelessness. Major doses of fantasy and "looseness with the (historical) facts" tossed in the mix for sure. But if you don't get why inserting into such an environs, say, reggae (a modern pop music form centered around specific circumstances and grievances originating in the Caribbean nation of Jamaica) draws attention to itself and creates discordance rather than blending into and enhancing the mix, then you aren't serious. And it's OK not to be serious. It's a free country, for heaven's sake! But it's actually more fun to be serious about these things. The pirates and parrots aren't fun. They're tired. Reggae sounds kind of fun, but it's actually quite angry most of the time. They should be treated politely but guided smoothly to another area.