Tiki and Caribbean. Can they be mixed? - General Tiki

B Bincho Member Novato, CA Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 67	B Bincho Posted posted on Sat, Mar 31, 2007 10:16 AM Although I have a stronger passion/history for such distilled grain whiskeys (Bourbon, corn whiskey, Rye)as the most "American" of spirits, rum is probably the one I would consider more as drink of choice of the "Americas". I agree that appropriate nautical imagery is very philosophically central to Tiki--I have an antique ships wheel in my Tiki bar and I cant imagine it now without it- the "Age of Sail" lends a great amount to both genres- Carib and Tiki themes- Tasteful and moderate consideration are really a mater of personal choice. There are always a plethora of stamped plastic Tiki junk being extruded from the plastic mills of Asia for our consumption, and while some of them are repulsive and anathema to some, they are less so than others. However- even the most cheezy and plastic of items are sometimes worthwhile in their splendor--the glowing eyed tiki head cigarette lighter has its place in my bar. And it begs the question- Frat house plastic napkin tiki parties are still Tiki parties- and so as the cultural ripple of Tiki has widened and travels through the masses searching for nostalgic identities and individuals to make their own, there will be an inevitible "cheapening" or degradation of the "base" or Hard core. Happened to punk music. Happened to Halloween. "From cheesy kitsch you emerged and to cheesy kitch you shall return" is the inevitible but sure reality. One can only hold and expect "standards" for their own sphere of influence- and either find themselves disqualifying newcomers in a pyramid scheme of ego or embracing the masses for a giant Tiki-man festival of non exclusiveness. So while the guy with the Corona sign and the Jimmy Buffet Luau aint my speed, I can change gears and at least accept the spirit of festival- celebration- libation at the core of this. Ok I am getting too anthropological now-off topic- Cheers! [ Edited by: Bincho 2007-03-31 16:44 ]

Although I have a stronger passion/history for such distilled grain whiskeys (Bourbon, corn whiskey, Rye)as the most "American" of spirits, rum is probably the one I would consider more as drink of choice of the "Americas".

I agree that appropriate nautical imagery is very philosophically central to Tiki--I have an antique ships wheel in my Tiki bar and I cant imagine it now without it- the "Age of Sail" lends a great amount to both genres- Carib and Tiki themes- Tasteful and moderate consideration are really a mater of personal choice. There are always a plethora of stamped plastic Tiki junk being extruded from the plastic mills of Asia for our consumption, and while some of them are repulsive and anathema to some, they are less so than others. However- even the most cheezy and plastic of items are sometimes worthwhile in their splendor--the glowing eyed tiki head cigarette lighter has its place in my bar.
And it begs the question- Frat house plastic napkin tiki parties are still Tiki parties- and so as the cultural ripple of Tiki has widened and travels through the masses searching for nostalgic identities and individuals to make their own, there will be an inevitible "cheapening" or degradation of the "base" or Hard core. Happened to punk music. Happened to Halloween. "From cheesy kitsch you emerged and to cheesy kitch you shall return" is the inevitible but sure reality. One can only hold and expect "standards" for their own sphere of influence- and either find themselves disqualifying newcomers in a pyramid scheme of ego or embracing the masses for a giant Tiki-man festival of non exclusiveness. So while the guy with the Corona sign and the Jimmy Buffet Luau aint my speed, I can change gears and at least accept the spirit of festival- celebration- libation at the core of this. Ok I am getting too anthropological now-off topic-

Cheers!

[ Edited by: Bincho 2007-03-31 16:44 ]

Post #295920 by Bincho on Sat, Mar 31, 2007 10:16 AM