Post #306515 by DJ Terence Gunn on Tue, May 15, 2007 1:02 PM

First off, is Mickey Mouse flipping us off or giving us the 'Thumbs Up'? Cheeky devil!

As far as 'not getting it', nobody 'into' Tiki today 'got it' at first; it was a gradual evolution of knowledge and perception -- in debt to those who involved themselves in it before us --, and lots of people never acheive fruition of its understanding, as they aren't genuinely 'into' it in the first (and last) place; it's just a passing fancy, the libation of the day, an attempt to find a social circle. The same can be said for anything in Western pop culture: fashion and music trends, religion, politics, wine tasting, collecting, etc.

In addition, the word 'Tiki' has become so colloquial and commercial and thus convoluted that it is hardly surprising that so many people 'don't get it'. Couple that together with the fact that the majority of today's society has little interest or respect or knowledge of the past -- other than that which they grew up with --, and it's even more hardly surprising. And there is far, far more to 'Tiki' than the Hawaiian Islands. Hell, the Hawaiian Islands are no where near what they were in the 1950s-1970s. One will find a more exotic locale in Indonesia, Bhurma, Bali, or Haiti, or off the coast of Africa. Primitive aesthetics of the South Seas Islands is the best way to describe 'Tiki', but let's face it, there's more to it than that.

Take Exotica music, for example. It isn't traditional Hawaiian music -- even if there is a staple of traditional Hawaiian songs in its repertoire. There are elements and titles reflecting Africa, The Middle East, Asia, Japan, The Caribbean, etc., as well.

Then there are the Tiki mugs, statues, figures, and plaques. There are so many weird and wonderful and original designs today in the tradition of Tiki, but very few of them are, from a cultural stand point, authentically Tiki, or even of Tiki design. And these designs and objects are of interest to many tikiphiles, hence making it all the more confusing for those who 'just don't get it'.

But there's so much junk involved, too: tiki napkins, tiki paper plates, tiki wall-paper and wall-setters, blow-up tiki bars, tiki salt and pepper shakers, plastic tiki masks, tiki finger puppets, etc., etc. This adds more confusion, and simply points out the commercialism of Tiki in today's society. Of course, it's a matter of sussing out the 'bad taste' products (commonly referred to as 'kitsch') from the exploitational junk products; and that's not going to be an easy task for those who 'just don't get it', as many of us who 'do get it' cross a fine line between what is acceptable and what is not in a Tiki environment.

Then let's look at architectural, geographical, and botanical designs associated with Tiki Culture: bamboo, thatched roofs, iconic totems and statues, palm trees, banana trees, coconut trees, water-falls, etc. These features do not solely belong to the Hawaiian Islands.

In any case, Tiki is a pseudo, fabricated culture, based primarily on primitive cultural designs from the near and distant past of the South Pacific Islands, but which has evolved into a distinct fantasy of man's imagination for that exotic, tranquil locale in his or her heart -- the inner Bali Hai. Let's be thankful that not everyone can go there.