Why Tiki = Tacky, yet African and Asian is traditional - General Tiki

M Moai_Mama Member Florida Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Posts: 47	M Moai_Mama Posted posted on Wed, Apr 30, 2008 11:43 AM On 2008-04-29 12:38, Swanky wrote: I just wanted to rant a bit (more) about the fact that everywhere you see "tiki" in retail today, it is nearly always also crazy tacky. But, I see faux African and Asian art and it is designed to look like the real thing! If the tiki stuff looked like the African stuff at home decor and craft stores, I'd probably buy a lot of it. Why are they hating Polynesian Culture this way! Well, I personally find a lot of the new 'Tiki Art' (yes, even here @ T.C.) to be very much like the Asian's Anime cartoon world & sometimes even making fun of the Polynesian Culture, kind of like a tacky 'Hello-Kitty In Heat Meets The Monkey Shriners'. Even though I enjoy collecting the vintage Tiki items from the 50's and 60's, I would worry that my hodge-podge of 'Tiki' stuff would probably be offensive to any true Polynesian person visiting my home~ just as the Buddah Statue decorating fad must be offensive to folks of that religious upbringing. Most cultural items sold in decorating stores are probably tacky to some folks. And (eeek!) most are just junk made in China.

On 2008-04-29 12:38, Swanky wrote:
I just wanted to rant a bit (more) about the fact that everywhere you see "tiki" in retail today, it is nearly always also crazy tacky. But, I see faux African and Asian art and it is designed to look like the real thing! If the tiki stuff looked like the African stuff at home decor and craft stores, I'd probably buy a lot of it. Why are they hating Polynesian Culture this way!

Well, I personally find a lot of the new 'Tiki Art' (yes, even here @ T.C.) to be very much like the Asian's Anime cartoon world & sometimes even making fun of the Polynesian Culture, kind of like a tacky 'Hello-Kitty In Heat Meets The Monkey Shriners'.
Even though I enjoy collecting the vintage Tiki items from the 50's and 60's, I would worry that my hodge-podge of 'Tiki' stuff would probably be offensive to any true Polynesian person visiting my home~ just as the Buddah Statue decorating fad must be offensive to folks of that religious upbringing.
Most cultural items sold in decorating stores are probably tacky to some folks. And (eeek!) most are just junk made in China.

Post #377238 by Moai_Mama on Wed, Apr 30, 2008 11:43 AM