Tiki Culture Questions - for a College Project - General Tiki

WD White Devil Member The Interior, Deep South Pacific Joined: Jun 26, 2009 Posts: 766	WD White Devil Posted posted on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 8:55 PM Motu, My sincerest condolences on your recurrrent academia infection. Perhaps I can help with that nasty swelling, to wit... The first spark was having a dream about whom I later discovered to be the Mystery Girl. I had fallen asleep in Sunday school and dreamed that this beautiful adult woman brought me a gigantic, steaming bowl of Ovaltine, danced almost naked for me and then placed a wreath of flowers around my neck. When I woke up, I no longer had any interest in that Jeezley character, and it took me the longest to figure out the wet spot in my trousers. In one way or another, I've always been drawn to the themes that inspired tiki. My first TV memories were of watching B'wana Don and his jungle-themed kids' show, along with Tarzan movies, etc. and anything that featured scary totems. My grandmother was half-Cherokee, and always wore the facial expression of a moai. My affectionate name for her was Totem Pole. My shrunken head fixation led to a few unhappy pet incidents. A few. I know far more who've had numerous brushes with tiki, and ample opportunities to experience classic tiki establishments, but who failed to take advantage because of its wide reputation as being kitsch and tacky. Or as southerners have it, tiki-tacky. To some extent, I think everybody comes to an appreciation of it late, more or less. For most, it seems to require a definite unhinging of the mental jaws to take it all in. The only really new thing is the very old. No expectations whatsoever, except finding yet more Mad magazine-type caricatures of traditional tiki templates, or perhaps an occasional Paris Hiltonesque, clueless and/or sleazeball pop culture reference. Not merely tikis, but any totem with pedigree. Primarily ceramic vessels but also large outdoor figures suitable for virgin sacrifices. Also, my wife Tiger Lily (who assists with the aforesaid sacrifices) is my tiki-themed object of affection. Most often: Fort Lauderdale, for the Mai-Kai and Hukilau. One day: Whittier, CA. Good luck amongst the academia nuts.

Motu,
My sincerest condolences on your recurrrent academia infection. Perhaps I can help with that nasty swelling, to wit...

The first spark was having a dream about whom I later discovered to be the Mystery Girl. I had fallen asleep in Sunday school and dreamed that this beautiful adult woman brought me a gigantic, steaming bowl of Ovaltine, danced almost naked for me and then placed a wreath of flowers around my neck. When I woke up, I no longer had any interest in that Jeezley character, and it took me the longest to figure out the wet spot in my trousers.
In one way or another, I've always been drawn to the themes that inspired tiki. My first TV memories were of watching B'wana Don and his jungle-themed kids' show, along with Tarzan movies, etc. and anything that featured scary totems. My grandmother was half-Cherokee, and always wore the facial expression of a moai. My affectionate name for her was Totem Pole. My shrunken head fixation led to a few unhappy pet incidents.
A few. I know far more who've had numerous brushes with tiki, and ample opportunities to experience classic tiki establishments, but who failed to take advantage because of its wide reputation as being kitsch and tacky. Or as southerners have it, tiki-tacky. To some extent, I think everybody comes to an appreciation of it late, more or less. For most, it seems to require a definite unhinging of the mental jaws to take it all in.
The only really new thing is the very old.
No expectations whatsoever, except finding yet more Mad magazine-type caricatures of traditional tiki templates, or perhaps an occasional Paris Hiltonesque, clueless and/or sleazeball pop culture reference.
Not merely tikis, but any totem with pedigree. Primarily ceramic vessels but also large outdoor figures suitable for virgin sacrifices. Also, my wife Tiger Lily (who assists with the aforesaid sacrifices) is my tiki-themed object of affection.
Most often: Fort Lauderdale, for the Mai-Kai and Hukilau. One day: Whittier, CA.

Good luck amongst the academia nuts.

Post #472248 by White Devil on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 8:55 PM