Burlesque, Surf Culture, Hot Rods, Mexican Wrestling, etc. (pick one) in Tiki Culture - General Tiki

J JOHN-O Tiki Socialite Dogtown, USA Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 2721	J JOHN-O Posted posted on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 4:35 PM On 2010-08-24 13:50, Beach Bum Scott wrote: Anyone care to discuss why Surf and Tiki should be separate? Here's a different opinion because it's not just about having fun ( :D ).... I love classic Tiki-Style. I love classic Surf Music. That said, I believe Tiki and Surf Music ARE SEPARATE because they originated (evolved) from two completely different sub-cultures. Tiki was adult cocktail culture. Surf Music was youth beach culture. Just because they happened during the same time doesn't necessarily make them the same. The early Motown sound also happened during this time but I don't see anyone making a case that it's Tiki Culture (but I do LOVE to hear Motown played in the Tiki Bar). Yes you can make the case that surfers adopted the Tiki as their talisman, but really I think surfing and Surf Music were two separate things as well. Most Surf Music musicians didn't surf and my guess is by the late 1960's most surfers were into psychedelic Rock and Roll. And wasn't it AFTER the British Invasion (by which time Surf Music had already peaked) that the Surf/Tiki amulet craze took off ?? I often think that the term "Surf Music" was more of a record company marketing gimmick anyway than it was artistic inspiration of the musicians. BigTikiDude told me that the first "Surf Music" musicans were just playing their own original instrumental Rock and Roll. The labeling of the music as a genre came after the fact. Also if you can make a case that Surf Music (or Surf Culture) plays a significant part in Tiki, that opens up the floodgates to make a similar argument for overall Beach Culture. Against that, original Tiki-Style doesn't stand a chance and would only further be diluted. Here's another (tongue-in-cheek) way to look at it. By embracing too much Surf Culture in Tiki Culture, we might be celebrating the very "youth culture" impact that eventually lead to Tiki's original downfall. Maybe in order to keep it old-school and "real", Tikiphiles need to start stepping out in the formal dinner attire of the time rather than Aloha-wear. It really doesn't matter though. This is the circular argument which will never end here on TC. (And I hope it never does end.) Also BTD, keep posting on Surf Music under Events otherwise I'll never know when the shows are. :) [ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-08-24 17:12 ]

On 2010-08-24 13:50, Beach Bum Scott wrote:
Anyone care to discuss why Surf and Tiki should be separate?

Here's a different opinion because it's not just about having fun ( :D )....

I love classic Tiki-Style.

I love classic Surf Music.

That said, I believe Tiki and Surf Music ARE SEPARATE because they originated (evolved) from two completely different sub-cultures.

Tiki was adult cocktail culture. Surf Music was youth beach culture.

Just because they happened during the same time doesn't necessarily make them the same. The early Motown sound also happened during this time but I don't see anyone making a case that it's Tiki Culture (but I do LOVE to hear Motown played in the Tiki Bar).

Yes you can make the case that surfers adopted the Tiki as their talisman, but really I think surfing and Surf Music were two separate things as well. Most Surf Music musicians didn't surf and my guess is by the late 1960's most surfers were into psychedelic Rock and Roll. And wasn't it AFTER the British Invasion (by which time Surf Music had already peaked) that the Surf/Tiki amulet craze took off ??

I often think that the term "Surf Music" was more of a record company marketing gimmick anyway than it was artistic inspiration of the musicians. BigTikiDude told me that the first "Surf Music" musicans were just playing their own original instrumental Rock and Roll. The labeling of the music as a genre came after the fact.

Also if you can make a case that Surf Music (or Surf Culture) plays a significant part in Tiki, that opens up the floodgates to make a similar argument for overall Beach Culture. Against that, original Tiki-Style doesn't stand a chance and would only further be diluted.

Here's another (tongue-in-cheek) way to look at it. By embracing too much Surf Culture in Tiki Culture, we might be celebrating the very "youth culture" impact that eventually lead to Tiki's original downfall. Maybe in order to keep it old-school and "real", Tikiphiles need to start stepping out in the formal dinner attire of the time rather than Aloha-wear.

It really doesn't matter though. This is the circular argument which will never end here on TC. (And I hope it never does end.) Also BTD, keep posting on Surf Music under Events otherwise I'll never know when the shows are. :)

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-08-24 17:12 ]

Post #549892 by JOHN-O on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 4:35 PM