Post #637140 by Tipsy McStagger on Sat, May 19, 2012 11:02 AM

I think tiki has remained underground since the resurgence in the 90's..... Sure, we have seen bits and pieces go mainstream here and there with passing trends, but think about it.... we, who are immersed in it see tiki everywhere because that's what we are interested in and what we look out for....I am constantly amazed at how many people i encounter that to this day have no idea or only a vague idea of what tiki is..... to those of us that have been into tiki it seems like it is mainstream but i don't think it is. It's like any other sub cultural thing.... once you are in it you see it everywhere. but the reality is, it's not everywhere. When I got into punk rock, it was like we were the only ones in our school that were into it.... then we started seeing it everywhere the more we immersed ourselves in it and met more folks who were into it, the more widespread it seemed..... as with tiki, many aspects of the punk sub culture have found their way into mainstream then disappeared until the gatekeepers of culture decided there was money to be made, hence places like hot topic and such that sell all manner of commercial punk gear have appeared but where is the mainstream punk culture?? it's not there- because it was always a subculture, just like tiki is..... these subcultures appeal to a small minority. most folks drift in and out of them as an individual choice for whatever reasons...but a the small minority of tikiphiles are here and have always been here. tiki is not mainstream. no subculture can truly be mainstream. it's very nature of what it is denies it that option even though parts of it can be co-opted by commercial interests, the heart and soul of it continues on. I think that if you are someone who truly appreciates any subculture and live a certain lifestyle, you are going to do so no matter what and questions about whether or not it is mainstream would not even cross your mind.