Post #681913 by creativenative on Thu, Jun 13, 2013 7:37 PM

In my late entrance to Tiki Central and all things tiki I’ve learned (whether correct or not) is that the definition of tiki has evolved. There is a misunderstanding here but in a sense most people are right, in a sense. Knowing the diverse definitions of “tiki” would probably clear many things up. If I were a dictionary it would read:
ti•ki

1. (in Polynesian mythology) the first man on earth. tiki (Maori), ti’i (Tahitian). Note in Cook Island Tiki was the 1st women who died. Important Polynesian connection is the god Maui, found throughout Polynesia and whose full name is Maui-tikitiki (Maori), Maui-ti’iti’i (Samoan), Maui-ki’iki’i (Hawaiian). The god Maui created the islands. Note: the Hawaiian island of Maui was named after this god.
2. (in Polynesian cultures) a large carved image, as of a god or ancestor, from wood or stone tiki (Marquesan, Tuamotuan), ki’i (Hawaiian) or small craving as a pendant around the neck he-tiki (Maori). “That is a tiki.” Tiki also refers to the arts in general as in to sculpt, draw or design as in tapa or tattoos. Underlying uses (common for many words in Polynesia) of the word tiki are fertility, virility (these two definitions are probably derived from some of the tiki gods themselves) creativity, and abundance.
3. (style) derived from mid-20th century Polynesian Pop western sub-culture where tiki symbolized this cool & hip style that takes its roots from the cultures of the Pacific isles (see above). Returning soldiers from the WWII Pacific Theater are attributed to helping form this pop culture. Examples of this cultural lifestyle: tiki bars, exotic drinks in tiki mugs, exotica music, black velvet erotic paintings, home luau parties & Polynesian Pop architecture. “He’s so tiki.” Now referred to as a tiki movement because its roots from the recognition of this mid-century style and the crusade to revive it in the 90s till present. This current tiki revival also uses the shorter term, Poly Pop. Not to be confused with the prewar South Seas style (also referred to as pre-tiki) which is an earlier Western style of Polynesian influence represented by Hawaiian music (wiki-wacky) and dance (hula hula), the widespread use of the ukulele, South Seas restaurants (with palm & pearl themed decor) & popular South Seas sarong films. This earlier sub culture did help form the mid-century movement with the early formation of chain restaurants like Don the Beachcomber & Trader Vic’s.
4. (in Western culture) Any tiki image from authentic ancient oceanic island cultures (see definition #2) to modern tiki images made anywhere, some craved faithfully from wood, others mass produced from chalk, plastic or paper. Also tikis in art such as black velvet, oil on canvas, and computer generated images found on the World Wide Web that can be also be mass produced. Today items like decorative Melanesian masks and large Easter Island (Rapa nui) Moai are all referred to as tiki in this definition.
5. (general) Modern Anything with Oceanic cultural influence, from real Pacific island cultures to earlier (“pre-tiki”) South Seas clubs, South Seas movies to later Polynesian Pop i.e. tiki restaurants, tiki bars, to So Cal Beach culture to today’s Poly Pop commercial media images, etc. Not just carved or painted tiki images but all stereotypical Oceanic or South Seas symbols such as hula dance, sarongs, grass huts, outrigger canoes, surfing, the luau, exploding volcanoes, erotic wahine grass skirt images, etc. “That is so tiki.”

Now with that established what is a tiki movie? From definition #1 (the gods) none was made but interestingly Spielberg did buy the rights to produce “Maui the Demigod” from a book publisher. As one knows not all story rights get produced into films.

From definition #2 this is where South Seas Cinema comes in. There are many South Seas movies set on a Pacific isle with at least a “tiki worship” sub-theme. There are South Seas films that have nice and terrible tikis in the background but they are only set dressing. But when it comes to the quintessential tiki movie in this definition I agree with BongoFury, RAPA NUI is an essential film to bring to the table. Here, the moai, are not the background, not a sub-plot but the center piece of the film. There are some others films that have tiki as central to the story like the “cursed” tiki pendants or desktop idols but they don’t compare to the production values of RAPA NUI.

Now to the crutch of the tiki definitions, #3 as pertaining to TC “Celebrating the Classic and Modern Polynesian Pop” with this definition BigBroTiki & Atomic Tiki Punk are right, there are no tiki movies but I would love to see one. Tiki, like the South Seas movies, was an escape from real life and real work environs not full time. So it would hard to write a full movie but it might be worth a try. Atomic Tiki Punk & BongFury (in an older post) did mention a few good scenes that took place in a mid-century Polynesian Pop sets that are great scenes and are essential to this discussion but unfortunately they are not whole movies.

Definition #4 would include the same movies mentioned in definition #2 and #3 because there are tikis involved. Definition #5 also, with a broader scope of films, mostly South Seas movies. In these broad definitions of tiki my favorite tiki movies are a tie between Michener’s HAWAII and both the Brando & Gibson BOUNTY films.

Of course this is my opinion and this might set off a hell of a lot more to discuss. Sorry for writing a book in a forum. My original post was even long but I thought I would spare your sanity.

[ Edited by: creativenative 2013-06-13 19:50 ]