Post #696654 by White Devil on Fri, Oct 18, 2013 11:15 AM

You may disagree with me. In fact, seems like most of tiki central has always disagreed with me..but I love the original concept of tiki.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, Lucas. I'm not throwing off on the relative virtues of the mugs for what they are, nor the quality of the product. But as you say more eloquently, this stuff will be identified by the less-exacting as "tiki", and those who know better have an obligation to make the distinctions plain. I think it's marvelous that we live in a country where anyone with an inclination can manufacture a hot rod mug, or hell, a Rat Fink toilet if they're so moved to. But a Rat Fink vessel ain't tiki, and if words don't matter then nothing else does either.

Your Elvis/Brubeck analogy is perfect, and that purist mindset has beset the arts since they were invented. And new art has almost always come about as a result of those few who could imagine Elvis with Brubeck...but the high standards of the purists have to prevail to some degree in order to preserve the integrity of the hybrid's original inspiration. Otherwise, all we ever end up with is brunswick stew.

It may be that every word ever logged on Tiki Central has been one concentrated effort to crystallize the essence of Tiki, and to differentiate it from non-tiki. But if that definition can't ever really be nailed down verbally, and we're left with only a relative compare-and-contrast process of expressing an inexpressible ideal, then here's my stab at it (by way of Tiki Farm and Notch)...

Which of the above is the real Tiki, and which the imposter?

As far as the consumer is concerned, to each his own. As far as the creator/manufacturer is concerned, which do you want to be identified with?

[ Edited by: White Devil 2013-10-18 11:52 ]