Post #790568 by bigbrotiki on Fri, Oct 19, 2018 7:31 AM

I read into it. It is well written, by some nice guys, writers/bloggers that got the job to write a book about Tiki from the publisher. So it's like they kind of discovered it...yesterday. Which is not per se bad, Tiki can benefit from fresh, new perspectives. Yet while the book's subtitle promises "A History of Polynesian Idols, Pineapple Cocktails and Coconut Palm Trees", there is very little about the first subject (the idols), and more about the generic tropical cliches (pineapple cocktails and coconut palm trees) that surround Tiki in it.

Quote: "When we first set out to explore Tiki Culture, we had only the faintest idea of what we were getting into....we knew that Tiki was a culture of palm trees and vaguely Hawaiian-sounding music, of Tiki torches and Mai Tais..."

It would have been nice if along the way they would have found out more about TIKI, the title character. They write about finding the SPIRIT of Tiki, ESCAPISM, and list a number of pop culture trends of the period. Elvis, surfing, Gidget - all parts of mid-century pop culture that we love, and which have a few elements of Tiki to them...but ARE not Tiki by themselves. A good litmus test is to always ask yourself "Was this called "Tiki" in its day?" If not, why would it be so today. Imagine what the old timers would say if you would tell them Gidget was "Tiki".

I know, I know, it is bad style for the authority on a subject to bitch and moan about the publishing efforts of others, I should cloak myself in humble silence and let it pass. But I have vowed to defend the integrity of Tiki until my dying day. What people often don't realize is that with the attempt to make Tiki all-inclusive, with the hot-rods and fezzes and burlesque girls, with "Tiki" cocktail bars that serve only the drinks but have no other Tiki elements, they are watering down the uniqueness of the style, making it less special, bit by bit.

Its uniqueness is that it was a form of 20th Century idolatry, carved out by American artists and entrepreneurs, and that Tiki was their god of recreation. They might have not been aware of it in their time, but that's how it presented itself to me when I came upon it, and that is what inspired me to sing its gospel, which in turn inspired countless new artists and entrepreneurs. It is wonderful to see so many "churches" of Tiki spring up, but I do reserve the right that if they call themselves "Tiki" to remind them of the core religion.

And for (Tiki)god's sake, if you title a book CALIFORNIA Tiki, put a carving from a California artist or from Oceanic Arts on the cover, and not some generic Asian import party city Tikis - with pineapples and palm trees on their foreheads.

Oh, P.S.: Otto's foreword is nice and concise! :)

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2018-10-19 07:40 ]