Post #805837 by Tikifish81 on Sat, Oct 1, 2022 9:52 PM

I'm interested—what sources have you consulted to learn what mid-20th century Polynesian Pop (Tiki) really is? Have you read any of Sven Kirsten's books, by chance? They are the most thorough and comprehensive sources out there.

Polynesian Pop was never meant to be an authentic representation of Pasifika/Polynesian cultures. It is what I call purposeful inauthenticity. It is a uniquely American stylizing of something that back in those days, was quite inaccessible for the average American. And as an important piece of pop culture history, it has been studied, researched, and documented in print for others to draw from.

People can evolve, but history is static—it does not evolve. It simply is. What those of us who have studied it and know what it is are asking is that the waters not be muddied or diluted with incorrect information. To that end, I don't plan on sharing any more articles from Paste.