Global InformationTiki culture information
| Tiki culture | |
|---|---|
| 1933–present | |
 A typical "Tiki" mug | |
| Location | United States |
Tiki culture is an American-originated art, music, and entertainment movement inspired by Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian cultures, and by Oceanian art. Influential cultures to Tiki culture include Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, the Caribbean Islands, and Hawaii. The name comes from Tiki, the Māori name for the first human, often represented in the form of hei-tiki, a pendant and important taonga. The hei-tiki was often appropriated by Europeans as a commercialised good luck charm, hence the name of Tiki culture.[1] Despite spanning over 10,000 miles and including many different unrelated cultures, religions, and languages, Tiki aesthetic is considered by some to be amalgamated into one "fantasia of trans-Pacific cultures" and "colonial nostalgia".[2][3] Because of this, and the simplistic view of the Pacific taken by the aesthetic, Tiki culture has often proved controversial.[3][4]
Tiki culture initially extended to decorate themed bars and restaurants, catering to Americans' views of the South Pacific. Featuring Tiki carvings and complex, alluringly named alcoholic drinks,[5] it eventually influenced residential recreation. It became one of the primary ways, although indirectly, that New Zealand culture influenced that of the United States. Beginning in California in the 1930s and then spreading around the world, Tiki culture was inspired by the sentimental appeal of an idealized South Pacific, particularly Polynesia, as viewed through the experiences of tourists and Hollywood movies, incorporating beautiful scenery, forbidden love, and the potential for danger.[6][7] Over time, it selectively incorporated more cultural elements (and imagined aspects) of other regions such as Southeast Asia.[8][9] While the decor and ambiance at these establishments largely draws from Polynesian influences, the cocktails are inspired by the tropical drinks and ingredients of the Caribbean.
Tiki culture changed over time, influenced by World War II and the firsthand exposure hundreds of thousands of American servicemen gained during that conflict. In time its appeal wore off, and both the culture and the hospitality industry theme saw a decline. The early decades of the 21st century have seen a renaissance of interest in Tiki culture, including a limited commercial revival. In addition, it has attracted people interested in cocktails, history, urban archeology, and retroism.[10][11] However, the appropriation of indigenous Pacific cultures has become increasingly challenged as culturally insensitive or racist.[12][13]
- ^ www.dynamo6.com. "tiki". tiki - Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Homage or Appropriation? Navigating Cultural Branding and Complicated Spirits". VinePair. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Tiki bars are built on cultural appropriation and colonial nostalgia. Where's the reckoning?". Los Angeles Times. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Let's Talk Tiki Bars: Harmless Fun Or Exploitation?". NPR. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "There is more to classic tiki than just kitsch". Smithsonian. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Kirsten, Sven (2000). The Book of Tiki. Taschen.
- ^ "Tiki Expert Sven Kirsten Traces the Evolution of the Art Form". ukulelemag. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ "Kon Tiki explorer was partially right". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "How the Voyage of the Kon-Tiki Misled the World About Navigating the Pacific". Smithsonian. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "A new golden age for the tiki bar". The Atlantic. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ "Tiki". americanheritage.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Is This the End of the Tiki Bar? We Asked Local Pacific Islanders What They Think | Newcity Resto". 8 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Admin (6 October 2021). "The curious case of Tiki racism". pactimes. Retrieved 30 June 2022.