Interview with Kern Mattei of the Mai Kai - General Tiki

T telescopes Tiki Socialite Palm Springs Joined: May 06, 2007 Posts: 618	T telescopes Posted posted on Mon, Sep 3, 2007 10:06 AM Sven: Am I correctly hearing you state that their is a "correct version" of Poly Pop that should be respected when in fact Poly Pop was a fantasy corruption created by people who didn't really know better to begin with. Example, how the hell does a Japanese fish globe fit in with tiki culture? But more to the point, stating that their is a "correct" version of Poly Pop is to suggest that Poly Pop is like Latin, a dead language with a beginning and an end. The thing is, if Poly Pop is a living culture, then it will continue to grow and and change as each succeeding generation experiences it and redefines it in its own image. If we were to travel 500 years back in time, the Sistine Chapel would look way different than it does today. More to the point, their could be no Tiki Modern to sell after the Book of Tiki. And if you wait ten years from now, you will be writing a book called Tiki Revival and thus secure yourself for your latter years as well as document "authentic" cultural phenomenon. I once read that you didn't care for "cartoon" tiki, yet 20-30 years from now, that style of art will be seen as genuine and respectful. My own "tiki trek" began in 1986 at the "China Royal" restaurant on Lindbergh Blvd. in St. Louis, Missouri. It was about as untiki as you could get, and yet, the genuine essence of tiki was there and it caught my imagination. Some 21 years later, I've come to appreciate that essence in all of its manifestations. At heart, I am a classical tikiphile. I went to New Zealand and Tahiti when neither was cool. But not for the reasons that brought the sailors in WW11, but more for the reasons that brought Gaugaun. I long love to see our Tiki Palaces preserved, but whether they are or not, in the end, colored tikis are just that, colored tikis. Even the island trend of Margaritaville or Tex-Mex is as authentic as Poly Pop. It might be argued that they are relatives of each other. Ultimately, something even more fascinating might or will take its place. Poly Pop was born a commercial enterprise. It lasted for a long time because others were willing to pay for it. If people are still willing to pay for it, it will continue. Long may it last!

Sven:

Am I correctly hearing you state that their is a "correct version" of Poly Pop that should be respected when in fact Poly Pop was a fantasy corruption created by people who didn't really know better to begin with. Example, how the hell does a Japanese fish globe fit in with tiki culture?

But more to the point, stating that their is a "correct" version of Poly Pop is to suggest that Poly Pop is like Latin, a dead language with a beginning and an end. The thing is, if Poly Pop is a living culture, then it will continue to grow and and change as each succeeding generation experiences it and redefines it in its own image. If we were to travel 500 years back in time, the Sistine Chapel would look way different than it does today. More to the point, their could be no Tiki Modern to sell after the Book of Tiki. And if you wait ten years from now, you will be writing a book called Tiki Revival and thus secure yourself for your latter years as well as document "authentic" cultural phenomenon. I once read that you didn't care for "cartoon" tiki, yet 20-30 years from now, that style of art will be seen as genuine and respectful.

My own "tiki trek" began in 1986 at the "China Royal" restaurant on Lindbergh Blvd. in St. Louis, Missouri. It was about as untiki as you could get, and yet, the genuine essence of tiki was there and it caught my imagination. Some 21 years later, I've come to appreciate that essence in all of its manifestations.

At heart, I am a classical tikiphile. I went to New Zealand and Tahiti when neither was cool. But not for the reasons that brought the sailors in WW11, but more for the reasons that brought Gaugaun.

I long love to see our Tiki Palaces preserved, but whether they are or not, in the end, colored tikis are just that, colored tikis. Even the island trend of Margaritaville or Tex-Mex is as authentic as Poly Pop. It might be argued that they are relatives of each other. Ultimately, something even more fascinating might or will take its place.

Poly Pop was born a commercial enterprise. It lasted for a long time because others were willing to pay for it. If people are still willing to pay for it, it will continue. Long may it last!

Post #329841 by telescopes on Mon, Sep 3, 2007 10:06 AM