WHEN and WHERE did Melanesian art enter Polynesian Pop? - General Tiki

J JOHN-O Tiki Socialite Dogtown, USA Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 2721	J JOHN-O Posted posted on Tue, Feb 23, 2010 5:34 PM Wait, I'm confused. Wouldn't the appearance of Melanesian (physical) art coincide when Oceanic Arts started producing the stuff? I can see where the early Polynesian pieces might have been authentic art from Hawaii but a place like PNG was rarely traveled (as it still is today). Surely the first Melanesian objects appearing in U.S. restaurants and bars couldn't have been authentic. Also I'm guessing all of the shield/spear iconography appearing on motel signs, etc. was inspired by the first American carver(s) to copy the look from Oceanic Art books. Back then, what motel developers even knew of the culture they were borrowing from? They wouldn't have cared whether it was Polynesian, Melanesian, or African, as long as it vibed "exotic". [ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-02-23 17:36 ]

Wait, I'm confused.

Wouldn't the appearance of Melanesian (physical) art coincide when Oceanic Arts started producing the stuff? I can see where the early Polynesian pieces might have been authentic art from Hawaii but a place like PNG was rarely traveled (as it still is today).

Surely the first Melanesian objects appearing in U.S. restaurants and bars couldn't have been authentic.

Also I'm guessing all of the shield/spear iconography appearing on motel signs, etc. was inspired by the first American carver(s) to copy the look from Oceanic Art books. Back then, what motel developers even knew of the culture they were borrowing from? They wouldn't have cared whether it was Polynesian, Melanesian, or African, as long as it vibed "exotic".

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-02-23 17:36 ]

Post #512901 by JOHN-O on Tue, Feb 23, 2010 5:34 PM