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Panda ’ s Primer:. A History of Tiki and Backyard Polynesia. Definitions. Polynesia : A division of Oceania including scattered islands of the central and southern Pacific Ocean roughly between New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island.
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Panda’s Primer: • A History of Tiki • and Backyard Polynesia
Definitions • Polynesia: A division of Oceania including scattered islands of the central and southern Pacific Ocean roughly between New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island. • Tiki: 1. Mythology A male figure in Polynesian myth, sometimes identified as the first man. 2. A wooden or stone image of a Polynesian god.
Where Did They Come From? • Conventional Wisdom: Polynesian islands were settled by Asians heading east • Alternative: Could they have been settled by South Americans heading west? • Polynesian Mythology: Tiki, the first man, came from the east, following the sun • Peruvian Mythology: Con-Tici Viracocha, a pre-Incan creator god, disappeared across the Pacific Ocean and never returned
Kon-Tiki Expedition • Thor Heyerdal set out to prove his theory that Polynesia was settled from the east • In 1947, he sailed from Peru to Tuamota, traveling 4,300 miles in 101 days on a raft constructed of balsa wood using ancient methods • His expedition attracted worldwide attention for his theory and Polynesia
Coming to America • American soldiers in the Pacific theatre of WWII experienced Polynesia firsthand • They returned home with stories of a lush tropical paradise with beautiful wahines • The postwar period saw an explosion of a Polynesian-themed lifestyle • Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959
Mid-Century Tiki Invasion • Polynesian Bars and Supper Clubs • Architecture • Music & Television • Art • Home Decor
Tiki Today • The 1960s saw the drug culture replace Tiki culture as the new means of escapism • Many old Polynesian structures in America were lost forever • Tiki started regaining popularity in the 1990s thanks to the work of urban archeologists • Tiki today is once again manifest in resorts, bars, artwork and music
So What Is Tiki? • An escapist state of mind • A blending of Polynesia and America • A celebration of culture through art, music, decor and libations • A nod to our mid-century past • A thriving lifestyle today!
References • Heyerdal, Thor (1948). Kon-Tiki: Across The Pacific by Raft. Cutchogue, NY: Bucaneer Books. • Kirsten, Sven (2000). The Book of Tiki: The Cult of Polynesian Pop in Fifties America. Cologne, Germany: Taschen. • Viracocha (1996). In Bloomsbury Dictionary of Myth, London, England. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viracocha