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(Well Packed,See Reviews)
Condition:USED: mild to moderate general wear to the cover including visible scuff marks, tiny tears, and overall physical signs of use, no dust jacket / dust jacket built into the cover. I don\'t think an additional DJ was issued with the book. Inside of the book looks great, see all photos for further reference and examples of already stated. Mild general wear to the inside of the book. No major issues.
Synopsis from Google:
Sven A. Kirsten\'s book explores how American imagination seized on an exotic, idealized version of South Pacific island culture after World War II, fueled by returning soldiers\' tales of tropical paradise and vibrant nightlife. This fascination led to the mid-20th century rise of Polynesian pop, transforming it into a highly influential cultural and style trend.
Core Themes and Historical Context
The book serves as a comprehensive guide to what is often called the \"bible of the style,\" detailing how returning US soldiers stationed in the South Pacific brought home stories of sleepy lagoons and vibrant, all-night orgies of food and music. This romanticized vision deeply captured the public, sparking a massive wave of Polynesian escapism across the United States.
The resulting cultural phenomenon exerted a heavy influence on multiple facets of mid-century American life, including:
Fashion & Music: It dictated new trends in clothing and heavily shaped pop music.
Dining & Nightlife: It inspired themed eating and drinking habits, establishing the classic tiki bar experience.
Architecture & Design: It left behind a distinct architectural legacy, heavily utilizing motifs of a forgotten civilization.
The Urban Archaeologist\'s Approach
Rather than acting purely as a historical text, the book positions itself as a humorous and hilarious guide for the \"urban archaeologist.\" It focuses on tracking down the surviving, lost remnants of this mid-century craze. Readers are guided through hunting for these vintage relics in places like thrift stores, yard sales, and used book emporia.
While the initial movement eventually faded into what some considered a kitsch anomaly, the book documents its subsequent 1990s revival and provides a blueprint for understanding the magic of Tiki culture. It features a rich collection of historical notes, rare illustrations, photos, and trivia to map out the entire movement.
Publication Background
Originally published by TASCHEN on May 1, 2000, this definitive work took author Sven A. Kirsten eight years to publish after initially facing rejection from publishers in 1992. Over the years, it has earned a reputation among enthusiast communities as the ultimate Tiki bible and the structural blueprint on what Tiki was, is, and should be.
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