Definition of the word exotica

The term "exotica" originated in the late 1940s and early 1950s in reference to a specific genre of music that combined elements of Polynesian, Asian, and other non-Western musical traditions with jazz, swing, and other popular Western styles. The name "exotica" was coined by the American composer and musician Arthur Lyman, who popularized this musical style. Lyman's definition of "exotica" was "music that has gone through a metamorphosis that involves experimentation with sounds and refining and harmonizing primitive melodies to make them more palatable to Western audiences." The word "exotic" itself has a complicated etymological history, but in its current usage it generally refers to something that is foreign, strange, or unfamiliar. In the context of music, "exotic" has come to denote non-Western musical traditions that are perceived as different and distinct from Western classical or pop music. Exotica gained popularity in the post-World War II era as governments and businesses in the Western world began to see the commercial potential of exotic cultures and theme parks featuring "Melanesian villages," "Aztec ruins," and other such self-imagined cultural fantasies. The music of Arthur Lyman and other exotica musicians helped to soundtrack these cultural experiences and cemented the reputation of exotica as both a musical style and a lifestyle choice. In summary, the term "exotica" was coined in the late 1940s to describe a musical style that combined Western and non-Western elements, and it gained popularity due to the commercialization of exotic cultures in the post-War era. Exotica has continued to evolve and remain influential in various forms of music and popular culture.