Hello people of Earth, fellow enthusiasts and newcomers! My name is Luke Durling, and I’ll be your “Cultured” half of this blog, with my mother, Ariana, providing the “Calm”. While you will meet her in the upcoming days, I figured I would introduce myself and the wacky, yet wonderful spectrum of topics you can expect fro me in the not-so-distant future.
Continuing with the introduction, I am a 2019 graduate of Siena Heights University with the bold decision to major in Creative Writing . I’m a film buff with a massive affinity towards all things animated. Cards on the table; cartoons are my kryptonite. If it has a framerate, u’s fair to assume that it’s fair game for this blog. (The only real exception to this rule might be video games. While I might cover them once in a great while, don’t expect tp come to the blog to learn “pro gamer moves” or how to get that coveted “Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner”. You are not going to find that kind of content here, unless the stars align just right.)
So, what can you expect to see on my side of this blog? A little bit of everything, to be honest. While my primary focus will be film and TV, I will also delve into the realm of books, events and collectables as well. Basically, wherever pop culture is, I will discuss and analyze it.
I would also like to clarify what I mean by “pop culture”. To me, the greatest things in life are not necessarily the most intentionally artistic. I don’t find myself covering Oscar winners for the sake of watching Oscar winners. I personally find myself gravitating towards things that are art to be enjoyed by all, not just art for the sake of art. While I respect artistic vision, and even expect it, we often devalue what we love for the sake of fitting in or being “elite”. This is not the “Cultured” that I will shed light on. I watch hokey horror flicks and enjoy them. I watch cartoons for the plot. I read comic books because they are art. I wait in lines for comic-cons because the people around me are just as passionate as the creators they are waiting to see. I see superhero movies on opening night because I know what art they can be and love them for it.
If that’s not “Cultured”, I don’t know what is.
Calm and Cultured 