Kultur

Background

Kultur is a home media company that distributes and produces history, theater, and other genres. It is based in Forked River, Lacey Township, New Jersey.

1st Logo (1981-2000s)

Visuals: An off-center image of a stave/staff with a federal blue treble clef that has a conductor-like figure in it on a white background fades in, with the word "KULTUR" in a light ITC Benguiat font on the bottom space in the same color as the clef. Then, with a lateral zooming effect synchronized with the music, the spaces each become filled with color from top to bottom, first blue, then green, red and yellow. When this is done, the finished image "swings" to the left like a door, then to the right in a sort of "echo." Then, it comes down toward the camera in an angle reminiscent of the Star Wars opening text; this repeats twice, trimmed to sync with the music. After this the image is "stretched" and pulled from the center toward the camera to the right, then is also seen moving back to the left, like a conveyor belt; then the whole thing collapses briefly and re-inflates, while being turned back to face the camera as at the beginning. Finally it leans back slowly, then is stretched and pulled down toward the camera and fades out.

Technique: 2D animation for the first half, followed by early computer animation effects.

Audio: An oversaturated recording of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 "Fate".

Availability: Found on 80's and 90's tapes related to art such as Piero Della Francesca: Painter of the Silence.

2nd Logo (2000s)

Visuals: On a black background, a CGI DVD with a slight blue tint to the disc part, fades in and begins to start tilting backwards, revealing 3 more discs below it in a stack as well as colored rims (in blue, green, red, and yellow in that order). As the camera pans around to the edges, a treble clef starts to glide around in the darkness with only its shiny edges showing and the camera starts to zoom in. The treble clef, which is actually the same clef from before complete with the conductor figure, spins around and then starts to settle along the discs, as well as "KULTUR" in the same font as before but bolded, comes in letter by letter. The logo then forms up fully, with the end result resembling the 1st logo greatly, as a ping brings forth a silver DVD logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A deep synth drone with a zooming sound followed by a short extract from Beethoven's Symphony from the previous logo. A chime plays when the DVD logo is revealed.

Availability: Seen on classical music and art DVDs.