Meet the Staff at Highbrow Magazine: Q&A With Writer Kurt Thurber
Kurt Thurber came to Highbrow Magazine a struggling professional with a dream and stays to this day because of the rock star-like perks (booze, cash, the option to sleep in). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mary Washington College and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Villanova University. He has also written for environmental websites, History Guffaw, and the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association Newsletter. He currently uses all the knowledge he obtained from watching ‘80s action movies and seeing “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” in the theater to good use by writing for Highbrow Magazine’s entertainment section.
Q & A With Kurt:
What inspired you to become a writer?
I have average athletic ability, no musical ability, and suck at math. By using the power of deduction, that left writing, and here I am.
Who are a few of your favorite authors/photographers/artists/journalists?
Favorite nonfiction author- Michela Wrong
Favorite fiction author- Joseph Heller
Favorite sex-advice columnist- George Will
What’s the worst job/assignment you’ve ever had?
Writing memorandums about insurance legislation… I fell asleep twice writing this sentence.
Which is your favorite city in the U.S.?
Baltimore, Maryland
What’s your all-time favorite film?
My college education says Lawrence of Arabia; my funny bone says Ghostbusters; and my heart says Timecop.
Which newspapers/magazines/websites do you read regularly?
The Economist, The Washington Post, Filmdrunk
Would you rather become the next editor-in-chief of the New Yorker or replace Jon Stewart as host of the “Daily Show”?
Neither, I would steal the bristles from Stephen Colbert’s toothbrush and perform a combination Santeria/Voodoo ceremony to get all his funny.
What are your favorite “highbrow” pastimes?
I’ll answer that question with a question. What are pastimes? As the father of a two-year old, I have lost any and all conception of “free time,” “hobbies,” and “pastimes.” I spend my waking days trying to convince another human being to use modern plumbing through bribes of chocolate and gummy bears. I have daily discussions about counting to 10, the alphabet, and “Mickey’s Clubhouse.” I am the third-worst Candy Land player in my home residence…
Also, I like soccer, do God’s work by rooting for the Baltimore Orioles, have an unfinished novel about something, and tell people that I whitewater kayak even though I never completed the lesson package.
Read a few of Kurt’s articles below:
The Unfortunate Rise of Dumbed-Down Hollywood Comedies
Lost in Liberal Hollywood: So Which Films Do Conservatives Prefer?
The Epic Journey Away From the Super Woman