Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College, Author at Study Breaks

The Best and Worst Competitive Shooter Games and What Separates the Weak From the Strong

Popular shooter games can be either fun or frustrating, but that depends on the differing standards of each subgenre.…

June 10, 2021

In an article about Lord of the Flies clones, a screenshot from the show The 100

‘The 100’ Epitomizes the Problems With ‘Lord of the Flies’ Clones

Several media properties take inspiration from the classic William Golding novel, but too many fail to capture what made it great.…

May 28, 2021

Walker, the anti-hero, from Spec Ops: The Line.

Spec Ops: The Line’s Anti-Hero Takes Advantage of the Player’s Laxity

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

The military shooter defies expectations and deceives players by having them be complicit in the actions of its main character.…

May 13, 2021

Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva for an article on The Serpent

‘The Serpent’ Brims Over With Complex, Three-Dimensional Characters

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

The British crime drama is a show that's in a league of its own, with rich characterization and storytelling.…

May 7, 2021

Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva for an article on Arrested Development and The Office

‘Arrested Development’ and ‘The Office’ Show the Versatility of Comedy

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

Consisting of very different comedic structures, the two shows are great examples of how to keep comedy from being one-note.…

May 1, 2021

Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva for an article on Riverdale

The Ridiculous Dialogue of ‘Riverdale’ Leaves Much To Be Desired

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

It's hard to sit through the teen drama with a straight face — and lines like 'Who wants to tryst in the Closet of Love first?' don't make the job any easier.…

April 22, 2021

Illustration by Lexey Gonzalez for an article on Minecraft and other tranquil games

Tranquil Gaming, or the Peace of Minecraft, Stardew Valley and Guild Wars 2

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

While all games provide some sort of escape, there's nothing quite like the adventures you can experience from the more easygoing ones that encourage exploration.…

April 15, 2021

How ‘Dear White People’ Sidesteps Its Critics With Brilliant Deception

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

While the show may appear to only critique its white characters, a closer look will show that its characters of color receive the same treatment.…

April 8, 2021

Netflix’s ‘The One’ Is Entertaining, but Completely Unoriginal

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

Clearly taking inspiration from 'Black Mirror,' the show isn't the most unique, but does its job well. What does this say about making successful television?…

April 3, 2021

Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva for an article on MMORPG

Why MMORPGs Can’t Adapt To the Changing Game Industry

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

Historically subscription-based and expensive to create, these multiplayer online games are being outpaced by other, cheaper and more profitable genres.…

March 25, 2021

What Tilt in League of Legends Tells Us About the Entertainment Industry

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

Tilt — the process of a player becoming increasingly frustrated with a game — can provide great insight into sunk cost and American entertainment.…

March 20, 2021

Illustration by Lexey Gonzalez for an article on Ginny & Georgia

‘Ginny & Georgia’ Fumbles Through Tragedy, Often Using It as a Crutch

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

While the series appears to have a poor understanding of teenage melodrama, its Netflix counterpart 'Grand Army' shows what it's actually like to be a modern American high school student.…

March 11, 2021

Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva for an article on Malcolm and Marie

‘Malcolm and Marie,’ and Why Movie Watchability Doesn’t Equal Greatness

Amiri Rivers-David, Pomona College

The Netflix film is phenomenal, captivating audiences with nothing more than two characters and a few moments of heavy silence. So why would some people never want to watch it again?…

March 3, 2021