Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University, Author at Study Breaks

Why Hiring Sensitivity Readers Isn’t Supporting Censorship

Contrary to recent claims, sensitivity readers in the publishing industry aren’t here to kill creativity — I promise.…

January 21, 2018

‘The Last Jedi’ Shakes Up the Star Wars Universe

The newest installation in the franchise, ‘The Last Jedi,’ upends fan expectations with a number of both pleasant and unpleasant surprises, leaving the Star Wars fanbase divided over its success.…

December 29, 2017

Morality in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher’

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

“The Punisher” attempts to engage with the gun control debate but refrains from delving too deeply.…

December 15, 2017

Valve Corporation Dropped Bitcoin from Steam, So Who Cares?

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The gaming platform, Steam, dropped using the form of currency called Bitcoin, but does anyone actually know what Bitcoin is?…

December 14, 2017

What Can Audiences Expect from ‘Avengers: Infinity War’?

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The trailer of the next big Avengers movie is just over two minutes long and here’s what every second of it means.…

December 5, 2017

The 5 Best Anime Shows for First-Time Watchers

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

I promise that this list isn’t just every version of 'Naruto.'…

November 27, 2017

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Totally Revitalizes the God of Thunder

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Why is this the first time someone let Thor be funny?…

November 17, 2017

Visit Panem in the Newly Opened ‘The Hunger Games’ Theme Park

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Because who doesn’t want to take a trip to a dystopian future where teenagers are forced to fight to the death? May the odds be ever in your favor.…

November 10, 2017

‘Holograms from Syria’ Refuses to Let You Ignore the Haunting Images of War

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Bennington College student Asad J. Malik, also known by his alias 1RIC, seeks to bring the gruesome reality of war to the forefront with his latest project “Holograms from Syria.”…

November 1, 2017

5 Young Adult Books That Get Mental Illness Right

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The nuances of mental health can be hard to nail in fiction, but these novels do it perfectly.…

October 21, 2017

Lin-Manuel Miranda Rallies Celebrities to Send Aid to Puerto Rico

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Creator of 'Hamilton' Lin-Manuel Miranda has put together a massive effort to rally Puerto Rican celebrities and send aid to the devastated island.…

October 15, 2017

The Plight of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Media

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Everyone knows we’re all just waiting for the robots to rise up and kill us.…

September 26, 2017

Iowa State University’s Sabah Ali Wants You to Invest in Yourself

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

As an Amazon Best-Selling Author, Iowa State’s Sabah Ali advocates getting an early start on networking and entrepreneurship.…

September 21, 2017

‘Elena of Avalor’ is Disney’s First Latina Princess

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Disney’s recent history of introducing new, diverse characters has produced their first Latina princess.…

September 15, 2017

Can You Buy Your Way onto ‘The New York Times’ Bestseller List?

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Lani Sarem’s YA fantasy novel ‘Handbook for Mortals’ enjoyed a short few hours as a NYT #1 Bestseller before accusations of foul play emerged.…

September 10, 2017

Does Marvel’s ‘The Defenders’ Series Live Up to the Hype?

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The long-awaited superhero team up has finally hit TV and laptop screens everywhere.…

August 31, 2017

What to Expect From ‘The Defenders’

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Does the show live up to the hype of previous Marvel Netflix series?…

August 28, 2017

With ‘Grooop,’ This UNC Chapel Hill Student Is Revamping Campus Safety

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The self-designated 'mom' of her friend group, Nina Barnett created an app to make sure her friends are safe.…

August 22, 2017

Why You Need to Be Watching ‘Sugar Pine 7’

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The hilarious YouTube series, created by former SourceFed host Steven Suptic, is a sharply modern blend of irony, eccentricity and d.i.y. videography.…

August 10, 2017

5 Graphic Novels Perfect for Newcomers to the Genre

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

Traditional books not working out for you? Check out these engaging graphic novels—no prior experience required.…

August 10, 2017

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Marks a Historic Step

Marissa Cortes, Stony Brook University

The movie adaptation of Jenny Han’s YA novel will bring substantial Asian-American representation to the big screen for the first time in two decades.…

August 8, 2017