Entries by Jeffrey Ian Ross

What Do Criminologists Wear?

Growing up, my friend Mark (not his real name) shared a story from his teenage years about applying for a summer job at Switzer’s Delicatessen on Spadina Avenue. Following advice from his friends—or perhaps his mother—he donned the only suit he owned—a slightly ill-fitting one, took the TTC (Toronto’s public transportation system) to the deli, […]

Manhunts and the American Imagination

The recent shooting of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, on the streets of New York City has reignited debates about the ethics of health insurance companies and their shortchanging of the American public. However, the dominant narrative in the news media seems to center on America’s enduring fascination with manhunts. From Hollywood portrayals of lone […]

Shit Yoga Instructors Say

Some two decades ago, after struggling with recurrent lower back pain, I reluctantly returned to a yoga studio. Within a few weeks of regular practice, I noticed significant relief from the pain. This experience marked the start of my journey as a frequent yoga practitioner. Over time, I’ve become a “true believer” in yoga’s ability […]

The Lasting Significance of Scorsese’s TAXI DRIVER

From Robert De Niro’s masterful performance, to its influence on the neo-noir genre of filmmaking, few movies in American cinematic history have been as lauded as much as Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. The Descent of Travis Bickel Taxi Driver (1976) tells the story of Travis Bickel (Robert De Niro), a 20-something alienated and psychologically troubled […]

Subway Platforms, Serendipity, and the Power of Chance Encounters

What do Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Al Diaz, and Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe all have in common? Not only are they well-respected  artists, musicians, photographers, and poets, with partnerships that led to a considerable body of impactful work, but their initial introduction was through a random encounter on a subway […]