Entries by Jeffrey Ian Ross

The evolving nature of street food?

Over the past two decades, interest in street food has grown. Articles, books, podcasts, YouTube channels, and television shows have all celebrated the wide variety of dishes that fall under this type of cuisine. When the term street food is mentioned, it typically conjures images of vendors cooking and serving local specialties in makeshift tents, […]

Wrapping One’s Head Around Iconic Musical Performances

Last week, while mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, I stumbled upon a clip of singer, songwriter, and jazz bassist Adeline Michèle (aka Adi Oasis), performing a gig wearing a white hotel bathrobe and a towel turban around her head. Just before taking the stage, she quickly told the person filming the video, and then the audience, […]

What’s Up with All the Cutesy-Wootsy Small American Towns?

Across the United States, many small rural and mountain towns have adopted a carefully curated charm that feels both nostalgic and quaint. Although these picturesque settings are appealing to some, this process often results in a loss of distinctive character. Instead of reflecting a town’s authentic history or culture, visitors are presented with an idealized, […]

The Power of Language in Criminal Justice

Language (more specifically the labels, terms, and words we use) plays a critical role in shaping how we understand and engage with the world. The words we use not only shape the subject matter we talk about, but also carry political weight, that affects  perceptions and reinforces power dynamics. In this context, debates about terminology […]