Jonathan Fast

Jonathan Fast is an associate professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. His most recent book is Ceremonial Violence: A Psychological Explanation of School Shootings (Overlook Press, 2008).

CultureJune 17, 2009

The Santa Killer: Death Imitating Art

By Jonathan Fast

When Bruce Pardo, dressed as Santa Claus, murdered friends and family on Christmas eve he was acting out a tragic bit of ceremonial violence, and borrowing an ironic and horrifying role from film and comics.