Yesterday, April 02, was World Autism Awareness Day. With that in mind, it's better to address it later than to forget it completely. Representation of autism on the big screen is crucial, especially in a media-driven society where diversity is demanded. It can significantly influence people’s perceptions of autistic individuals and their understanding of the spectrum. Let's delve into the tropes, complexities, and how they can impact the audience.
Representation of autism in media is a relatively recent development, emerging primarily in the latter half of the 20th century. Prior to this, autistic individuals were often misunderstood, hidden away from society, and subjected to stigmatization. They were frequently exposed to harmful treatments such as lobotomy, particularly in families with financial means, or were completely excluded and isolated, relegated to the margins of society. As a result, early portrayals of autism in media were limited and often relied on stereotypical depictions.
One of the trailblazers in autistic representation is “Rain Man” (Barry Levinson, 1988), which cleverly utilized the star power of actors such as Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman from the 1980s cinema era. While this casting strategy effectively brought awareness to autism and garnered critical acclaim, over the span of 35 years, the film's impact has not aged like fine wine but more akin to vinegar. Despite its initial success, 'Rain Man' perpetuates stereotypes and misconceptions about autism, with the condition relegated to a secondary role. The film popularized the trope of the 'autistic savant,' depicting individuals with autism as possessing exceptional skills or brilliance in specific fields.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw more attempts at autistic representation in film. These included dramas such as “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (Lasse Hallström, 1993) and romance films like “Adam” (Max Mayer, 2009). However, these efforts were often limited, perpetuating stereotypes, and reducing the autism spectrum to emotion-driven genres. Additionally, there were instances where stigma persisted, through autistic-coded ones; such as in the case of the beloved and award-winning film “Forrest Gump” (Robert Zemeckis, 1994). While not explicitly about autism, the titular character portrayed by Tom Hanks exhibits traits that some viewers have interpreted as indicative of neurodevelopmental conditions.
From the 2010s to the present day in the 2020s, there has been a more diverse approach to representation on the big screen, including neurodivergent individuals. Advocates have utilized the internet as their main platform, demanding greater representation and highlighting the problematic portrayals of predecessors. This has led to increased awareness of autism in popular culture and a decrease in stereotypes, with more nuanced views portrayed across diverse genres, mediums, and countries.
Notable examples include the series “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-2019), which follows the journey of the nerdy Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), and the Israeli TV drama “Yellow Peppers” (2010-2012), depicting a family caring for an autistic child. Additionally, the coming-of-age series “Atypical” (2017-2021) explores the independence of Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist). In the American crime drama "Hannibal" (2013-2016), the protagonist Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) serves as a prequel to “The Silence of the Lambs” (Jonathan Demme, 1991). "Good Doctor" (2013) tells the story of Park Si-on (Joo Won), who was sent to a specialized care center as a child and eventually becomes a resident. In Brazil, one of the first autistic protagonists appeared in “Malhação: Viva a Diferença” (2017-2018), a Brazilian teen TV series that aired from April 24, 1995, to April 3, 2020, spanning 27 seasons and 6,203 episodes, following the format of American soap operas blended with Brazilian culture.
However, autistic representation in media is not yet ideal. Some previous and even contemporary portrayals depict autistic individuals as socially awkward, emotionally distant, and intellectually challenged. These misrepresentations not only perpetuate negative stereotypes but also contribute to the stigmatization of autism. Such portrayals can lead to discrimination in crucial areas such as employment, education, and social interactions, ultimately impacting the self-esteem and self-worth of autistic individuals.
In the present day, there is a prevalent trend of infantilizing autistic individuals in media representation. Portraying them in a childish manner is not only condescending but also detrimental to neurodivergent communities, as it suggests they are incapable. This reinforces the stereotype of helplessness and often shifts the focus away from the autistic individual onto their neurotypical companion, distorting the reality of disability representation in media. Such depictions perpetuate misconceptions about disabilities and contribute to unrealistic expectations of how they should be portrayed. Autistic characters can be portrayed by autistic actors, who are not only great at what they do, but they are naturally gifted at it too, as being able to pretend and imitate others is something which many of the autistic community will have inherently grown up doing, in an attempt to ‘mask’ autism
Another pertinent issue is the lack of intersectionality in media representations of autism. Media portrayals predominantly depict autistic individuals as male, leading parents, educators, medical professionals, and psychiatrists to be less inclined to consider autism as a potential explanation for social or communication difficulties experienced by young girls and women. Additionally, these portrayals often perpetuate the misconception that autism is exclusively a phenomenon experienced by white individuals, further exacerbating the exclusion of diverse communities from autism discourse, including the LGBT+ community.
Addressing the barriers faced by families affected by autism, research has identified five key challenges contributing to the limited support they receive. These include difficulties in obtaining a diagnosis due to racial biases, obstacles in accessing support services stemming from a lack of awareness or language barriers, challenges in communicating with professionals often exacerbated by distrust towards authority figures, limited awareness about autism communities and available support networks, and instances of denial and isolation, as some parents may resist accepting a diagnosis or prefer to keep such matters private.
Additionally, it is crucial to recognize that referring to individuals as "non-verbal" can be dehumanizing and marginalizing, further exacerbating their exclusion from societal discourse. Such language not only reduces individuals to their communication abilities but also reinforces stereotypes and perpetuates stigma surrounding autism.
It's worth mentioning some positive developments in recent years. The dramedy “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay” (2020-2022) and sitcom "Community" (2009-2015) have contributed to more diverse representations of autism on screen. In 2020, Pixar released the short film “Loop,” (Erica Milson), which uses metaphors to sensitively depict the challenges of autism with limited verbal communication, drawing from the memories of an autistic individual. Similarly, "The Reason I Jump" (Jerry Rothwell, 2020) offers parallel narratives exploring autism. Additionally, the introduction of Julia in 2015 to the long-time favourite children and adult's program, Sesame Street (1971-), has helped promote understanding and acceptance of autism. It's important to note, however, that while autism can be an aspect of a character's identity, it shouldn't define their entire storyline. Characters with autism should be portrayed as multifaceted and layered individuals.
Authentic representation of autism is crucial for raising awareness and fostering understanding. Autistic individuals are humans too, and they should not be reduced to negative stereotypes or treated as one in a million. They are the main characters of their own stories, and diverse autistic characters can help spread awareness of the array of journeys and identities within the autism community. As notable examples of geniuses from the real world that are autistic with stories to retell, like Albert Einstein, Alan Turing, Isaac Newton, Ludwig van Beethoven, Michelangelo and Emily Dickinson, among others.
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