Portrayal of autistic people in films/TV

[AutisticHouseMove]

I was diagnosed as autistic in my early 40s.

When I was younger, the only real portrayal of autism I was aware of was Rainman.

I also know there has been criticism of that because it portrayed an autistic man as a 'low functioning' savant.

Over recent years, I've noticed a prevalence of a different type of autistic person. Usually working in some kind of solitary role requiring a high level of intelligence (eg scientist), who is brilliant/the best at their job but completely lacking in empathy or social skills and getting it all wrong when they have to interact with colleagues or friends.

They're rarely identified as 'autistic' but there are hints along the way, comments from other characters about how 'weird' or 'difficult' or 'awkward' they are or how curious it is watching them trying to interact with or behave like 'the humans/earthlings'. Or other characters have to brace themselves against the tone deaf comments. Basically, either endearingly odd, a bit of a dick or both.

I don't know. It just makes me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed even when I realise this character (and they're recognisable because they're all portrayed in the same way) is supposed to represent me. Or is this really how NT people perceive many of us to be?

YABU - the portrayal of people with autism in films and TV shows is pretty much how I experience autistic people in real life

YANBU - you have a point.

As a parent of an ASD 19 year old DD … I’m yet to see a decent portrayal of a “high functioning” (not a phrase we like) ASD person.

ASD people are either portrayed as banging thier head and screaming, or some kind of Savant.

I do get a bit annoyed about it, but I guess the reality won’t make good TV.

…and don’t get me started on “Autism is my superpower” (it minimises the disability) or “we are all a bit on the Spectrum” (erm… no we are not)

I was diagnosed at 40 earlier this year and I agree. I’m struggling with the diagnosis and thinking “but I’m not like X Y and Z” in part because of my own inbuilt stereotypes of what I think autism should be - the media doesn’t help. My daughter is also AuDHD and I’d love a good example in cartoons or film for her to see.

I completely agree.

I know. I don't like high/moderate/low functioning either but I'm not sure about current terminology. (I have a diagnosis of Aspergers).

I absolutely cannot stand Big Bang Theory for that reason.

There's a couple of shows I don't mind. One is Atypical. I quite like the acor who plays the lead, and while it's never going to be spot on in every way, it does remind me - broadly - of some of the Autistic traits both myself and my daughter have.

I also really like the show Patience and think the actor played a brilliant role. My daughter particularly liked her.

I think it's starting to get better, as like you said, OP, 30 years ago all we had was the Rainman model of Autism.

@ExtraOnions I also hate 'superpower' and 'neurofuckingspicy'

ETA: also "all on the spectrum" = Rage inducing and fuelled by ignorance.

I agree about BBT.

I'm watching Bones at the moment and that's what prompted me to post.

Perhaps more recent films/shows might be different.

I'm aware of Atypical but have avoided it in anticipation of it being awful.

If rather not see myself represented at all than to have it done so badly.

I don’t watch shows that claim to have autistic characters in it for this reason.

I've met loads of super-intelligent high-functioning people, who seem very emotionally and socially awkward, most (but not all) have never had any kind of ND diagnosis, as back in my day, as long as you weren't being disruptive, you were just expected to "fit in". I've worked in hospital and university departments where the top people would fit seamlessly into any episode of The Big Bang Theory, and I always found them easy to work with! Autism is a difference, not always a disability. My children have had diagnoses late in life, and on talking to them and after doing some psychological tests, it's very probable that I am autistic/ADHD. I have coped with life throughout my 72 years, with varying degrees of success. I agree the stereotypes portrayed are sometimes a bit off, but I don't find them offensive.

Dinosaur on BBC is great. Written and starring Ashley Stories who is herself autistic. Second series is due out this autumn first series is on iPlayer.

What about the imitation game? Have you seen that? What did you think of it?

I don’t have autism, however I do have an 18 year son who has autism, diagnosed aged 4. I generally hate autism portrayals on tv/in film as they’re always savant/rainman. I do agree with a poster above that Atypical is a show I don’t mind!

My son has always required a specialist school and now college and adult day care but his main issues are anxiety and social anxiety. As a child he was extremely challenging with aggression and major meltdowns, he does still have meltdowns but is equally likely to go into shutdown now. He does have his interest which he talks about mostly and he does stim/pace a lot. However, he also will chat away (often about his interest) with trusted people and I just feel this isn’t portrayed. I really disliked ‘The A word’ on BBC, the diagnosis quickly out of nowhere just set it up for dislike from me!

Unless it’s a social realist drama whose purpose it is to represent/explore that character’s autism then it’s not there to be realistic and is never going to represent your particular experience of it. Sounds like you mostly mean characters in genre shows like crime thrillers where everything is heightened for the drama. Cops aren’t like tv cops. Characters have to be brilliant or unusual or have some element to earn their place in the story. They won’t usually be identified as autistic precisely because that puts the weight of representation on them and that’s not often the point of the show. That C4 show Patience is an exception in that it’s USP is the girl’s condition - I didn’t watch it so don’t know how successful it was, I suspect not very, but it was a remake of a French show so just copying what they’d done and the crime story would still take precedence over representation, which is not what keeps viewers watching. My DS is ASD and largely sits at his computer not talking much. He’s brilliant in his own way but would not make a viable tv drama character.

I believe we’ve come some way from the Rain Man era of actors winning awards for OTT portrayals which then make people think that’s what autism is for everyone. You could say now it’s so much more widespread/diagnosed than most people know someone and it doesn’t need representing/naming by TV dramas unless it’s about a real life person or has something to say about autism specifically. If you think your experience would make for good tv or should be out there, then you can make that happen. There are plenty of influencers on SM who talk about their experiences. But TV drama is its own beast with its own needs and I suspect it will always (as long as tv lasts that is) need the maverick genius loner characters who seem to fascinate us, no matter what reason one ascribes to them being like that. Not least because many writers are ND themselves.

Perhaps the characters aren't labelled as autistic but I'd say Mr d'Arcy as a character comes close.

Socially awkward, views things as black or white, misunderstood as unfeeling and taciturn, has few close friends etc but loved and valued by those who know him better.

Have you watched The Good Doctor?
Freddie Highmore plays the lead - I think he and the producers really did try their best with the character, and he is quoted saying something along the lines of 'I'm playing one autistic person, and autistic people aren't all the same (as other people aren't).'
I don't actually like him that much as an actor these days, partly because his fake crying is so spectacularly bad that it puts me off the rhythm of any scene with crying in it. He also does a strange American accent in this too, though it's perhaps better than his actual accent. 🫣

I know everyone hates BBT but (autistic) DD really likes it. For her humour is a coping mechanism (she is very funny although it can be a bit hit and miss - she’s started writing her own jokes recently and let’s hope that improves).

I think that she sees herself in Sheldon but loves that he has a circle of friends. I know a lot of autistic people hate how frustrated the other characters get by Sheldon but I think for DD she knows people can find her frustrating and usually it’s a reason to exclude her but in BBT that’s not the case.

I do think that BBT claiming Sheldon is not autistic is the mother of all cop-outs. He clearly is, they just don’t want to have to deal with people’s reactions to the character they have created…

I love Quinni in Heartbreak High (Netflix). The actress who plays her is also autistic I believe. It made cry at times it was so authentic (for me at least). But I guess others won't identify with her wither.

Chloe Hayden is good in Heartbreak high. Generally I look for the character to be played by someone autistic. Or at least for autistic writers to be involved.

You know what they say: you've met one person with ASD; you've met one person with ASD.

I'm a teacher. I have taught many children with autism over the years and I sometimes think that having that one diagnosis to cover all of the many, varied ways that autism presents can be unhelpful. I do wonder if in future we will understand a lot more and look back at our understanding now with disbelief.

Well.my own autistic son is severely autistic with severe learning disabilities, non verbal etc this kind if autisn is rarely portrayed unless in a pitying documentary
There she goes on BBC a few years ago however waa excellent it made me laugh and cry..

There are a. number of things I've seen recently where I've thought one or more characters has autism, without it being about autism. Annika springs to mind as I watched it last night.

I disagree with that you only have to read threads on here about autism which shows many people have no idea how vast the spectrum is and how disabling it can be to some people.

They are not just representing you though. Not everyone with autism is the same. I love big bang theory and Sheldon is pretty accurate to my nephew with autism, they act very similar. What about the character Warren Jensen in there’s something about Mary, he was obviously not portrayed high functioning.

Does it in part depend on the story? I mean in bones the programme is very much about her getting better at dealing with people. In the big bang theory Sheldon's autism is a fundamental plot device for hundreds of jokes some of which are very clever or require a lot of mathematical or scientific knowledge that they'll actually go over many of the viewers heads.

My son has ASD and anyone familiar with it would probably recognise it when dealing with him regularly. But. I doubt it would be picked up immediately. He could come across as just a bit shy in some situations or as an expert in others. So in a programme his traits wouldn't really add to the plot or storyline.

I get that it can be annoying that autism is consequently misunderstood by many people because of how they see it portrayed.

I don't know if she has seen it my on Bbc iplayer there is a comedy series called Dinosaur about a young woman with Autisim she is a paleontologist so yes a scientist tbf but it is more than that it is very funny The lead actress is Autistic and wrote it.

What do you consider autistic representation in movies?

Belle for example is clearly autistic, I think both accurate and lovely, and that movie is from 1991. So is Hermione, and she is a heroine. So is Bruno. None of them get announced in the movie as autistic. Do they count?