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character archetypes and disappointment

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aguales
Deinonychus
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23 Jul 2008, 10:38 am

I was getting a bit off-topic in a thread about comic-artist Robert Crumb, so I thought I'd bring my post over to a forum where it might be more relevant. Here it is:

aguales wrote:
krex wrote:
It seems somehow ironic that there are several movie characters that have aspie traits that seem popular in at least a "cult movie" way...it's to bad that this liking for human exentricity doesn't relate in an increase in aspie guys getting dates. I guess it is like watching serial killer movies...fun to watch but you don't want them in your neighborhood :twisted:


lol :lmao: I know exactly what you mean. I would see people or characters with aspie traits in comedic material, indie films, or in whatever entertainment medium. And for the longest time :hmph: , I would:

1. think I could be the funny guy (because there would be a character with aspie traits in sketch comedies or whatever, yet not realizing that even though I was laughing with the character, others were laughing at the character)

2. think that I could fit into the hipster mold (just because I watch some indie/cult film that revolves around a character with "charming" aspie traits)

3. think that someone might immediately fall in love with me, weirdness and all (just because I watched some romantic comedy or drama where the lonely, weird aspie-ish character finds true love or true love finds him/her)

4. think that I could be a tough guy (watching gangster films or tough guy characters that seem to revolve around an alpha-aspie i.e. some italian and asian gangster films [Dare I say, Michael Corleone or the John Woo/Chow Yun Fat movies?])

I think in being inspired by these happy or intrigueing plot constructs, I found myself often sad and disappointed when *surprise* reality doesn't exactly follow an aspie-friendly, aspie-focused script. I was pretty thick-headed about it all...

:pale: It's hard to give up on the innocence and hope that illusions provide. Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally pessimistic...just tired.

This post has become "The Haven" material :?



Mage
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23 Jul 2008, 12:41 pm

There are very few times I have ever identified strongly with characters on screen, and I don't think it's ever been because I've thought someone had autism-esque traits. I didn't see Mozart and the Whale, and many of these movies people mention I simply don't see the characters as anything but "quirky" NTs.

The characters I have related to have mostly been because their perspective of reality balances heavily on their fantasy constructs. Examples of this are the girls of "Heavenly Creatures", the girl in "Pan's Labyrinth", and the girl in "Atonement". Of those 4 girls only 1 is actually a sympathetic character by the end. But I don't think any of them were meant to have autistic traits, I just identify with the perception of reality.