Does the media view aspies as people or a disorder?

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What are your thoughts about this?

I don't know. I feel like it's how they define the person; like how every person has a label on a show (e.g. penny's a slu* on big bang theory, etc.). I don't think the media necessarily portrays them as less of a person, just a person with a disorder. I feel like it is their label, moreso than other things that define who they are.

I guess that's my perception, though I guess it would vary depending on what you're looking at.

I think the media often view an Aspie as the "special" kid or adult who turns up, acts very stereotypically, and then disappears back into the void. The main exception in my limited experience* would be The Big Bang Theory, where the Aspie (or Aspies - depending on how you rate Leonard, Howard, and Raj) is central to the show, and is a complete person, not just a disorder.

If you think Daria Morgendorffer (of the Daria cartoon series) is an Aspie, then she also rates as a complete person.

Neither Sheldon Cooper nor Daria Morgendorffer is "officially" diagnosed within their respective worlds, so it is all a bit speculative. Perhaps that is how the media handle an Aspie as a person: hide the Dx and make their status vague and uncertain: maybe they are Aspies, maybe they are just introverts with quirky behaviours. Teasing viewers with uncertainty would hardly be a new thing for the media. The uncertainty allows non-Aspie viewers to relate to the character.

*I don't watch much television.

"Nerds" have been portrayed in the media for decades, as being eccentric, and smart. Usually in shows that have some type of comedic element. And the characters of course are exagerrated as well as most charcters in sit-coms.

Close to the same portrayal as "Big Bang Theory".

However the autistic traits are everywhere and can be found in many serious television shows as well. These people are considered different, but their unusual behavior is not the prime focus of the shows. Nor do most people in the general population pick up the idea that they might have autistic traits.

Actual TV shows or movies where the aspergers disorder is actually identified are pretty rare. In almost every case the show is disorder centered, however the human element is also presented.

The big difference in modern culture, is that the Aspie element has replaced the nerd element in the Sit-coms, as to how the individuals are observed by those who are familiar with Aspergers.

But, Aspergers awareness is still fairly low in the US. Most everyone knows what autism disorder is, but ask someone what PDD NOS is or Aspergers and the majority will look back with a blank stare.

The majority of individuals in the US are still looking at these folks in sitcoms as as smart and eccentric, or nerds for those that even still use that term. Pretty much the same stereotype that has existed since media was invented.

One other point, it's extremely rare, that any disorder is actually identified in a Sit-com, because there would likley be some people to find it offensive, if someone identified with a disorder was being laughed at, because of behaviors associated with a disorder. It's not a politically correct thing to do in the US.

Interestingly enough, there have been entire shows centered around minority groups, were one can have a hearty laugh at stereotypical behaviors of minority group for decades. Behaviors associated with Disorders are usually taboo for American Culture, to make fun of, in the media.

The internet though, is fair game to almost any type of depiction of any person or subject.

From what I understand, the show Parenthood is centred around the experience of parenting an AS child.

Also, Temperence Brennan, in the TV show Bones...

Last edited by ThinkTrees on 21 Apr 2012, 2:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

I just wish they would view us as people with certin talents and skills the NT world does not have like how skilled we can be when it comes to math science computers ect.

I think some shows do it better than others. The main indicator for me is whether they are just an autistic character who functions in the show like the other characters, or they exist to be a dramatic plot device or punch line.

Some examples:
Comedy:
Abed on Community - In my opinion this is a good portrayal, he's a unique character an equal player in the ensemble and get's to play emotional moments and deliver laugh lines that are unrelated to his autism. Abed seems very real and also 'cool' which I think is important, Yes he's a weird but he's also batman, and a suave Hans Solo, and a good friend. Autism stated on show.

Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory - I think this is in many ways a negative portrayal in that much of the show humor comes from saying "hey look at that weird, annoying, dumb thing Sheldon is doing, his behavior is very rigid and routine oriented hahaha" The canned laughter often chimes in as he's doing something I would do, or that I would find understandable. It seems like a show for NT people to laugh at a characterization of an autistic person because that character is weird or wrong. Autism not stated on show.

Drama:
Bones on Bones - She's shown as very competent and self aware which I like but much of the shows' humor and pathos comes from "she's so smart with science and so dumb with emotions isn't that weird". There are some rough moments where they make her so roboty is starts to seem offensive but overall I think the show developed her into a complex, interesting character especially in later seasons. Autism not explicitly stated on show.

Max on Parenthood - Most of his plotlines involve how he's burdensome or messing something up for the rest of his family. It seems like he was written from a blog post of a parent complaining about how hard it is to raise an autistic child. The show uses "putting up with Max" as shorthand to make Hattie a saintly teenager. He's often an obstacle instead of a character. I feel like we don't know much about his personality other than his special interests and his autism. They've done some nice things with him on occasion (the camping trip with grandpa) but mostly he's just annoying. Autism stated on show.

Altstrid on Fringe - She's competent, richly characterized and well acted. The show portrays both and autistic and an NT version of the character without elevating one over the other. There is some pitying of the character but it's to do with her family life and not her autism which I personally found refreshing. Autism stated on show.

Frequently characters who are clearly portrayed as having Autism are not explicitly labeled as so. This I think is a sign of our erasure, because if they make a fun cool autistic character, NT people might life and relate to them but they might have a harder time doing that if they were labeled autistic because the dominant cultural narrative of autism doesn't allow for cool, fun autistic people you'd want to be friends with. We're either the tragedies used for fundraising or the inspirational cripple children for someone to make a facebook wall post or a lifetime movie about.
There are some brilliant autistic characters out there for us to claim which is fun and could be a step forward. Representation in media is important for groups trying to gain acceptance.

In the media, AS is mainly used as a gimmick. They portray characters with AS, not characters with AS.

In the media, AS is mainly used as a gimmick. They portray characters with AS, not characters with AS.

I have to agree with you their the big bang theory and degrassi have aspie characters

I have to agree with you there.
What would be nice would be to be portrayed as people, rather than lists of skills/difficulties. There's much more to a person that what they're good or bad at.

If I may get a little more emphasis on that, a person with AS is a person, a unique individual. with his/her own unique interests talents, and so on.

Society employs people because they're good at math, science, and computers, not because they're autists.

And you probably don't realize this, but implying that the "NT world" is unskilled with scientific pursuits is kind of offensive.

I don't worry about offending people with their own privilege. It's not offensive to state that there are some common (not standard) strengths that come with autism. It's not offensive to rightly state that people without autism aren't as likely to have them.

Oh silly me how can a NT ever be offended about the things a person who is a apsie says about them

The point is people who are apsies have one thing NT will never have that is tunal vison absoulet foucs on things they find interesting.