The Representation of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Fictional Media

Abstract

The number of appearances of Autism Spectrum Disorder in fictional media is growing each year, with new characters canonically being on the spectrum and increasing the level of representation. As is the case with all disorders, however, autism is difficult to portray when the writers, directors, or actors themselves are not on the spectrum. Furthermore, such difficulty can be increased by not consulting outside sources such as psychologists or utilizing the lived experiences of those diagnosed with the disorder. This leads to the research questions, in which the following will be asked: How are autistic characters portrayed in fictional media, to what degree of accuracy is this portrayal in both past and more current years, and how does this connect to the perception of the disorder by the consumers of that media? Based on numerous sources, including academic articles, general articles by reputable organizations, and video essays by relevant creators, the consensus appears to be that the portrayal of autistic individuals in movies and television shows is highly stereotypical and not entirely representative of the autistic community as a whole. Beyond this, the narrow set of traits utilized by these portrayals further reinforces misconceptions and stigmas regarding the disorder and limits the understanding of non-autistic people.