Published on 12, July, 2020
When I woke up yesterday morning I had never heard of Sia or the film Music (Yeah ok! I was born in the 60s and am behind the times, it would seem, lol). Goggle tells me that Music has been a bit controversial. I watched the film last night I see why. No, "crushing" autistic people "with love" mid meltdown is the last thing anyone should try. Bloomin' dangerous! No, she didn't pick an autistic actor and yes, the character Music does only seem to be there to further the stories of the other protagonists. So, ooooh yes, I do see why.
Anyway, Sia was brought to my attention because apparently, she has just announced that she is late diagnosed autistic! That said I see posts here a year old on the topic, so I'm a bit confused.dot.com as to how recent this really is.
Sia says she's on autism spectrum two years after Music controversy | Metro News - dated this week
With that the Metro approached the NAS for comment on being late diagnosed from some actually late diagnosed people. Amanda and I from the Now I Know campaign obliged. Actually, I quite like the article. They've picked three very different experiences. And it is great to be given the chance to open public eyes, so I'm happy about that.
What it's like to be diagnosed as autistic as an adult | Metro News - today
I'm curious now though to see whether and how perceptions of Sia might have changed. And whether people think it will be helpful for the public to know her story in the same way that other public figures disclosing their diagnosis, say the lovely Chris Packham, Christine McGuiness, Melanie Sykes and Fern Brady, have done.
I understand Sia later apologised for her approach in Music and recognises now that she is both in recovery from alcoholism and getting to know her autistic self. As a Spiritualist, I do rather believe that the path of change and growth is open to all, and we don't have to suffer forever for their mistakes. We've all made them, after all.
So, what are folk's feelings about the latest celebrity autism reveal, given the context?
Thankyou for this thread Dawn, I love Sia! I haven't seen Music but I deeply listen and disect Sia's lyrics and I just knew she was autistic as her lyrics spoke to me so deeply. I'm so pleased she is 'out'. What a great artist!
Wouldn't recommend Misic though. Doesn't do much for autistic people, but we all live and learn
Will give it a miss from the sounds of it, although I did read an article where it said she apologised eventually and edited the bad bits out and put a disclaimer at the start of the film. I don;t know if this is true. It's a shame that she made the mistake with the film in the firstplace though....like I said, she's such a great musical artist
Cool I'll go give those a try on Youtube. :)
'Elastic Heart piano version' is beautifully moving - also 'Alive acoustic version' - speaks to me in particular
Maybe it's just because I don't follow that genre but I have never heard any of her songs as afar as I know.