Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm really intrigued now after a discussion on another post about characters with autism. This post was about in literature but I'm intrigued as to what people think for books and t.v/film.
Autistic characters often get criticised for being stereotypical or unrelatable.
What would you like to see in an autistic character? What characteristics and mannerisms would you want them to have? The more detailed the better. I want to see where people go with this.
I'm not sure how it could be portrayed but how about character highlighting masking abilities and the damage it can eventually cause, or showing the more subtle side of presentation that is dismissed?
I like this idea. Perhaps at first a seemingly "normal" character. But then seeing the character stim etc away from other people and gradually see more and more of the autism as the character finds it harder and harder to mask?
Yes, that sort of thing showing the long term effects of masking and the burnout it can lead to and how just because someone doesn't "look" autistic doesn't mean they struggle any less.
I think this is a great idea. Showing how seemingly small things that we may not let on bother us can build into something so much more.
And the difference between that person in front of others and at home. For example at work I'm thought of as really organised. If anyone saw the way I live at home, they would quickly change that opinion.