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My Essay Question: Is Autism awareness helped or distorted by Media Representation?

Tom Allen

Hi there, I am a third year University student studying Media Practice at UWE. I'm writing a dissertation about how Autism is represented by Media Production and does it help or distort people's perceptions of the condition.

I myself have Asperger's Syndrome and am keen to see how the condition is represented. 

What are your thoughts? 

Thanks for your help.

Parents

  • Most television detective series have had a go at autism, usually creating a charicature that must give a bad impression: eg Frost, Cracker, Lewis (and indeed Hathaway his side kick shows hints of it). Police and detective fiction tries to use it to create a sympathetic story but whether they are conscious of the consequences is another matter.

    Some portrayals of Sherlock Homes have strong undertones of AS.

    On a slightly different condition chromosome imbalance eg Fragile X- There was a television series in the 60s on Science Fiction called DOOMWATCH. One instalment showed someone with this who was very tall. It got the public imagination and very tall kids found themselves under very unpleasant scrutiny at school and in shops, cinemas etc. It did a lot of harm because the series writers didn't consider the public reaction and the possible impact on any tall kids.

    Therefore I wonder what effect detective and police drama portrayals have every time they tackle AS.

Reply

  • Most television detective series have had a go at autism, usually creating a charicature that must give a bad impression: eg Frost, Cracker, Lewis (and indeed Hathaway his side kick shows hints of it). Police and detective fiction tries to use it to create a sympathetic story but whether they are conscious of the consequences is another matter.

    Some portrayals of Sherlock Homes have strong undertones of AS.

    On a slightly different condition chromosome imbalance eg Fragile X- There was a television series in the 60s on Science Fiction called DOOMWATCH. One instalment showed someone with this who was very tall. It got the public imagination and very tall kids found themselves under very unpleasant scrutiny at school and in shops, cinemas etc. It did a lot of harm because the series writers didn't consider the public reaction and the possible impact on any tall kids.

    Therefore I wonder what effect detective and police drama portrayals have every time they tackle AS.

Children
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