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this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2023
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Autism
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Depictions of autism in media very rarely focus on anything other than what's perceived as the upsides.
Like all other forms of entertainment and marketing, it's not realistic, it's designed to present something appealing to a mass audience.
I'd say Tina Belcher is a fairly good depiction, and people love her character.
Yeah I commented that the best depictions I've seen of all these identities are usually kids cartoons, Bob's Burgers is pretty family friendly and decent for the most part. The Marshmallow character is another. There's an episode that kink shames Pesto for his adult baby diaper fetish though, or rather using the fact that Pesto is ashamed of it himself. Marshmallow has no shame about what they are. Overall it's positive even with the few issues.
I think it’s also in the current day spirit of unquestioning inclusion. Producers can’t make a more nuanced or even unlikeable neurodivergent character because there would definitely be backlash for harping on a marginalized group. Even if the character is written with the best of intentions in mind
Well in past autism was only shown in extreme forms. Like non talking just have the actor twuxh and occasionally yell. So not showing the up side, but a mix oh the poor parents and inspiring disabilities
Downsides are presented as personality traits which are your own fault. Humans love to think that if something bad happens to you, then you either had it coming or you are going to come out victorious in the end. It makes them comfortable. Them - cowards, that is, and most humans are cowards, it's not something new.
Well, there's always Rainman.
I think there are similar stuffs with mental illness : in a media they serve to further the character's progression. In reality those are often more disability aither because they are disabilities at their core or because they make you not fit with the crowds who react awfully to that.
In a book or a movie, the struggle a character face, even if well depicted, serve his progression. They also are often a Chekov's gun, furthering the plot. While in reality it's just a thing you have to deal with on a daily basis. It's true with autism but also with so much other stuff. Think depression, depicted a lot, much better than autism, and most depressed character end up cured at the end of the story thanks to their accomplishment. Except it doesn't work like that, you can very damn well save lives and remain depressed. Showing that would be realistic but wouldn't make sense story wise and the narration would feel incomplete.
Well thats if you only look at the most popular media in the most immediate present day. Stop looking through a microscope! Its exciting to see so many awesome autistic characters with awesome upsides.