Negative Image vs Accurate Portrayals

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Something I've notice in a lot of thread discussions recently. It seems that people get up in arms whenever a person with Autism or Asperger's is portrayed in the media as having meltdowns, awkward tics, and bratty behavior. This seem to stem from the idea that portraying AS in such a matter is a negative image of Autism. But wouldn't such a portrayal also be considered accurate? True that it's nowhere near the best light we would want the NT world to see us but our struggles are probably the best way for other people to understand and identify us are they not?

What then would be a positive image of Autism that is also accurate? Intelligence? My only problem with the intellect angle is that it can apply to any person regardless of their neurostate(? the fact that I can't think of a proper term here shows you I am NOT one of those intellectual aspies).

Ironically I find that most of the characters that get a bad rep for their negative imagery of AS (showing their meltdowns, brattiness, etc) are the ones I relate to more. So my question to you all is what would be an ideal portrayal of Autism in the media? What are they getting wrong and what are they getting right? How can the media change the image of AS to show our good side while being accurate/informative about it at the same time?

it is an unanswerable question,but a good one.i dont know

The biggest difficulty of portraying an 'accurate' portrayal is that, well, we're quite diverse in behaviour and I doubt there's a template that can describe all of us.

I think they did good with Max from Parenthood although he doesn't appear to learn new skills, except for formally introducing himself to people. Recently they up'd his symptoms too. He's more of a hand flapper now.

I think showing the meltdowns are important as are a lot of other symptoms. I get annoyed by the maths stereotype because it's done to death even though others could relate to it. I don't make a whole lot of eye contact too and people get annoyed by that.

I see my negative personality traits mirrored in Max. It was shocking but I started to think well that's probably how people see me.
People have called me rude and uncaring and only thinking of myself and other lovely stuff like that I hadn't noticed.

It must be hard for NT writers to write about an autistic character because they don't experience our symptoms.

It's even hard for me as an autistic writer to write about an autistic character. I think I've got the shyness down when he first meets people than becomes comfortable around them. He feels uneasy in new environments but can get used to them the more he's there. I had to medicate his sensory issues because they were too severe for the type of things he'd have to do in the story. I could make them mild but I wanted people to understand what severe sensory issues are like. At least the plot of the book is something he can get obsessed with, so much that everything else just goes into the background. Social awkwardness is there and job insecurity and lots more anxiety. Fear of change and repetitive routines could be difficult to put in.
I made sure that he isn't a maths savant, nor is he average at maths but he is a great artist and the colours he uses have special meanings to him though I've still not worked that out yet.
Having him as a main protagonist means he needs to be able talk a lot so he's probably as high functioning as well...me.
Anyway, if people here think he's just another stereotype or they can't relate to him at all then I give up.

I don't think that it is that these individuals or behaviors are shown...

I believe the main issue is that it seems that those are the ONLY individuals and behaviors shown.

At least, that is why I get upset. Not that it is inaccurate, but like with Autism Speaks... the HFA are never shown, or if we are, it is when we have issues...

Pensieve: I'd like to confer with you. I, too, am a writer.

Let me start by explaining that I think the problems most of us have with media portrayals of Autism are all perspective related.

First, most of the portrayals are done by people without Autism, so most are from the perpective of people looking in from outside the spectrum. I don't think any of us are likely to see what they see, and therefore we're more likely to find these portrayals unrealistic.

Second, even portrayals done by Autistics pose a problem, because every one of our perspectives is even more unique than, say, NT perspectives are from each other. As a result, books written by Autistics are more acceptable to some Autistics and less by others.

With those thoughts in mind:

Benedict Cumberbatch described his version of Sherlock Holmes as "Aspergic," and even to an Aspie, he's a big jerk. There's been a whole lot of Aspie movie characters lately, has anyone else noticed?

I'm newly diagnosed. and i hate it when people say, "watch this movie*/television show! it's people just like you!"

and it's not me.

i'm me.
not some pretty-boy who's being paid a pretty penny to act "weird."

i know it's hard for people who have no idea what it's like and i appreciate the attempt to relate.
but i hate hate hate being "related" to these stereotypes.




*classic composer meets great fish, and you'll know.

I think people are upset because they are only showing the negative aspects of autism and not the positive ones. I also agree with Sweetleaf with not wanting to be portrayed as"bratty".

Rock Stars get away with being rascals and people think they are cool.

If you always show someone at their worst, what is the intent and the typical outcome of the opinion formed?

its a fine line. there is definitely such a thing as not portraying struggles enough and there is also a problem with negative image. i would expect a lot of discussion of this in a media rep forum. i think the discussion should take place and people should analyze media representation with an open mind.