As an autistic person, I have always felt frustrated and alienated by the way autism is depicted in film and TV. I have seen too many examples of autistic characters being reduced to stereotypes, clichés, and tropes, such as the genius savant, the emotionless robot, the quirky sidekick, or the tragic burden. These portrayals not only misrepresent the reality and diversity of autism, but also reinforce negative attitudes and prejudices towards autistic people in society.

In this video essay, I will share my personal perspective on how autism is portrayed in film and TV, and how it affects me and other autistic people. I will critique some of the most popular and influential examples of autism representation in media, such as Rain Man, The Good Doctor, Atypical, and The Big Bang Theory. I will also highlight some of the rare and positive examples of autism representation that I have found, such as Pixar’s short film, Loop.

I hope you will enjoy this video essay, and feel free to leave your feedback and questions in the comments below.