Girl meets world and Aspergers

[SASTrooper]

This made want to see what tv was going to tackle on how show other how people see Aspergers and how it effect everyone.

I found to be a little confusing and a little silly how the adults didn't talk to the parents and also I felt that the sterotype that all peolpe aspergers have high I/Q, here a link to the episode and want you thought.

 

[Questella]

oh yay! I actually love this show! and Disney Channel! I wish so much we had Disney when I was a kid!

 

[Questella]

Smackle yay!!

She takes hugs like I do! :3
Disney hugs!

 

[King_Oni]

I found the stereotype to be quite annoying; much like it gives the impression that Sheldon might be on the spectrum.

On the other hand; and I'll put it in spoilertags

Spoiler

I found that Farkle kid way too obvious from the start to not be on the spectrum; I don't know why exactly. Perhaps it's his behaviour in general that just felt a bit to non-aspie. Eccentric; yes...

Smackle on the other hand...

What bothers me with shows like this, and the Big bang theory is just as guilty of this, is the laughing track going on, indicating something is funny and people should laugh. It gives away the impression that whenever we see someone on the spectrum on a tv show, it's for comedic relief. Especially when there's a high focus on someone being on the spectrum.

There have been a few other shows that had characters with something related to autism (The Bridge being a good example); which I found to portray it better, although it seemed exaggerated by itself. I still marvel at the idea how someone who struggles so much with social norms can manage to join the policeforce (in case of The bridge).

Granted, it wouldn't be comedic relief; but not everyone on the spectrum is really smart; in fact plenty deal with depression for one reason or another and those are struggles, for some reason, they keep out from tv shows.

 

[SASTrooper]

This what, is bothering me. I would like to see a show that shows the true depth of autism.

 

[Nadador]

There has been one. NBC's Parenthood. Two important characters, a lad and an adult man, are on the Spectrum. The lad is diagnosed in the very first episode of the show. The adult character enters the series in a later season, and becomes aware of his Asperger's through his association with the lad. It was gorgeously done.

 

[Ylva]

There have been a few other shows that had characters with something related to autism (The Bridge being a good example); which I found to portray it better, although it seemed exaggerated by itself. I still marvel at the idea how someone who struggles so much with social norms can manage to join the policeforce (in case of The bridge).

The worst part was not how Saga got a job with the Swedish police, apparently based on her Sherlock Holmes mutant power. It was that the actress, who played aspergers pretty well, showed through interviews that she didn't really understand the condition, and that she believed in stereotypes.

Not as bad as when Cumberbatch touts the angelic stereotype to "prove" that his Sherlock is not even slightly autistic, but it still makes it seem hollow.

 

[Ylva]

Spoiler

Watched the clip in spite of myself. I thought more "hyperactive" than "aspergers" on Farkle. Isadora was obviously aspergic.

To their credit they didn't play the laugh track when he said "I've passed every test I've ever taken".

The only thing I really hated was the very last word. "Good" said the NT-girl when Isadora said she wanted to be "normal".

 

[King_Oni]

The worst part was not how Saga got a job with the Swedish police, apparently based on her Sherlock Holmes mutant power. It was that the actress, who played aspergers pretty well, showed through interviews that she didn't really understand the condition, and that she believed in stereotypes.

There's also a US remake of it where Alex from Wrong planet actually served as an autism consultant of sorts.

It's the same thing though; as, from I've heard, the actress there wasn't really in the know either. Which, doesn't surprise me and makes me wonder how many actors/actresses who portray someone on the spectrum are actually familiar with the topic in a broad sense.

 

[tree]

I was very disappointed in the series Parenthood.
It was too 'social' for me. So many people. The
show seemed quite flat.

I watched TBBT for a few seasons, then it got too
easy to see the bones (the way the plots were made
by the writers). The laugh track was annoying, also.

It's too much to expect depth of coverage from
network series/sitcoms. Well, a person can 'expect'
but what is delivered, differs.

 

[Naturalist]

I had a difficult time following this clip, as everyone talks loud and fast. But I wonder why most of the characters have normal names, except for the two characters suspected to be on the spectrum? Most of the characters don't call Isadora "Isadora", they call her "Smackle". Which could be demeaning, even if it is her surname.

Even though I would look at a character who behaves like Isadora and know that she's probably on the spectrum, I feel a little bewildered by this stereotype, because if that's the norm for women on the spectrum, then I don't fit it. And yet I have the symptoms, they just manifest differently. But most of the representations of females on the spectrum are just like Isadora, or Amy on the Big Bang Theory. Most Aspie females I know of are actually more interesting personality-wise, and much more complex. Which should make for a better character...

 

[Ylva]

Even though I would look at a character who behaves like Isadora and know that she's probably on the spectrum, I feel a little bewildered by this stereotype, because if that's the norm for women on the spectrum, then I don't fit it.

Before Stanislavsky, stage actors had set gestures for emotions. "This is how you should express anger", "this is sadness" etc. I even think there were books on it, with illustrations, like sign language dictionaries.

I strongly suspect that's how present-day actors play disorders.

 

[Abe1]

It was reasonable, but you wouldn't expect a Disney show to be massively hardhitting.

It would have been better if the Asperger's potential diagnosis was over a number of episodes, rather than neatly do it in one episode, and probably for it to be completely forgotten next week.

 

[SASTrooper]

It was reasonable, but you wouldn't expect a Disney show to be massively hardhitting.

It would have been better if the Asperger's potential diagnosis was over a number of episodes, rather than neatly do it in one episode, and probably for it to be completely forgotten next week.

I feel that most show don't like after story message it have viewers engage in questions with parents to find out more, this could help better connection. As well as understanding.

 

[Ylva]

Yeah, at least now they'll have it subliminally and as a reference, so that when someone says "I have Aspergers" they'll think "oh, like that cute girl on Disney Channel who was Farkle's girlfriend for a few minutes" instead of just "oh, like Bomes/Rainman/Dr. Reid/detective on whatever The Bridge ripoff we have in this country."

 

[Nadador]

There's also a US remake of it where Alex from Wrong planet actually served as an autism consultant of sorts.

I certainly hope they had more than one consultant. Getting all information from one source is risky business. No one individual, particularly not anyone without proper clinical credentials plus an ASD, can claim utter expertise on such a widely varied condition. Anyone who does is not to be believed.

I was very disappointed in the series Parenthood.
It was too 'social' for me. So many people. The show seemed quite flat.

I found it a bit chaotic, as well. I believe that was part of the point, however...that ASDs occur in families full of all sorts of people, and autistics must learn to coexist in family groups and navigate related situations [which as we know, can sometimes be overwhelming]. The hectic nature of many of the scenes served to help me relate to the Aspie characters. Their world is as mine, so it was quite realistic, in my view.

Parenthood was my first-ever personal experience of the 'binge-watching' trend. I sat through the entire run of the show in less than three weeks. That's unheard of, in my world!

 

[FreeDiver]

Yeah, at least now they'll have it subliminally and as a reference, so that when someone says "I have Aspergers" they'll think "oh, like that cute girl on Disney Channel who was Farkle's girlfriend for a few minutes" instead of just "oh, like Bomes/Rainman/Dr. Reid/detective on whatever The Bridge ripoff we have in this country."

Well! It sounds a whole lot better then them thinking you're Adam Lanza and you're gonna shoot up a school full of little kids. Just try walking around with that stigma on you're back.

 

[Datura]

I think that BBCs "Skins" did a pretty good job of depicting Asperger's with the character of JJ. Though he has his issue (meltdowns, shutdowns, obsessive behaviors, social naivety) he is probably the most stable character on the show. That said, the show is far from "family friendly" and thus not the best vehicle for mainstream understanding.

http://skins.wikia.com/wiki/JJ_Jones

 

[Progster]

There has been one. NBC's Parenthood. Two important characters, a lad and an adult man, are on the Spectrum. The lad is diagnosed in the very first episode of the show. The adult character enters the series in a later season, and becomes aware of his Asperger's through his association with the lad. It was gorgeously done.

The character Max is one of the few realistic aspie characters I've seen in the media, actually a fairly accurate representation of a child with AS. Other aspect of the show annoy me, though, particularly the way they all talk over the top of each other - it make it very hard to follow. Also, too much talking and too fast. I would prefer more action shots, more reflection and a slower pace. The emphasis is on social interaction rather than action, but still, not a bad show.

Unfortunately, the video in the OP is no longer available, so I can't comment on that.

 

[Nadador]

The character Max is one of the few realistic aspie characters I've seen in the media, actually a fairly accurate representation of a child with AS. Other aspect of the show annoy me, though, particularly the way they all talk over the top of each other - it make it very hard to follow. Also, too much talking and too fast. I would prefer more action shots, more reflection and a slower pace. The emphasis is on social interaction rather than action, but still, not a bad show.

I asked my NT brother about the same things you've mentioned. He said it's meant to be more like real life than most programmes, in which characters take turns to speak. It supposedly makes the dialogue seem more natural, as well. The audience can miss small bits, again, like real life. I reckon that's true enough. He also said the lack of action is down to the idea of the show as a largely micro-level exercise. [As families so often are.]

I'm glad I'm not the only one was takes issue with the points you made. That makes me more confident that it may be our neurology rather than simply my personal cluelessness about television.