Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Update on the Big Bang Theory
The more recent episodes of the Big Bang Theory have added a not-girlfriend for Sheldon, Amy, who also appears to have AS, as well as being on the genius side. She and Sheldon are able to interact socially on an intellectual level, but Amy recently began to try to experience some more conventional social activities, eg. drinking and partying, putting her in conflict with Sheldon. As he says: no major scientific discoveries were made my people having a good time!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Book by Steig Larsson (now also a movie) and sequels
Lisbeth Salander
Lisbeth is one of the few mainstream characters explicitly stated to have AS where this is not the main focus of the plot. She is hypothesised to have AS in the first and second book by her colleague/lover Mikael Blomkvist. Certainly Lisbeth has features of ASD, particularly as portrayed in the movie. She has difficulty with social relationships, an unusual reaction to stresses (eg. getting into fights) and a limited range of facial and emotional expressions. She lives on the fringes of society, her friends being fellow computer hackers and some alternative arty subculture types, but also is described as being quite happy on her own. She is described as having savant skills, in computer hacking and maths, but there is one part of the stories I don't find totally believable. Lisbeth is very young, has limited social skills in everyday interactions, but is able to hack into people's computers, analyse their social lives in great detail and give a coherent, thorough verbal report of their lives based on the fragmented computer research. This combination seems fairly unlikely, but the almost magical skills she has, combined with the fact that she acts so inappropriately, almost seeming intellectually handicapped, is a major part of why people seem to have found her character so interesting. I wonder is this girl is partly based on the author's real life partner, a woman described as being difficult to talk to, and has now devoted her life to getting control of his works, and particularly control of the foreign translations, which she feels are not done to her satisfaction (I don't have the reference here, this was covered in The Age a while ago).
Lisbeth Salander
Lisbeth is one of the few mainstream characters explicitly stated to have AS where this is not the main focus of the plot. She is hypothesised to have AS in the first and second book by her colleague/lover Mikael Blomkvist. Certainly Lisbeth has features of ASD, particularly as portrayed in the movie. She has difficulty with social relationships, an unusual reaction to stresses (eg. getting into fights) and a limited range of facial and emotional expressions. She lives on the fringes of society, her friends being fellow computer hackers and some alternative arty subculture types, but also is described as being quite happy on her own. She is described as having savant skills, in computer hacking and maths, but there is one part of the stories I don't find totally believable. Lisbeth is very young, has limited social skills in everyday interactions, but is able to hack into people's computers, analyse their social lives in great detail and give a coherent, thorough verbal report of their lives based on the fragmented computer research. This combination seems fairly unlikely, but the almost magical skills she has, combined with the fact that she acts so inappropriately, almost seeming intellectually handicapped, is a major part of why people seem to have found her character so interesting. I wonder is this girl is partly based on the author's real life partner, a woman described as being difficult to talk to, and has now devoted her life to getting control of his works, and particularly control of the foreign translations, which she feels are not done to her satisfaction (I don't have the reference here, this was covered in The Age a while ago).
Friday, December 17, 2010
The New Sherlock Holmes
UK Sherlock Holmes Series 2009
Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch)
In keeping with the current fashion for having an autistic character in almost every crime show, the latest version of Sherlock is far more autistic than any I've seen, or even than the books. The actor describes his Sherlock as both a little autistic and a little psychopathic, although the characters colleagues feel he is more on the psychopathic side, with his unusual interest in solving murders for no pay. However when you look at this interest as an aspie trait, he isn't fascinated with the blood an violence, but with the intelllectual challenge, and also has an unusual lack of fear, allowing him to get into dangerous situations without reacting normally. In watching the show, we learn that he does have the ability to care about others through his relationship with his mate Watson, and that a lot of the things he says which seem designed to offend are actually related to either an aspie just wanting to get the job done and/or to a lack of social awareness.
Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch)
In keeping with the current fashion for having an autistic character in almost every crime show, the latest version of Sherlock is far more autistic than any I've seen, or even than the books. The actor describes his Sherlock as both a little autistic and a little psychopathic, although the characters colleagues feel he is more on the psychopathic side, with his unusual interest in solving murders for no pay. However when you look at this interest as an aspie trait, he isn't fascinated with the blood an violence, but with the intelllectual challenge, and also has an unusual lack of fear, allowing him to get into dangerous situations without reacting normally. In watching the show, we learn that he does have the ability to care about others through his relationship with his mate Watson, and that a lot of the things he says which seem designed to offend are actually related to either an aspie just wanting to get the job done and/or to a lack of social awareness.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
South Solitary
South Solitary
Australian Movie 2010
Fleet (Martin Csokas)
Miranda's Uncle (Bary Otto)
I watched this movie on a plane to NZ, and surprised that firstly it was an Asperger movie, and secondly that it wasn't the depressing arthouse movie I was sure it would be from the reviews. It is actually quite entertaining and even funny in parts, and nothing particularly tragic happens.
The story is about Meredith (Miranda Otto), a single woman in 1920s Australia, who goes to live with her Asperger uncle in his new job of getting a slack lighthouse crew to get their act together. He does this, bossing people around and showing no empathy to anyone, although she has known him for a while and understands he doesn't mean to be so rude, that it's just his nature. The situation on the island changes, however, and Meredith finds herself alone with the other single person on the Island, a Welshman called Fleet. Fleet has been described in reviews as "burnt out" or "war-damaged" when as far as I can tell his is fine, with just very mild and occasional post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as his Aspergers. He prefers to be alone and has chosen the solitary lighthouse lifestyle as this suits him, not to run away from a horrible trauma as seems to have been assumed by some. Fleet is a more attractive Asperger hero than her uncle, saying very little but brooding and glancing mysteriously ala. Mr. Darcy, suggesting hidden depths. As well as actually being helpful and meaning well, this allows an unexpected friendship to form between these characters.
Australian Movie 2010
Fleet (Martin Csokas)
Miranda's Uncle (Bary Otto)
I watched this movie on a plane to NZ, and surprised that firstly it was an Asperger movie, and secondly that it wasn't the depressing arthouse movie I was sure it would be from the reviews. It is actually quite entertaining and even funny in parts, and nothing particularly tragic happens.
The story is about Meredith (Miranda Otto), a single woman in 1920s Australia, who goes to live with her Asperger uncle in his new job of getting a slack lighthouse crew to get their act together. He does this, bossing people around and showing no empathy to anyone, although she has known him for a while and understands he doesn't mean to be so rude, that it's just his nature. The situation on the island changes, however, and Meredith finds herself alone with the other single person on the Island, a Welshman called Fleet. Fleet has been described in reviews as "burnt out" or "war-damaged" when as far as I can tell his is fine, with just very mild and occasional post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as his Aspergers. He prefers to be alone and has chosen the solitary lighthouse lifestyle as this suits him, not to run away from a horrible trauma as seems to have been assumed by some. Fleet is a more attractive Asperger hero than her uncle, saying very little but brooding and glancing mysteriously ala. Mr. Darcy, suggesting hidden depths. As well as actually being helpful and meaning well, this allows an unexpected friendship to form between these characters.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
The Frighteners
The Frighteners
New Zealand movie (1996)
Starring Michael J Fox
Directed by Peter Jackson
Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs)
I just saw this movie again: its great, not just because it was made in Christchurch! It was ahead of its time, one of the first supernatural comedy/romance/action drama movies. Milton Dammers is a very unusual character with many autistic characteristics. As a specialist FBA inspector brought in to work on special supernatural cases, he is able to quote his field in detail usually only seen in people with ASDs. He has eccentric eye contact, poor social skills, a strong aversion to certain stimuli and fixed ideas. He provides a large part of the comedy in this very eclectic movie. I recommend seeing it if you are a Peter Jackson fan.
New Zealand movie (1996)
Starring Michael J Fox
Directed by Peter Jackson
Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs)
I just saw this movie again: its great, not just because it was made in Christchurch! It was ahead of its time, one of the first supernatural comedy/romance/action drama movies. Milton Dammers is a very unusual character with many autistic characteristics. As a specialist FBA inspector brought in to work on special supernatural cases, he is able to quote his field in detail usually only seen in people with ASDs. He has eccentric eye contact, poor social skills, a strong aversion to certain stimuli and fixed ideas. He provides a large part of the comedy in this very eclectic movie. I recommend seeing it if you are a Peter Jackson fan.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Spirited
Spirited:
Australian TV series
Suzy Darling (Claudia Karvan)
Suzy is a very socially awkward dentist with a husband who is frankly a bastard. She leaves him, loses all her friends and makes friends with a ghost! This show follows the trend of putting AS women in fiction: men are getting little old hat! Worth watching (one episode has shown on Foxtel W in Aus so far).
Australian TV series
Suzy Darling (Claudia Karvan)
Suzy is a very socially awkward dentist with a husband who is frankly a bastard. She leaves him, loses all her friends and makes friends with a ghost! This show follows the trend of putting AS women in fiction: men are getting little old hat! Worth watching (one episode has shown on Foxtel W in Aus so far).
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mary and Max: not just one character with Aspergers
Mary and Max
Australian animated movie
2009
Mary and Max
This movie is actually promoted as an Asperger movie, about a friendship between a girl not stated to have Aspergers and a man with diagnosed Aspergers. I believe she would also be considered to have Aspergers, as she has unusual interests and extreme social difficulties. Mary is a lonely only child with eccentric parents and no friends, who randomly befriends an overweight New York man called Max, who also has no friends. They have a number of unusual interests in common, such as collecting a certain type of toy, and so keep in touch over the years. Mary still appear to later form no friendships, but does manage to get married, to a man who turns out to be gay (so one wonders whether she is a convenient disguise for him). Mary also develops a research interest in Aspergers, but in an unlikely and very insensitive way manages to publish a book about Max without his permission: behaviour any researcher, with Aspergers or not, would engage in, but if this was possible it might be a sign of Aspergers.
Interestingly, the whole style of this movie is quite autistic: a narration to explain what is happening, very obvious facial expressions and obvious characters. I feel it is a little overrated, but also wonder if the director, seemingly with an obsession with making films starring characters with developmental disabilities, is on the autism spectrum himself.
Australian animated movie
2009
Mary and Max
This movie is actually promoted as an Asperger movie, about a friendship between a girl not stated to have Aspergers and a man with diagnosed Aspergers. I believe she would also be considered to have Aspergers, as she has unusual interests and extreme social difficulties. Mary is a lonely only child with eccentric parents and no friends, who randomly befriends an overweight New York man called Max, who also has no friends. They have a number of unusual interests in common, such as collecting a certain type of toy, and so keep in touch over the years. Mary still appear to later form no friendships, but does manage to get married, to a man who turns out to be gay (so one wonders whether she is a convenient disguise for him). Mary also develops a research interest in Aspergers, but in an unlikely and very insensitive way manages to publish a book about Max without his permission: behaviour any researcher, with Aspergers or not, would engage in, but if this was possible it might be a sign of Aspergers.
Interestingly, the whole style of this movie is quite autistic: a narration to explain what is happening, very obvious facial expressions and obvious characters. I feel it is a little overrated, but also wonder if the director, seemingly with an obsession with making films starring characters with developmental disabilities, is on the autism spectrum himself.
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