https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj Autism Spectrum Disorder in film en-us 2021-08-16 02:05:48 UTC 2025-11-24 13:12:00 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f468-1f3eb.png s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679783411 For the most part, the protagonist, Christian Wolff, shows similar symptoms that would be found in those with real autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For example, he does repeat behaviors such as arranging the food on his plate and blowing onto his hands when starting a task. He also has difficulty interacting with others. When he interacts with Dana, he is awkward and standoffish. During his time in prison, he learns more about how to understand people's emotions from his cellmate. When he is reunited with his brother at the end of the movie, he has trouble relating to his feelings. However, as ASD is a spectrum, what is being represented is not a universal depiction for those with the condition. "The Accountant" enforces upon existing pop culture stereotypes of those with ASD, building upon foundations set by the movies "Rain Man" and "Mercury Rising". This stereotype is of a straight, white, cis man who is socially outcast yet possess amazing mental capabilities. "The Accountant" has been criticized by autistic communities for its disingenuous portrayal of those with ASD as it further drives the idea into allistic people (people without autism) that autistic people are monotone, robotic, lifeless, and "other". A common complaint was the lack of close personal connections, which indicate either that autistic people are incapable of them or not wanting them at all; both inaccurate.

]]> 2021-08-16 02:19:01 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679783411 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679785312 I do not believe that those seeking to understand autism should look into a fictional actin thriller movie as a reliable resource. Despite claims by the director and actors regarding the research gone into the movie, there was no clear input from the people that were trying to be portrayed. Another reason I would not recommend this film is because it builds upon an existing stereotype and stigma of autism, creating a set of expectations for what autism should look like. ASD is a spectrum and varies from case to case, experienced differently by everyone. "The Accountant" does not broaden public understanding of this idea.

]]> 2021-08-16 02:20:39 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679785312 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679790898 It is also because of these reasons that I do not believe that this film is fair to those with actual ASD. However, I am not a person from this community so I can not give an accurate account. I would recommend searching actual autistic voices for their opinion and listening to them.

]]> 2021-08-16 02:25:41 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679790898 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679791736 Since this movie is fictional, this film is drastically different from how a real person with ASD would be. For one, many of them are women and people of color. For another, not everyone grows up to be an accountant for elite crime bosses and is well trained with firearms and Indonesian martial arts. As mentioned before, ASD is a spectrum and people learn, interact and communicate with others and their environment can be much different. Some need a lot of help in their daily lives and others, not so much. Some of what is portrayed in the movie may be applicable (e.g. Christian's hardships in childhood) and others may not relate to it at all. Ultimately, it's important to remember that this film was not made with the intent of education and is nd made by allistic people for allistic people.

]]> 2021-08-16 02:26:35 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679791736 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679794928 2021-08-16 02:29:50 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679794928 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679795953 2021-08-16 02:30:50 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679795953 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679796412 2021-08-16 02:31:18 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679796412 s03905 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679798751 In most sections, Chris Wolff is displaying typically-seen-in-movies symptoms of ASD - generic display of society's surface-level interpretation of people with ASD, such as crazy-amazing mental capabilities, social awkwardness, the inability to connect, the inability to "read" emotions. It feels like a Wikipedia-search understanding of ASD. A possible drawback of this portrayal is that it reinforces a stereotypical image of how society should see people with ASD.]]> 2021-08-16 02:33:42 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679798751 s03905 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679801385 No. Absolutely not. To understand why, please see the question above.]]> 2021-08-16 02:36:11 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679801385 s05209 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679802847 2021-08-16 02:37:31 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679802847 s03905 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679805035 No. Absolutely not. To see why, please look a couple of posts back.]]> 2021-08-16 02:39:49 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679805035 s03905 https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679805727 I don't think I need to say more.]]> 2021-08-16 02:40:34 UTC https://padlet.com/s05209/4v9srgvfzh2l5pfj/wish/1679805727