Abstract

This paper is an analysis of the depiction of autism in The Boy on the Bridge, a post-apocalyptic, dystopian, horror, fiction novel to critically deconstruct the representation of autism specifically related to 15-year-old science prodigy Stephen Greaves. Using a critical content analysis approach, three relevant constructs were identified with depictions including savant/super-crip, non-human othering, and psycho-emotional disablism. Each of these areas is discussed related to the current literature on disability, generally, and autism, more specifically. This analysis demonstrates that cultural understandings of disability are dominated by the medical model, and continue to stigmatize and pathologize while excluding positive social identities. Consideration of the potential damaging aspects of literature portrayals of autism in fictional works is needed to move the autism genre forward in a humanizing and inclusive manner.

• Points of interest

• This study brings awareness to some assumptions around disability by pulling apart one way that autism is presented for public understanding.

• Even fictional stories can play a role in awareness and understanding of disability such as knowing that autistic people can also be gifted.

• Notions such as savantism are presented and discussed to help readers understand the various layers in disability.

• Disability can be presented positively and/or negatively in popular media in both obvious and subtle ways.

• It is up to readers and viewers to carefully consider how information on disability from popular media might be biased.

摘要

本文分析了《桥上的男孩》中对自闭症的描述，这是一部后世界末日、反乌托邦、恐怖的小说，旨在批判性地解构与 15 岁的科学神童斯蒂芬格里夫斯特别相关的自闭症的表征。使用批判性内容分析方法，确定了三个相关的结构，包括学者/超级瘸子、非人类他者和心理情感残疾。这些领域中的每一个都与当前关于残疾的文献有关，一般来说，和自闭症，更具体地说。该分析表明，对残疾的文化理解由医学模式主导，并继续污名化和病态化，同时排除积极的社会身份。

• 兴趣点

• 这项研究通过分离一种将自闭症呈现给公众理解的方式，使人们对一些关于残疾的假设有了认识。

• 即使是虚构的故事也可以在认识和理解残疾方面发挥作用，例如知道自闭症患者也可以有天赋。

• 提出并讨论了诸如学者主义之类的概念，以帮助读者理解残疾的各个层面。

• 大众媒体可以以明显和微妙的方式正面和/或负面地呈现残疾。

• 读者和观众有责任仔细考虑来自大众媒体的关于残疾的信息如何可能存在偏见。