Novels, movies, and television have always used real life as the basis for themes and story lines. Adding Asperger's syndrome to the mix is becoming more prevalent as more people are diagnosed and becoming aware of the disorder.
According to the Asperger's Disorder Web site, Asperger's disorder and autistic disorder are subgroups of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), also known as Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Asperger's is considered to be a form of high-functioning autism and was named for Dr. Hans Asperger, who described the symptoms originally in 1944. Asperger's symptoms of this type of high-functioning autism can include social isolation, eccentric behavior, lack of two-way communication, clumsiness in speech and gross motor function, and a specialized interest in one certain area of their choosing.
Asperger's and Autism in Books
The following books have a character with Asperger's syndrome:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon: Christopher John Francis Boone lives with his father, hates the color yellow, knows prime numbers up to 7,057 and every capital of every country in the world, and prefers animals to humans.
- House Rules by Jodi Picoult: Jacob Hunt is an 18-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, detests the color orange, only eats one color food per day, is very literal and does not understand phrases that don't mean what they say, who has an obsession with crime scenes and forensic science, which complicates matters when he is accused of murder.
Asperger's and Autism Disorder Portrayed in Movies
Movies can bring characters to life and are especially useful in depicting the behaviors and speech of individuals with Asperger's syndrome. The following movies feature a character with Asperger's syndrome:
- Rain Main: Probably the most popular of all feature films that center around an adult with autism, Rain Man, played by Dustin Hoffman, tells the story of Raymond "Rain Man" Babbitt, an autistic savant who is kidnapped by his younger brother, Charlie, played by Tom Cruise.
- Adam: The tagline for this movie on Internet Movie Database (IMDB) is "A story about two strangers. One a little stranger than the other." In this 2009 film, Adam is played by Hugh Dancy and portrays the life of a young man with Asperger's syndrome whose passions are astronomy and a girl who just moved in upstairs.
- Mozart and the Whale: This 2005 movie is based on the true story and lives of Jerry and Mary Newport and tells how two people with Asperger's syndrome met and how their relationship developed. In addition, Jerry and Mary have written books on Asperger's syndrome and speak to groups on autism and Asperger's syndrome.
High-functioning Autism in TV Shows
Television is a medium that is quick to jump on the bandwagon of important trends, and Asperger's syndrome is no exception. The following TV shows have featured a character with Asperger's syndrome in one or more episodes:
- Boston Legal: This popular comedy/drama starring James Spader and William Shatner added Jerry Espenson, an interesting character played by Christian Clemenson, who has Asperger's syndrome, which brought awareness of autism to millions.
- In Plain Sight: The show about the U.S. Marshals service and the witness protection program featured an episode about a witness with Asperger's syndrome. The premise that she would have to take on a new identity became troublesome because it is difficult for people with Asperger's to lie, thus making this endeavor challenging.
Autism and Asperger's Awareness Through Media
The increasing occurrence of characters with autism and Asperger's syndrome in books, films, and television shows helps improve acceptance and understanding. With each depiction, parents of children with Asperger's disorder and individuals themselves with the syndrome are able to gain insight into the lives of others to relate to themselves.
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Peggy Hazelwood - Peggy Hazelwood+ is a word nerd who has worked as a reporter, proofreader, technical editor, freelance copy editor, and freelance writer ...
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