Discourses of Autism on Film: An Analysis of Memorable Images that Create Definition

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Garner, A., Harwood, V., & Thom-Jones, S. (2016). Discourses of Autism on Film: An Analysis of Memorable Images that Create Definition. In The Palgrave Handbook of Adult Mental Health (pp. 151-166). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137496850_9

Publication date: 1 Jan 2016 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English
OpenAlex source Publisher source (DOI)

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Andrea Garner
  2. Valerie Harwood
  3. Sandra Thom-Jones *

Abstract

The characteristics that provide a platform for a categorical distinction between being 'disabled' and 'abled' is arguably dependent on the shared understanding and socially agreed upon ideas of a group of individuals. Collectively, groups derive meaning through communications and interactions with each other and their environment using particular language and common assumptions (Prawat & Floden, 1994; Rogoff, 1990). The intersubjectivity of the community aids in shaping personal meaning of their position in relation to another person's position. Some argue that the intersubjectivity, or shared understandIng, creates social meaning and knowledge of ability and disability which are socially constructed dichotomies, and that through the polarised construction people are positioned on one side or another of an apparent factually based line of difference (Kang, 2009; Scully, 2009; Titchkosky, 2003; Williams et al., Chapter 4, this volume). The construction and definition of disability arise through a variety of mediums including social, cultural, historical, and political discourses (Scully, 2009). As disability is constructed so to is the 'line of difference' that distinguishes the abled from the disabled. This line of difference is continuously constructed and reconstructed to coincide with changing cultural, political, and personal landscapes. These landscapes are constantly changing as a result of multiple influences including, although not limited to, gaining new information or exposure about a topic.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
51
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
1 / 51 (2.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
1 / 63 (1.6%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 1 / 4 (25.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 61 (1.6%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
4 / 63 (6.3%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 4 / 61 (6.6%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
3 / 4 (75.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 3 / 63 (4.8%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 3 / 4 (75.0%).
  1. Kevin Nugent (2011). Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(1), 68-69.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W17977228
    OpenAlex
  2. González Moreno, Andrés Santiago (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4247665917
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Katherine B. Hartman (2006). Television and Movie Representations of Salespeople: Beyond Willy Loman . Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 26(3), 283-292. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2753/pss0885-3134260303 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2161499641
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Carla Almeida Santos (2004). FRAMING PORTUGAL . Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 122-138. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2003.08.005 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W23416013
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Lisa Anderson , Arthur P. Shimamura (2005). Influences of Emotion on Context Memory while Viewing Film Clips . The American Journal of Psychology, 118(3), 323-337. University of Illinois Press.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/30039069 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2417823465
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Lorna Wing (1981). Language, social, and cognitive impairments in autism and severe mental retardation . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11(1), 31-44. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/bf01531339 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1964572189
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Andrea Garner (2014). What’s showing: film industry portrayals of autism spectrum conditions and their influences on preservice teachers in Australia . Research Online (University of Wollongong).
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W83125858
    OpenAlex
  8. AD Baker (2008). Autism and representation . Autism and representation, 229.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  9. Jong-Gu Kang (2009). A Teacher’s Deconstruction of Disability: A Discourse Analysis . Disability Studies Quarterly, 29(1). The Ohio State University Libraries.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.18061/dsq.v29i1.173 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1689938218
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Leonard Bickman (1982). Applied social psychology annual .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W603183593
    OpenAlex
  11. Collins, Kathleen M. (2003). Ability profiling and school failure: one child's struggle to be seen as competent . Ability profiling and school failure: One child’ s struggle to be seen as competent.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W7063693176
    Crossref OpenAlex
  12. Emily Moyer-Gusé (2008). Toward a Theory of Entertainment Persuasion: Explaining the Persuasive Effects of Entertainment-Education Messages . Communication Theory, 18(3), 407-425. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2885.2008.00328.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2129077831
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. (2000). Overhearing film dialogue . Choice Reviews Online, 38(01), 38-0202-38-0202. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.38-0202 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W635201988
    OpenAlex
  14. Rory Conn , Dinesh Bhugra (2012). The portrayal of autism in Hollywood films . International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 5(1), 54-62. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2011.553369 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2083322994
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. (2003). Disability, self, and society . Choice Reviews Online, 41(02), 41-1256-41-1256. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.41-1256 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W648957371
    OpenAlex
  16. Ian Dempsey , Jerry Ford (2009). Employment for People With Intellectual Disability in Australia and the United Kingdom . Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 19(4), 233-243. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1044207308314946 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2136857296
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. Rebecca Mallett , Katherine Runswick-Cole (2012). Commodifying Autism: The Cultural Contexts of ‘Disability’ in the Academy . In Disability andsocial theory: New developments and directions (pp. 33-51). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1057/9781137023001_3 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1500049461
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Douwe Draaisma (2009). Stereotypes of autism . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1522), 1475-1480. The Royal Society.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0324 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2159723829
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Barbara Rogoff (1990). Apprenticeship in Thinking . Oxford University PressNew York, NY.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780195059731.001.0001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4388250340
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Paul J. Frick , Christopher T. Barry , Randy W. Kamphaus (2009). Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders . In Clinical Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality and Behavior (pp. 437-452). Springer US.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-0641-0_19 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1527587007
    OpenAlex
  21. (n.d.). Fischoff, S., Cardenas, E., Hernandez, A., Wyatt, K., Young, J., & Gordon, R. (August 2000). Popular movie quotes: Reflections of a people and a culture. Paper presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. http://www.calstatela.edu /faculty/sfischo/moviequotes.htm.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  22. Richard S. Prawat , Robert E. Floden (1994). Philosophical perspectives on constructivist views of learning . Educational Psychologist, 29(1), 37-48. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1207/s15326985ep2901_4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2012858282
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. JL Scully (2009). Naturalized bioethics: toward responsible knowing and practice . Choice Reviews Online, 46(09), 46-5062-46-5062. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.46-5062 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1565839773
    Crossref OpenAlex
  24. GO Gabbard (1999). Psychiatry and the cinema . Psychiatry and the cinema.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  25. Dale H. Schunk (1991). Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1568871075
    OpenAlex
  26. AR Garner (2014). Doctor of Philosophy thesis . Doctor of Philosophy thesis.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  27. Jennifer Singh , Joachim Hallmayer , Judy Illes (2007). Interacting and paradoxical forces in neuroscience and society . Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(2), 153-160. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1038/nrn2073 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2057617864
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. (2010). Autism and Representation . Routledge.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.4324/9780203935088 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1570596127
    OpenAlex
  29. BS Greenburgh (1988). Applied social psychology annual . Applied social psychology annual.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  30. L. S. Vygotsky (1964). Thought and language . Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1007/bf02928399 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1584697775
    OpenAlex
  31. Katrina Williams , Marshall Tuck , Megan Helmer , Lawrence Bartak , Craig Mellis , Jennifer K Peat et al. (2008). Diagnostic labelling of autism spectrum disorders in NSW . Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 44(3), 108-113. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01232.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2170355862
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  32. (2009). Assessment of autism spectrum disorders . Choice Reviews Online, 46(07), 46-3872-46-3872. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.46-3872 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1587174068
    OpenAlex
  33. Sandra Thom-Jones * , Valerie Harwood (2009). Representations of autism in Australian print media . Disability & Society, 24(1), 5-18. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687590802535345 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2156791788
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  34. Emily Moyer-Gusé , Robin L. Nabi (2010). Explaining the Effects of Narrative in an Entertainment Television Program: Overcoming Resistance to Persuasion . Human Communication Research, 36(1), 26-52. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2009.01367.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2147710454
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  35. (1990). Apprenticeship in thinking: cognitive development in social context . Choice Reviews Online, 28(01), 28-0612-28-0612. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.28-0612 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1655850657
    OpenAlex
  36. James Valentine (2001). Disabled Discourse: Hearing accounts of deafness constructed through Japanese television and film . Disability & Society, 16(5), 707-727. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687590120070088 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2017311247
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  37. Sarah Kozloff (2000). Overhearing Film Dialogue . University of California Press.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1525/9780520924024 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4389386262
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. Julie Lounds Taylor , Marsha Mailick Seltzer (2011). Employment and Post-Secondary Educational Activities for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders During the Transition to Adulthood . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(5), 566-574. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1070-3 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2055823143
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  39. Clayton R. Koppes , Krin Gabbard , Glen O. Gabbard (1988). Psychiatry and the Cinema . The Journal of American History, 75(3), 1013. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/1901705 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1964713644
    OpenAlex
  40. Stuart Murray (2012). Autism . Routledge.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.4324/9780203805992 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4214764126
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  41. Jennifer C. Sarrett (2011). Trapped Children: Popular Images of Children with Autism in the 1960s and 2000s . Journal of Medical Humanities, 32(2), 141-153. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10912-010-9135-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1968901362
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  42. Tanya Titchkosky (2003). Disability, Self, and Society . University of Toronto Press.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.3138/9781442673939 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4300881940
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  43. Stuart Murray (2006). Autism and the Contemporary Sentimental: Fiction and the Narrative Fascination of the Present . Literature and Medicine, 25(1), 24-45. Project MUSE.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1353/lm.2006.0025 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1983394423
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  44. S Murray (2008). Autism and representation . Autism and representation, 244.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  45. DH Schunk (2000). Learning theories: An educational perspective . Learning theories: An educational perspective.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  46. SurveyMonkey Inc. (2015). SurveyMonkey . SurveyMonkey.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  47. (2004). Ability profiling and school failure: one child's struggle to be seen as competent . Choice Reviews Online, 41(08), 41-4792-41-4792. American Library Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.5860/choice.41-4792 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2799024103
    OpenAlex
  48. L Vygotsky (1986). Thought and language . Thought and language.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  49. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition . American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.893619 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3005563669
    OpenAlex
  50. Bradley S. Greenberg (1988). Some uncommon television images and the Drench hypothesis.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3105626066
    OpenAlex
  51. L Wing (2009). Assessment of autism spectrum disorders . Assessment of autism spectrum disorders, 18.
    Type: Other
    Crossref