​​Screening Difference: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Autism in Contemporary Film

<p>This study examines how contemporary films (2015-2025) construct ideologies about autism and difference through representational practices. The research investigates a purposefully sampled corpus of feature films featuring autistic characters. Data were collected through close textual analysis of narrative structures, dialogue, and cinematic techniques. Findings reveal persistent reliance on the savant stereotype and several caregiver-centered narratives that privilege neurotypical perspectives. The study illustrates how autism representation functions as a site of ideological struggle, while identifying storytelling choices that both enable and resist dominant framings and contribute to ethically responsible cultural production. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2026

Author dc:creator

• Escobal Porta, Abril

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Mohammed Rashid
• Dr. David R. Davies
• Dr. Fei Xue

• Communication
• Disability Studies
• Autism
• Autism in Film
• Broadcast and Video Studies
• Communication Technology and New Media
• Critical and Cultural Studies
• Health Communication
• Other Film and Media Studies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1193

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-2287