Creating the Autistic Perspective Via the Comic Book Genre

My senior project, "Glitch," uses the comic's medium to provide insight into the subjective side of someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The diagnosis is typically classified as a neurological disorder where the individual may feel over/under-stimulated, perform strict routines, have trouble reading social cues, and difficulty navigating social situations. I forego the savant and differently learned stereotypes that Draaisma (2009) highlighted from film media. Since it is irresponsible to treat a spectrum disorder as monolithic, I am offering the reader a character, Harris Hawk, as an autistic person who subverts current representations of autism. I incorporate Transportation Theory, Parasocial Relationships, and Possible Selves theory as methods for understanding Harris Hawk's special interest, film. With the comic medium, I apply Scott McCloud's philosophy about using images and texts as icons. With this methodology, I hope to engage the reader within Harris Hawk's autistic perspective.