Matthews "Why Sheldon Cooper Can't Be Black- The Visual Rhetoric of Autism and Ethnicity"

Page 1

Citation Information

• Title: Why Sheldon Cooper Can't Be Black: The Visual Rhetoric of Autism and Ethnicity

• Author: Malcolm Matthews

• Journal: Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies

• Volume: 13, Issue: 1, Year: 2019, Pages: 57-74

• Published by: Liverpool University Press

• Accessed: 11 Jun 2021 from University of California, San Diego

Page 2

Overview of Sheldon Cooper's Character

• Actor: Jim Parsons

• Role: Central character in CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory

• Characteristics:

  • Brilliant but socially inept physicist

  • Represents attributes of Nerd Culture: eidetic memory, high processing speed

  • Notable for lack of engagement with social norms and expectations

• Cultural Importance:

  • Serves as a reference for autism discussions in pop culture

  • Influence on public understanding of autism behaviors

Racial Representation

• Focus of Article: Exploration of the intersection of autism and race

• Argument:

  • Portrayals of autistic characters are predominantly white.

  • This trend prompts questions about racial identity representation, particularly regarding Sheldon’s ethnicity.

Page 3

Representation of Autistics

• Character Examples:

  • Raymond Babbitt (Rain Man)

  • Gary Bell (Alphas)

  • Alan Turing (The Imitation Game)

  • Christopher Boone (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)

• Shared Traits:

  • Impaired social skills, limited empathy, obsession with routines, superhuman abilities in science/memory

• Cultural Understanding vs. Clinical Accuracy: Representation often focuses on stereotypes over clinical precision.

Page 4

Underlying Issues in Autism Representation

• Lack of Race Discussion:

  • Few scholars examine autism portrayals through the lens of race.

  • White male representation dominates cultural narratives of autism.

• Call for Racial Inclusivity: Understanding autism requires acknowledging and analyzing race's impact on portrayal.

Page 5

Historical Context of Autism

• Initial Identification:

  • Autism perceived primarily as a “white condition” since the 1940s

  • Movie Rain Man solidified associations of autism with whiteness

• Implications of Representation:

  • Reinforces assumptions that autism predominantly affects white individuals.

Page 6

Diagnosing Autism and Rhetoric

• Challenges in Diagnosis:

  • Subjective assessments and lack of defining physical traits complicate diagnoses

• Cultural Rhetoric:

  • Autism is often rhetorically constructed within a white context with implications for public perception.

Page 7

Whiteness in Autism Portrayal

• Prevalence of White Autistic Characters:

  • Autistic fictional characters often lack diverse representation.

  • Figures serve to merge notions of whiteness with intellectual achievement and tech culture.

Page 8

The Role of Sheldon Cooper

• Cultural Impact:

  • Elevates and entrenches ethnic whiteness, providing a model for navigating societal expectations.

  • Reflects “Aspie supremacism,” portraying autism as a sign of superiority without addressing racial implications.

Page 9

Race and Autism in Clinic

• Disparity in Diagnosis:

  • Underrepresentation of ethnic minorities due to social stigma and access issues

• Cultural Perceptions:

  • Media plays a role in shaping views of autism as predominantly white, affecting diagnosis and treatment possibilities.

Page 10

Rise of the Autism Aesthetic

• Autistic Characters:

  • Incrementally evolve to embody tech-savvy, intellectually gifted personas rooted in whiteness

• Impact on Public Perception:

  • Creates a sanitized version of autism that reinforces existing racial hierarchies.

Page 11

Norman Aesthetics and Autism

• Characteristics of Autistics in Media:

  • Tendency toward exaggerated whiteness and physical conformity to tech-centric ideals

• Consequences:

  • Normalizes views that elevate white characters while marginalizing diverse representations.

Page 12

The Evolution of Characterization

• From Spock to Sheldon:

  • Visible traits of popular autistic characters become increasingly normalized and unified under white male aesthetics.

Page 13

Relationships and Social Normativity

• Transition of Autistic Characters:

  • Portrayal evolves to present neurodiverse individuals within normative frameworks, promoting a skewed perception of empowerment without addressing systemic issues.

Page 14

Rhetorical Implications

• Enforcement of Racial Norms in Portrayals:

  • Homogenized depictions ignore the complexity of intersecting identities.

  • Sheldon Cooper's white male representation solidifies dominant cultural narratives.

Page 15

Conclusions of Representation

• Rationale Behind Ethnicity Choices:

  • Practical and rhetorical reasons inform the predominance of white autistic characters like Sheldon.

• Cultural Responsibilities:

  • Pop culture producers must navigate sensitivities in representations to avoid alienating audiences, reflective of broader socio-cultural dynamics.

Page 16

Impact on Thought Patterns

• Visual Rhetoric:

  • Influences audience perception of autism and reinforces white intellectual superiority narratives.

Page 17

References

• Compilation of cited works informing arguments and perspectives discussed in the article.

• References span various aspects of autism studies, diversity, cultural critiques, and media analysis.

Page 18

Additional References

• More extensive bibliographic information supporting the discussion throughout the paper.

According to the author Malcolm Matthews, Sheldon Cooper reinforces stereotypes by elevating and entrenching ethnic whiteness in the portrayal of autism. His character serves as a model for navigating societal expectations while reflecting 'Aspie supremacism,' which suggests that autism is a sign of superiority. This portrayal does not adequately address the racial implications associated with autism, thereby perpetuating a limited and skewed representation that emphasizes white male aesthetics over a more diverse and accurate understanding of autistic individuals.