ATC phone home, ATC phone home...! We're back among the aliens and the spaceships today as we tackle Steven Spielberg's tear-jerking classic. We're also incredibly delighted to welcome yet another wonderful special guest, the brilliant Sam Chown-Ahern! Sam is a filmmaker, artist, collaborator, and member of the Neurocultures Collective, who are currently working with Autism Through Cinema in the creation of an experimental feature film. Sam also presented a wonderfully bizarre re-edit of a scene from ET at the Autism Through Cinema conference in January 2023, and we discuss her motivations behind these artistic choices. But mostly, we're having a good old chat about a well-beloved film. We find particular interest in the film's navigation of tropes from horror films and family dramas, and we consider Elliot as a figure of loneliness. We also pick up on ET as a film about communication, connecting this with non-normative modes of autistic communication. Huge thanks to Sam! Check out Sam's work here: https://www.samchown-ahern.com/

ATC phone home, ATC phone home...! We're back among the aliens and the spaceships today as we tackle Steven Spielberg's tear-jerking classic. We're also incredibly delighted to welcome yet another wonderful special guest, the brilliant Sam Chown-Ahern! Sam is a filmmaker, artist, collaborator, and member of the Neurocultures Collective, who are currently working with Autism Through Cinema in the creation of an experimental feature film. Sam also presented a wonderfully bizarre re-edit of a scene from ET at the Autism Through Cinema conference in January 2023, and we discuss her motivations behind these artistic choices. But mostly, we're having a good old chat about a well-beloved film. We find particular interest in the film's navigation of tropes from horror films and family dramas, and we consider Elliot as a figure of loneliness. We also pick up on ET as a film about communication, connecting this with non-normative modes of autistic communication. Huge thanks to Sam! Check out Sam's work here: <a href="https://www.samchown-ahern.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.samchown-ahern.com/</a>

ET: The Extra Terrestrial (1982) with Sam Chown-Ahern

Hal Ashby

We've made a brief sidestep into TV for the first half of episode #41 because we are joined by the wonderful Andrew Brenner, Headwriter of the CBeebies show Pablo. For the uninitiated, Pablo is an animated show about an autistic boy and his imaginary animal friends and has been a staple of CBeebies since 2017. Andrew talks us through how the show came to be, how it developed, and the importance of working with autistic performers. Three particular episodes of the show are discussed, all of which are freely available to view on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b097bs09/pablo It's also worth mentioning that we have previously featured one of the voice actors from Pablo, the brilliant artist Sumita Majumdar who joined us for episode #23 to talk about Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. Do scroll back through our archive to find it! Following the Pablo chat, Andrew, Janet, Alex and Georgia move on to discuss the 1971 Hal Ashby film Harold &amp; Maude. The film's two outsider protagonists are considered in autistic terms, as is their unusual age-gap relationship. Empathy comes under examination, which is found to be lacking in the stiff typical characters that surround the central pair, before the discussion turns to how the two central characters buck the conventions of gender expectations. Towards the end, Andrew gives a shout-out to our crossover episode with Talking Images in which co-host David Hartley talks about another of Ashby's films about an outsider: Being There. Here's the link to that episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ACULrwtGxYWM867qPxpdU Huge thanks to Andrew for joining us!  

We've made a brief sidestep into TV for the first half of episode #41 because we are joined by the wonderful Andrew Brenner, Headwriter of the CBeebies show Pablo. For the uninitiated, Pablo is an animated show about an autistic boy and his imaginary animal friends and has been a staple of CBeebies since 2017. Andrew talks us through how the show came to be, how it developed, and the importance of working with autistic performers. Three particular episodes of the show are discussed, all of which are freely available to view on BBC iPlayer: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b097bs09/pablo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b097bs09/pablo</a> It's also worth mentioning that we have previously featured one of the voice actors from Pablo, the brilliant artist Sumita Majumdar who joined us for episode #23 to talk about Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. Do scroll back through our archive to find it! Following the Pablo chat, Andrew, Janet, Alex and Georgia move on to discuss the 1971 Hal Ashby film Harold &amp; Maude. The film's two outsider protagonists are considered in autistic terms, as is their unusual age-gap relationship. Empathy comes under examination, which is found to be lacking in the stiff typical characters that surround the central pair, before the discussion turns to how the two central characters buck the conventions of gender expectations. Towards the end, Andrew gives a shout-out to our crossover episode with Talking Images in which co-host David Hartley talks about another of Ashby's films about an outsider: Being There. Here's the link to that episode: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ACULrwtGxYWM867qPxpdU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ACULrwtGxYWM867qPxpdU</a> Huge thanks to Andrew for joining us!

Harold & Maude (1971) dir. Hal Ashby, with Andrew Brenner

Celine Sciamma

Welcome back to a fresh batch of episodes exploring autistic resonance and sensibility on film! We are delighted to welcome the wonderful Sophie Broadgate to the podcast today. Sophie is an autistic filmmaker working in Cumbria and Manchester whose recent short films 'In Motion' and 'We've created invisible systems and structures' explore autistic identity and experience. We chat to Sophie about her own diagnostic experience, her processes working with autistic subjects, and some of her artistic choices. Sophie's brilliant work can be viewed on her website: pikaiafilms.co.uk. You can also find Sophie on Instagram at @sophiebroadgate. We then move on to our discussion on Celine Sciamma's 2011 film Tomboy, which Sophie brought along for our consideration. We find much to admire in Sciamma's balanced approach to her subject matter, and uncover autistic resonance with Laure/Mickael's explorations of gender non-conformity and childhood. Questions marks hang over the final narrative decision of the film but we appreciate the gentle and careful framing of the moment as a conscious choice of the protagonist. Huge thanks to Sophie for joining us!

Welcome back to a fresh batch of episodes exploring autistic resonance and sensibility on film! We are delighted to welcome the wonderful Sophie Broadgate to the podcast today. Sophie is an autistic filmmaker working in Cumbria and Manchester whose recent short films 'In Motion' and 'We've created invisible systems and structures' explore autistic identity and experience. We chat to Sophie about her own diagnostic experience, her processes working with autistic subjects, and some of her artistic choices. Sophie's brilliant work can be viewed on her website: <a href="https://pikaiafilms.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pikaiafilms.co.uk</a>. You can also find Sophie on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sophiebroadgate/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@sophiebroadgate.</a> We then move on to our discussion on Celine Sciamma's 2011 film Tomboy, which Sophie brought along for our consideration. We find much to admire in Sciamma's balanced approach to her subject matter, and uncover autistic resonance with Laure/Mickael's explorations of gender non-conformity and childhood. Questions marks hang over the final narrative decision of the film but we appreciate the gentle and careful framing of the moment as a conscious choice of the protagonist. Huge thanks to Sophie for joining us!

Tomboy (2011) dir. Celine Sciamma with Sophie Broadgate

Jeanne Dielman

Chantal Akerman

On the 1st December 2022, the Sight and Sound Greatest Film of All Time poll unveiled a surprising result. The poll takes place every 10 years and for fifty years the top spot was held by Citizen Kane before switching to Vertigo in 2012. This time, with a wider pool of industry voters including filmmakers, critics, academics and curators, the crown has been snatched by Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975). Lillian has been super keen to bring Akerman to the ATC podcast for a while, so we decided this was a perfect opportunity. She is joined by Janet and Georgia for a wide-ranging discussion about autism, feminism, and the nature of what to include in the 'Greatest Films of All Time' canon. Do you have thoughts on the Sight and Sound Poll? Have you identified autistic presence in Akerman's work? Do let us know! You can email us your thoughts on cinemautism [at] gmail.com

On the 1st December 2022, the Sight and Sound Greatest Film of All Time poll unveiled a surprising result. The poll takes place every 10 years and for fifty years the top spot was held by Citizen Kane before switching to Vertigo in 2012. This time, with a wider pool of industry voters including filmmakers, critics, academics and curators, the crown has been snatched by Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975). Lillian has been super keen to bring Akerman to the ATC podcast for a while, so we decided this was a perfect opportunity. She is joined by Janet and Georgia for a wide-ranging discussion about autism, feminism, and the nature of what to include in the 'Greatest Films of All Time' canon. Do you have thoughts on the Sight and Sound Poll? Have you identified autistic presence in Akerman's work? Do let us know! You can email us your thoughts on cinemautism [at] <a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a>

Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) dir. Chantal Akerman

Peter Greenaway

There's a Peter Greenaway season happening over at the BFI in London, and our Lillian recently conducted an interview with the man himself, which you can find here:  https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/beginning-was-image-interview-with-peter-greenaway  We thought, therefore, that it was high time we covered Greenaway, especially with Ethan boldly describing the director's work as one of the 'most autistic'... Lillian and Ethan get together with Georgia to tackle Greenaway's first feature-length film, the epic apocalyptic mockumentary The Falls. We find an autistic mode in the film's approach to categorising and cataloguing, and connect strongly with Greenaway's interest in attempting to both capture and elude a wholeness and totality. We also enjoy the film's absurdist imagery, and its complex approach to the use of language, particularly in relation to finding new words and visual imagery for what cannot be easily expressed. The mention of autism in relation to Greenaway on the documentary The Greenaway Alphabet is warmly received and enables our team to be all that more effusive about autistic presence in The Falls, and the affirmation of autistic presence in filmmaking more widely.  Catch the Greenaway season at the BFI across November and December, and also on the BFI Player. And, if you're quick, you might be able to see Ethan in the flesh when he gives his introduction to David Cronenberg's The Fly at the BFI on Monday 28th November 2022. Tickets still available here.

There's a Peter Greenaway season happening over at the BFI in London, and our Lillian recently conducted an interview with the man himself, which you can find here:  <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/beginning-was-image-interview-with-peter-greenaway" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/beginning-was-image-interview-with-peter-greenaway</a> We thought, therefore, that it was high time we covered Greenaway, especially with Ethan boldly describing the director's work as one of the 'most autistic'... Lillian and Ethan get together with Georgia to tackle Greenaway's first feature-length film, the epic apocalyptic mockumentary The Falls. We find an autistic mode in the film's approach to categorising and cataloguing, and connect strongly with Greenaway's interest in attempting to both capture and elude a wholeness and totality. We also enjoy the film's absurdist imagery, and its complex approach to the use of language, particularly in relation to finding new words and visual imagery for what cannot be easily expressed. The mention of autism in relation to Greenaway on the documentary The Greenaway Alphabet is warmly received and enables our team to be all that more effusive about autistic presence in The Falls, and the affirmation of autistic presence in filmmaking more widely.  Catch the Greenaway season at <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=framesofmind&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the BFI across November and December</a>, and also on the BFI Player. And, if you're quick, you might be able to see Ethan in the flesh when he gives his introduction to David Cronenberg's The Fly at the BFI on Monday 28th November 2022. <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=flyrelaxed&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tickets still available here</a>.

The Falls (1980) dir. Peter Greenaway

Uncle Boonmee

We take a gentle, nostalgic, and surreal turn with this episode via Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2010 palm d'or winning fantasy film, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. We meditate on what so-called 'Slow Cinema' can offer the autistic viewer, and how this form of filmmaking cuts against the mainstream fast-paced approach. We also enjoy Weerasethakul's fantastical leanings and the methods he uses to normalise and naturalise the supernatural, while we also consider how the natural landscape of the Thai jungles evoke the connections often made between autism and the environment. Georgia manages to make an intriguing comparison to the work of David Lynch, while Lillian laments alternative methods of filming nature that Uncle Boonmee seems to want to resist. To read about the autistic 'ecological sainthoods', as explored by Dr Anna Stenning, find her article here: https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7715/7606  What do you make of the work of Weerasethakul and other proponents of 'slow cinema'? Does it connect with an autistic sensibility? Do let us know! Email us on cinemautism[at]gmail.com or join in the conversation on twitter @AutismCinema

We take a gentle, nostalgic, and surreal turn with this episode via Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2010 palm d'or winning fantasy film, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. We meditate on what so-called 'Slow Cinema' can offer the autistic viewer, and how this form of filmmaking cuts against the mainstream fast-paced approach. We also enjoy Weerasethakul's fantastical leanings and the methods he uses to normalise and naturalise the supernatural, while we also consider how the natural landscape of the Thai jungles evoke the connections often made between autism and the environment. Georgia manages to make an intriguing comparison to the work of David Lynch, while Lillian laments alternative methods of filming nature that Uncle Boonmee seems to want to resist. To read about the autistic 'ecological sainthoods', as explored by Dr Anna Stenning, find her article here: <a href="https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7715/7606" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7715/7606</a> What do you make of the work of Weerasethakul and other proponents of 'slow cinema'? Does it connect with an autistic sensibility? Do let us know! Email us on cinemautism[at]<a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a> or join in the conversation on twitter @AutismCinema

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

In a break with our normal schedule, and posted a week early, we bring you a special episode where we reflect on the nature of 'Relaxed Screenings'. You might have seen these advertised at cinemas - special events organised with autistic and neurodivergent audiences in mind. Typically the lights are dimmed but not fully turned off, the volume is lowered, there's an understanding among the audience that there may be people fidgeting or making noise, and there's often a separate room set aside as a quiet space. All these accommodations are to be welcomed, but perhaps there are also some problems that arise from trying to create a 'one size fits all' approach to autism-friendly screenings? Also, who chooses the films that are shown in these relaxed screenings? What might happen when the curators are autistic themselves? To discuss all this, Ethan and David have invited Maggi Hurt, a programmer at the British Film Institute in the Southbank, London. Maggi has been responsible for devising and programming the 'Relaxed Series' screenings where she has worked in collaboration with autistic film lovers to curate events for autistic audiences. For their upcoming 'In Dreams are Monsters' season, our very own Ethan Lyon has taken up the challenge, and has programmed two horror films for the Relaxed Series. We talk about Ethan's choices, while also reflecting on how relaxed screenings work and what their future might be. Tickets are still available for Ethan's screenings, and the man himself will be there to lead a Q&amp;A discussion session afterwards at both events. Here are the details: Pontypool - Monday 31st October 2022, 18:10, NFT3. Tickets here: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=pontypoolrelaxed The Fly - Monday 28th November 2022, 18:00, NFT3. Tickets here: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=flyrelaxed  Also, David mentions a book by autistic journalist Laura Kate Dale, who writes a little about relaxed screenings. The book is called Uncomfortable Labels and you can find it here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/uncomfortable-labels/laura-kate-dale/9781785925870 

In a break with our normal schedule, and posted a week early, we bring you a special episode where we reflect on the nature of 'Relaxed Screenings'. You might have seen these advertised at cinemas - special events organised with autistic and neurodivergent audiences in mind. Typically the lights are dimmed but not fully turned off, the volume is lowered, there's an understanding among the audience that there may be people fidgeting or making noise, and there's often a separate room set aside as a quiet space. All these accommodations are to be welcomed, but perhaps there are also some problems that arise from trying to create a 'one size fits all' approach to autism-friendly screenings? Also, who chooses the films that are shown in these relaxed screenings? What might happen when the curators are autistic themselves? To discuss all this, Ethan and David have invited Maggi Hurt, a programmer at the British Film Institute in the Southbank, London. Maggi has been responsible for devising and programming the 'Relaxed Series' screenings where she has worked in collaboration with autistic film lovers to curate events for autistic audiences. For their upcoming 'In Dreams are Monsters' season, our very own Ethan Lyon has taken up the challenge, and has programmed two horror films for the Relaxed Series. We talk about Ethan's choices, while also reflecting on how relaxed screenings work and what their future might be. Tickets are still available for Ethan's screenings, and the man himself will be there to lead a Q&amp;A discussion session afterwards at both events. Here are the details: Pontypool - Monday 31st October 2022, 18:10, NFT3. Tickets here: <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=pontypoolrelaxed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=pontypoolrelaxed</a> The Fly - Monday 28th November 2022, 18:00, NFT3. Tickets here: <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=flyrelaxed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=flyrelaxed</a> Also, David mentions a book by autistic journalist Laura Kate Dale, who writes a little about relaxed screenings. The book is called Uncomfortable Labels and you can find it here: <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/uncomfortable-labels/laura-kate-dale/9781785925870" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.waterstones.com/book/uncomfortable-labels/laura-kate-dale/9781785925870</a>

Special Episode: Relaxed Screenings with Maggi Hurt (BFI)

We are skipping and stimming with delight to welcome Australian filmmaker and producer Sophia Rose O'Rourke to the podcast today. Sophia talks us through her experiences as an autistic creative and how she has been using filmmaking to help discover and explore her own identity. We talk about her short film 'Danse Russe', based on William Carlos Williams' poem of the same name: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46483/danse-russe, and we spend some time dwelling on the barriers that autistic people can face when trying to make a space in the film industry. But we also celebrate the very rich strengths that the autistic way-of-thinking can bring to creative cinematic spaces. We then turn our attention the 1993 version of The Secret Garden directed by Agnieszka Holland and based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sophia recalls her love of the film from childhood and the recognition she felt through the protagonist, Mary. We also reflect on the film's depiction of disability, and the power dynamics that can sometimes arise between carers and dependants. After the recording, Sophia sent us a timely article on The Conversation about autism and employment. Have a read of it here: https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-make-workplaces-work-for-autistic-people-189572  Enormous thanks to Sophia for taking the time to talk to us and for suggesting The Secret Garden. You can follow Sophia on Twitter at https://twitter.com/auntie_sophie  Do get in touch if you have any reactions to this episode!

We are skipping and stimming with delight to welcome Australian filmmaker and producer Sophia Rose O'Rourke to the podcast today. Sophia talks us through her experiences as an autistic creative and how she has been using filmmaking to help discover and explore her own identity. We talk about her short film 'Danse Russe', based on William Carlos Williams' poem of the same name: <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46483/danse-russe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46483/danse-russe</a>, and we spend some time dwelling on the barriers that autistic people can face when trying to make a space in the film industry. But we also celebrate the very rich strengths that the autistic way-of-thinking can bring to creative cinematic spaces. We then turn our attention the 1993 version of The Secret Garden directed by Agnieszka Holland and based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sophia recalls her love of the film from childhood and the recognition she felt through the protagonist, Mary. We also reflect on the film's depiction of disability, and the power dynamics that can sometimes arise between carers and dependants. After the recording, Sophia sent us a timely article on The Conversation about autism and employment. Have a read of it here: <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-make-workplaces-work-for-autistic-people-189572" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-make-workplaces-work-for-autistic-people-189572</a> Enormous thanks to Sophia for taking the time to talk to us and for suggesting The Secret Garden. You can follow Sophia on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/auntie_sophie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/auntie_sophie</a> Do get in touch if you have any reactions to this episode!

The Secret Garden (1993) dir. Agnieszka Holland with Sophia Rose O’Rourke

David Cronenberg

Hold onto your heads, we're back at you with another horror film just in time for spooky season. Ethan takes Alex and David into the splattery world of David Cronenberg via his 1981 brain-exploding psychological thriller Scanners. We ponder whether the eponymous telepaths might stand in for an oppressed neurodivergent group, while reflecting on Cronenberg's apparent anti-psychiatry stance. There's a power-play in the film from authority figures seeking to control the scanners, set against a slightly more fascistic ideology of scanner revolution, and we wonder where to place heroism and villainy in this headache of a story. The discussion winds its way to a reflection on the extensive problems around the anti-vaxx movement and we find many parallels with this film and the story of a certain Dr Wakefield. David even starts to ask if science-fiction horror has helped to fuel an anti-science rhetoric? Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy in the gurning faces of the characters, and the gutsy bodyhorror that Cronenberg specialises in.  We would therefore send a little content warning to those of you interested in watching this film - at times it is pretty horrible, and deals with a lot of dark and disturbing themes. Join in the conversation at @autismcinema on Twitter and via email at cinemautism[at]gmail.com.

Hold onto your heads, we're back at you with another horror film just in time for spooky season. Ethan takes Alex and David into the splattery world of David Cronenberg via his 1981 brain-exploding psychological thriller Scanners. We ponder whether the eponymous telepaths might stand in for an oppressed neurodivergent group, while reflecting on Cronenberg's apparent anti-psychiatry stance. There's a power-play in the film from authority figures seeking to control the scanners, set against a slightly more fascistic ideology of scanner revolution, and we wonder where to place heroism and villainy in this headache of a story. The discussion winds its way to a reflection on the extensive problems around the anti-vaxx movement and we find many parallels with this film and the story of a certain Dr Wakefield. David even starts to ask if science-fiction horror has helped to fuel an anti-science rhetoric? Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy in the gurning faces of the characters, and the gutsy bodyhorror that Cronenberg specialises in.  We would therefore send a little content warning to those of you interested in watching this film - at times it is pretty horrible, and deals with a lot of dark and disturbing themes. Join in the conversation at @autismcinema on Twitter and via email at cinemautism[at]<a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a>.

Scanners (1981) dir. David Cronenberg

"Life may be sad, but it's always beautiful" Today we pay tribute to one of the greats of modern cinema, the late Jean-Luc Godard. We recorded this conversation before the recent announcement of his passing, so we've brought our discussion of Pierrot le Fou forward on our release schedule. Godard is a filmmaker who means a lot to us all at Autism Through Cinema. His unfailingly maverick approach to the cinematic art form serves as a profound expression of what can be possible in this medium with an outlook alternative to the mainstream. Lillian, David and Ethan fall in love again with Godard's technicolour masterpiece. Pierrot le Fou is a meandering road movie about love, freedom, and disconnection, based on Lionel White's 1962 novel Obsession. We reflect on the neurodivergent sensibilities of the two protagonists, particularly Anna Karina's mesmerising performance as Marianne, while also considering how the techniques and directions of the French New Wave align with autistic ways of thinking. This episode features a specially-recorded introduction by Lillian Crawford paying tribute to Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina. Do you have any thoughts or tributes to Godard? Send them to us on cinemautism@gmail.com and we'll happily read them out on a future episode. 

"Life may be sad, but it's always beautiful" Today we pay tribute to one of the greats of modern cinema, the late Jean-Luc Godard. We recorded this conversation before the recent announcement of his passing, so we've brought our discussion of Pierrot le Fou forward on our release schedule. Godard is a filmmaker who means a lot to us all at Autism Through Cinema. His unfailingly maverick approach to the cinematic art form serves as a profound expression of what can be possible in this medium with an outlook alternative to the mainstream. Lillian, David and Ethan fall in love again with Godard's technicolour masterpiece. Pierrot le Fou is a meandering road movie about love, freedom, and disconnection, based on Lionel White's 1962 novel Obsession. We reflect on the neurodivergent sensibilities of the two protagonists, particularly Anna Karina's mesmerising performance as Marianne, while also considering how the techniques and directions of the French New Wave align with autistic ways of thinking. This episode features a specially-recorded introduction by Lillian Crawford paying tribute to Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina. Do you have any thoughts or tributes to Godard? Send them to us on cinemautism@gmail.com and we'll happily read them out on a future episode.

Pierrot le Fou (1965) dir Jean-Luc Godard

Investigating autistic presence and expression on film and TV. We push beyond the obvious and seek out autistic themes and concerns in films from across the cinematic spectrum. We consider the ethics of performing autism, while also celebrating the autistic pleasures offered by the camerawork and the soundscapes. We delve into the works of cult directors who have hit upon an autistic way-of-seeing, perhaps without ever intending to. We entertain new possibilites for re-thinking beloved films in a neurodivergent light.Join regular contributors Janet Harbord, Georgia Bradburn, John-James Laidlow, David Hartley and Alex Widdowson for their fascinating and diverting discussions of a whole suite of suprising and challenging films.    This podcast is brought to you by the Autism Through Cinema project, based at Queen Mary, University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust. For further information on the wider project, visit our website at autism-through-cinema.org.uk and follow us ...

Kazuo Hara

Today we welcome special guest host Richard Butchins to the podcast. Richard is a filmmaker, documentarian, TV presenter and disability activist whose credits include BBC's Panorama, ITV's Exposure and Channel 4's Dispatches. Richard's brilliant short films and photography can be found on his website: https://www.richardbutchins.art/ Richard brings along the 1972 documentary Sayonara CP (also known as Goodbye CP) directed by Kazuo Hara for Alex and Ethan to discuss. This tough and unflinching film follows the lives of Yokota Hiroshi and Yokozuka Koichi, two members of an activist group for people with cerebral palsy. Richard offers the film as an example of a direct engagement with disability discomfort that asks questions of an audience's perception and acceptance of physical and cognitive difference. Many thanks to Richard for agreeing to be a guest on the show. If you have a response to the discussion on today's episode, please do get in touch with us! You can email us your thoughts on cinemautism@gmail.com or tweet us a reaction at @AutismCinema.

Today we welcome special guest host Richard Butchins to the podcast. Richard is a filmmaker, documentarian, TV presenter and disability activist whose credits include BBC's Panorama, ITV's Exposure and Channel 4's Dispatches. Richard's brilliant short films and photography can be found on his website: <a href="https://www.richardbutchins.art/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.richardbutchins.art/</a> Richard brings along the 1972 documentary Sayonara CP (also known as Goodbye CP) directed by Kazuo Hara for Alex and Ethan to discuss. This tough and unflinching film follows the lives of Yokota Hiroshi and Yokozuka Koichi, two members of an activist group for people with cerebral palsy. Richard offers the film as an example of a direct engagement with disability discomfort that asks questions of an audience's perception and acceptance of physical and cognitive difference. Many thanks to Richard for agreeing to be a guest on the show. If you have a response to the discussion on today's episode, please do get in touch with us! You can email us your thoughts on <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com</a> or tweet us a reaction at @AutismCinema.

Sayonara CP (1972) dir. Kazuo Hara with Richard Butchins

Charlie Chaplin

It is the early 1930s and sound has arrived to cinema. The medium's most celebrated silent era star is struggling to embrace this new audio dawn, preferring to keep his iconic little tramp mute while making only minimal use of sound effects. Along comes City Lights, perhaps Chaplin's most personal film, and we spend time with the Tramp and his hijinks and pratfalls to uncover autistic content. Are his awkward yet balletic movements through spaces reminiscent of some autistic tendencies of clumsiness? Does his resistance to the noise of the sound era create an autistic aesthetic of imagery and music rather than verbal communication? Do we need words anyway? After a wonderful introduction from Lillian, Ethan and David join in the discussion and we revel in the set-pieces, the performance, and the gloriously romantic ending. Apologies for such a loooong episode, but we had so much we wanted to say! Please do join in the conversation via our email cinemautism [at] gmail.com, and if you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with everyone you know...

It is the early 1930s and sound has arrived to cinema. The medium's most celebrated silent era star is struggling to embrace this new audio dawn, preferring to keep his iconic little tramp mute while making only minimal use of sound effects. Along comes City Lights, perhaps Chaplin's most personal film, and we spend time with the Tramp and his hijinks and pratfalls to uncover autistic content. Are his awkward yet balletic movements through spaces reminiscent of some autistic tendencies of clumsiness? Does his resistance to the noise of the sound era create an autistic aesthetic of imagery and music rather than verbal communication? Do we need words anyway? After a wonderful introduction from Lillian, Ethan and David join in the discussion and we revel in the set-pieces, the performance, and the gloriously romantic ending. Apologies for such a loooong episode, but we had so much we wanted to say! Please do join in the conversation via our email cinemautism [at] <a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a>, and if you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with everyone you know...

City Lights (1931) dir. Charlie Chaplin

Lillian, David and Alex grab their broomsticks and take flight today into the magical worlds of Studio Ghibli via Hayao Miyazaki's 1989 film Kiki's Delivery Service. In among the gorgeous animation we find a meditation on the nature of difference and an exploration of the feeling of being an outsider. Kiki's wild energy and her bouts of gloom are likened to the rollercoaster emotions of the hardworking neurodivergent, while the concept of witchiness is also brought under autistic scrutiny. We reflect on how why the genres of anime and manga seem to appeal to autistic sensibilities, then we discuss a few more Ghibli films that have made a strong impression on us - particularly Spirited Away (2001) and Ponyo (2008).  What's your take on Studio Ghibli films? Have they offered a cinematic space of autistic pleasure and escapism? Let us know your favourites on twitter at @AutismCinema or via email on cinemautism[at]gmail[dot]com.

Lillian, David and Alex grab their broomsticks and take flight today into the magical worlds of Studio Ghibli via Hayao Miyazaki's 1989 film Kiki's Delivery Service. In among the gorgeous animation we find a meditation on the nature of difference and an exploration of the feeling of being an outsider. Kiki's wild energy and her bouts of gloom are likened to the rollercoaster emotions of the hardworking neurodivergent, while the concept of witchiness is also brought under autistic scrutiny. We reflect on how why the genres of anime and manga seem to appeal to autistic sensibilities, then we discuss a few more Ghibli films that have made a strong impression on us - particularly Spirited Away (2001) and Ponyo (2008).  What's your take on Studio Ghibli films? Have they offered a cinematic space of autistic pleasure and escapism? Let us know your favourites on twitter at @AutismCinema or via email on cinemautism[at]gmail[dot]com.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) dir. Hayao Miyazaki

Wes Anderson

Jiminy Cricket! It's a Wes Anderson episode!  David, Lillian and Ethan get all warm and cosy with the pastel-colours and eccentric characters of Anderson's celebrated 7th feature film Moonrise Kingdom. The film crackles with a neurodivergent energy, from the neat tableaus of the cinematography to the gently rebellious characters of Sam and Suzy. We discuss how Anderson's use of a childlike gaze creates a visual style that emphasises formal qualities and static images, with a clear attention to comedic background details. We find useful analysis from Jacob Siegel's essay 'Wes Anderson and the Aesthetics of Autism', particularly the idea that having 'a fierce loyalty to one's passions' is 'it's own victory' as evoked by many of Anderson's tragic and comedic characters. Find the full essay here: http://newpartisan.squarespace.com/home/wes-anderson-and-the-aesthetics-of-autism.html  There's also enthusiasm for Anderson's use of Benjamin Britten's music in Moonrise Kingdom, his careful approach to sexuality, and the performances of Tilda Swinton (who has appeared previously in our Orlando episode). As ever, we'd love to hear from our listeners. Do you have a favourite Anderson film? Do you find an autistic presence in his movies? If you have comments, let us know via cinemautism@gmail.com and we'll find some time to read them out in a future recording.

Jiminy Cricket! It's a Wes Anderson episode!  David, Lillian and Ethan get all warm and cosy with the pastel-colours and eccentric characters of Anderson's celebrated 7th feature film Moonrise Kingdom. The film crackles with a neurodivergent energy, from the neat tableaus of the cinematography to the gently rebellious characters of Sam and Suzy. We discuss how Anderson's use of a childlike gaze creates a visual style that emphasises formal qualities and static images, with a clear attention to comedic background details. We find useful analysis from Jacob Siegel's essay 'Wes Anderson and the Aesthetics of Autism', particularly the idea that having 'a fierce loyalty to one's passions' is 'it's own victory' as evoked by many of Anderson's tragic and comedic characters. Find the full essay here: <a href="http://newpartisan.squarespace.com/home/wes-anderson-and-the-aesthetics-of-autism.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://newpartisan.squarespace.com/home/wes-anderson-and-the-aesthetics-of-autism.html</a> There's also enthusiasm for Anderson's use of Benjamin Britten's music in Moonrise Kingdom, his careful approach to sexuality, and the performances of Tilda Swinton (who has appeared previously in <a href="https://cinemautism.podbean.com/e/orlando-1992/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our Orlando episode</a>). As ever, we'd love to hear from our listeners. Do you have a favourite Anderson film? Do you find an autistic presence in his movies? If you have comments, let us know via <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com </a>and we'll find some time to read them out in a future recording.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) dir. Wes Anderson

In the second of a series of special episodes featuring autistic creatives, Janet and Ethan welcome the wonderful Daniel Bendelman to the podcast. Daniel is an autistic video artist and PhD student at The University of Kent whose work attempts to expose the power dynamics of autism representation through video art and performance-based installations. In particular, the team discuss Daniel's remarkable installation for 'Fragments', where Daniel performed the writing of his medical history next to a looped sequence from Rain Man, and his compelling short film 'The Life and Death of an Anonymous Autistic Man', produced by DYSPLA in 2018. Daniel reflects on the influences of Michel Foucault and Franz Kafka on his work, and digs into his history as a person diagnosed as Aspergers at a childhood age and how his art practice humanises those experiences. There's also time for discussion around the complicated history of the term 'Aspergers' itself, from its removal from the DSM to the troubling associations of Hans Asperger with the Nazi regime. Read more about Daniel in his interview with Colin Hambrook on Disability Arts Online: https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/daniel-bendelman-disrupting-the-gaze/  The imagery from Daniel's installation 'Fragments' can be viewed here via Gorm Ashurst's photography: https://www.gorminator.com/2015/06/fragments/  An expert from Daniel's film 'Life and Death of an Anonymous Autistic Man' can be viewed on DYSPLA: https://dyspla.com/Anonymous-Autistic-Man_film  Have you seen any of Daniel's work? What are your thoughts? Do get in touch with us on cinemautism@gmail.com to join in with the conversation.

In the second of a series of special episodes featuring autistic creatives, Janet and Ethan welcome the wonderful Daniel Bendelman to the podcast. Daniel is an autistic video artist and PhD student at The University of Kent whose work attempts to expose the power dynamics of autism representation through video art and performance-based installations. In particular, the team discuss Daniel's remarkable installation for 'Fragments', where Daniel performed the writing of his medical history next to a looped sequence from Rain Man, and his compelling short film 'The Life and Death of an Anonymous Autistic Man', produced by DYSPLA in 2018. Daniel reflects on the influences of Michel Foucault and Franz Kafka on his work, and digs into his history as a person diagnosed as Aspergers at a childhood age and how his art practice humanises those experiences. There's also time for discussion around the complicated history of the term 'Aspergers' itself, from its removal from the DSM to the troubling associations of Hans Asperger with the Nazi regime. Read more about Daniel in his interview with Colin Hambrook on Disability Arts Online: <a href="https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/daniel-bendelman-disrupting-the-gaze/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/daniel-bendelman-disrupting-the-gaze/</a> The imagery from Daniel's installation 'Fragments' can be viewed here via Gorm Ashurst's photography: <a href="https://www.gorminator.com/2015/06/fragments/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.gorminator.com/2015/06/fragments/</a> An expert from Daniel's film 'Life and Death of an Anonymous Autistic Man' can be viewed on DYSPLA: <a href="https://dyspla.com/Anonymous-Autistic-Man_film" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://dyspla.com/Anonymous-Autistic-Man_film</a> Have you seen any of Daniel's work? What are your thoughts? Do get in touch with us on <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com</a> to join in with the conversation.

Daniel Bendelman - autistic video artist

Same as it ever was! Same as it ever was! Today we're in the company of the great David Byrne, the lead singer of Talking Heads, and his one and only feature film True Stories. There are, as Alex suggests, 'big-time autistic vibes' around Byrne in the film, but also in the sensibility of the way the film is structured and presented. We enjoy being led through the world of the film through the eyes of an autistic individual, leading us to question whether an autistic sensibility resists or challenge conventional narrative forms. We discuss the diagrammatic nature of the narrative and how that provides a sense of a soothing order, as well as a Brechtian distance, while also reflecting on Byrne's interest in technofuturism.   The film in this episode was recommended to us by listener Analotta Pauly, who sent us a link to this brilliant article on Medium: https://medium.com/counterarts/david-byrnes-true-stories-as-a-search-for-autistic-connection-43629c62cd07 We're always keen to hear from our listeners, so please do drop us a message on cinemautism@gmail.com if you'd like to suggest films for us to consider in the future.

Same as it ever was! Same as it ever was! Today we're in the company of the great David Byrne, the lead singer of Talking Heads, and his one and only feature film True Stories. There are, as Alex suggests, 'big-time autistic vibes' around Byrne in the film, but also in the sensibility of the way the film is structured and presented. We enjoy being led through the world of the film through the eyes of an autistic individual, leading us to question whether an autistic sensibility resists or challenge conventional narrative forms. We discuss the diagrammatic nature of the narrative and how that provides a sense of a soothing order, as well as a Brechtian distance, while also reflecting on Byrne's interest in technofuturism.   The film in this episode was recommended to us by listener Analotta Pauly, who sent us a link to this brilliant article on Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/counterarts/david-byrnes-true-stories-as-a-search-for-autistic-connection-43629c62cd07" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://medium.com/counterarts/david-byrnes-true-stories-as-a-search-for-autistic-connection-43629c62cd07</a> We're always keen to hear from our listeners, so please do drop us a message on <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com</a> if you'd like to suggest films for us to consider in the future.

True Stories (1986)

In the first of a series of special episodes talking with neurodivergent and autistic filmmakers and film workers, we welcome video artist Alicia Radage to the podcast. Alicia's practice combines performance art, shamanistic ritual and videography that attempts to reach an understanding of neurodivergent connections to the 'more-than-human'. We discovered her through brilliant Shape Arts commission 'Quake', where she performs a ritualistic cycle of singing, meditating and dancing for worms - find the link to the work below. We discussed the possibilities of a neurodivergent aesthetic, how film allows performance artists to make enriched use of time and detail, and problems with the terms 'high and low functioning'. We also spent some time talking with John-James Laidlow, our regular host, about his video work Another Way is Possible and Peeling Tatties, available to view on his website. Recently, John-James has decided to step down from the podcast as a regular host so we'd like to say a big thank you to John-James for all his brilliant contributions to Autism Through Cinema.  A quick word of warning: there is some use of strong language in this episode, so please use caution if that is an issue for you. Also, Alicia's work that we link to below on her website contains nudity and some challenging themes. Huge thanks to Alicia for agreeing to be on the podcast and for being such a fascinating guest! Alicia Radage's website: https://www.aliciaradage.com/ Quake on Shape Arts: https://www.shapearts.org.uk/blog/watch-quake-a-new-performance-work-from-alicia-radage  Quake on Alicia's website: https://www.aliciaradage.com/quake (CW: nudity) Alicia at the Whitstable Biennale with MOTHER BENT, 11th June: https://whitstablebiennale.com/project/mother-bent/  Alicia as part of 'The Healing Collective' at Giant Gallery in Bournemouth from the 19th June: https://www.giant.space/upcoming  John-James Laidlow's video work: https://john-james.hotglue.me/  The philosopher Erin Manning's book Always More than One: https://www.dukeupress.edu/always-more-than-one  Autistic musician John Biddulph and his moss music: https://johnbiddulph.bandcamp.com/album/perambulations-i 

In the first of a series of special episodes talking with neurodivergent and autistic filmmakers and film workers, we welcome video artist Alicia Radage to the podcast. Alicia's practice combines performance art, shamanistic ritual and videography that attempts to reach an understanding of neurodivergent connections to the 'more-than-human'. We discovered her through brilliant Shape Arts commission 'Quake', where she performs a ritualistic cycle of singing, meditating and dancing for worms - find the link to the work below. We discussed the possibilities of a neurodivergent aesthetic, how film allows performance artists to make enriched use of time and detail, and problems with the terms 'high and low functioning'. We also spent some time talking with John-James Laidlow, our regular host, about his video work Another Way is Possible and Peeling Tatties, available to view on his website. Recently, John-James has decided to step down from the podcast as a regular host so we'd like to say a big thank you to John-James for all his brilliant contributions to Autism Through Cinema.  A quick word of warning: there is some use of strong language in this episode, so please use caution if that is an issue for you. Also, Alicia's work that we link to below on her website contains nudity and some challenging themes. Huge thanks to Alicia for agreeing to be on the podcast and for being such a fascinating guest! Alicia Radage's website: <a href="https://www.aliciaradage.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.aliciaradage.com/</a> Quake on Shape Arts: <a href="https://www.shapearts.org.uk/blog/watch-quake-a-new-performance-work-from-alicia-radage" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.shapearts.org.uk/blog/watch-quake-a-new-performance-work-from-alicia-radage</a> Quake on Alicia's website: <a href="https://www.aliciaradage.com/quake" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.aliciaradage.com/quake</a> (CW: nudity) Alicia at the Whitstable Biennale with MOTHER BENT, 11th June: <a href="https://whitstablebiennale.com/project/mother-bent/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://whitstablebiennale.com/project/mother-bent/</a> Alicia as part of 'The Healing Collective' at Giant Gallery in Bournemouth from the 19th June: <a href="https://www.giant.space/upcoming" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.giant.space/upcoming</a> John-James Laidlow's video work: <a href="https://johnjameslaidlow.com/about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://john-james.hotglue.me/</a> The philosopher Erin Manning's book Always More than One: <a href="https://www.dukeupress.edu/always-more-than-one" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.dukeupress.edu/always-more-than-one</a> Autistic musician John Biddulph and his moss music: <a href="https://johnbiddulph.bandcamp.com/album/perambulations-i" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://johnbiddulph.bandcamp.com/album/perambulations-i</a>

Alicia Radage - neurodivergent video artist

Matt Reeves

We're back! Thank you for bearing with us while we spent some time recording some new episodes. First up, we find ourselves in Matt Reeves's gloomy new vision of Gotham City. We are prompted to use 'The Batman' as a way of doing self-reflection about the stereotypes perpetuated by autism-focused media, but we also find discussion points among the tricky representation of neurodivergence found in superheroes and supervillains. In particular, we tackle the relationship between incel culture and autism via Paul Dano's latest version of The Riddler, while also entertaining the possibility that Robert Pattinson's emo Bruce Wayne may also display traits of autistic tendency. And what of Gotham itself? A city that has descended into a dystopia of neurotypical dominance? The parody of Autism Speaks and The Guardian which leads our discussion, as found by Alex Widdowson: https://www.instagram.com/p/CawTdTLr6t0/ ContraPoints on Incels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2briZ6fB0 Thanks for listening! Do get in touch with us via cinemautism@gmail.com to suggest future episodes or to contribute to the discussions. We'll read out our favourite correspondance in a future recording!

We're back! Thank you for bearing with us while we spent some time recording some new episodes. First up, we find ourselves in Matt Reeves's gloomy new vision of Gotham City. We are prompted to use 'The Batman' as a way of doing self-reflection about the stereotypes perpetuated by autism-focused media, but we also find discussion points among the tricky representation of neurodivergence found in superheroes and supervillains. In particular, we tackle the relationship between incel culture and autism via Paul Dano's latest version of The Riddler, while also entertaining the possibility that Robert Pattinson's emo Bruce Wayne may also display traits of autistic tendency. And what of Gotham itself? A city that has descended into a dystopia of neurotypical dominance? The parody of Autism Speaks and The Guardian which leads our discussion, as found by Alex Widdowson: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CawTdTLr6t0/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/p/CawTdTLr6t0/</a> ContraPoints on Incels: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2briZ6fB0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2briZ6fB0</a> Thanks for listening! Do get in touch with us via <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com </a>to suggest future episodes or to contribute to the discussions. We'll read out our favourite correspondance in a future recording!

The Batman (2022) dir. Matt Reeves

Dearest listeners - we need to take a short break while we record some new episodes. When we return, we plan to bring you a special series of episodes where we talk to autistic people working within the film industry, alongside our regular output of film discussions. To that end, if YOU are an autistic person working within the film industry in some form, we'd love to hear from you! Please get in touch on cinemautism@gmail.com and tell us a bit about yourself. Or you can drop us a message via our website: https://www.autism-through-cinema.org.uk/contact In the meantime, our back catalogue of episodes is staying up, giving you time to catch up with any you may have missed. We hope to return in the summer. See you then! ATC Podcast

Dearest listeners - we need to take a short break while we record some new episodes. When we return, we plan to bring you a special series of episodes where we talk to autistic people working within the film industry, alongside our regular output of film discussions. To that end, if YOU are an autistic person working within the film industry in some form, we'd love to hear from you! Please get in touch on <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com </a>and tell us a bit about yourself. Or you can drop us a message via our website: <a href="https://www.autism-through-cinema.org.uk/contact" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.autism-through-cinema.org.uk/contact</a> In the meantime, our back catalogue of episodes is staying up, giving you time to catch up with any you may have missed. We hope to return in the summer. See you then! ATC Podcast

A Brief Hiatus... we will be back!

Philip Kaufman

Our podcast people - namely John-James, Alex and Ethan - tackle the pod people of Philip Kaufman's 1978 sci-fi horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This unnerving tale of alien invasion arose from the anxieties of the 'Red Scare' of the 1950s when Soviet Union communism was the peak existential threat to the American way-of-life. The aliens clone humans in pods and use those clones to lure new victims. It is the strange behaviour of the clones that alerts the heroes to the presence of an invasive force. So, in the context of autism and neurodivergence, we find here a tale of neurological difference where behaviour and social divergence marks people out as 'other'. We toy with the idea that the pod-people are the conformist neurotypicals determined to assimilate everyone into their ideology, but those same aliens could metaphorically stand for the fears of the 'contagion' of neurodivergence. Perhaps the pod-people are thrillingly different? Perhaps they are revolutionaries? We twist and turn around these ideas, before contemplating what a present day version of this timeless tale might look like.  The voices in this episode are Ethan Lyon, Alex Widdowson, and John-James Laidlow. Give us your thoughts by email cinemautism[at]gmail.com 

Our podcast people - namely John-James, Alex and Ethan - tackle the pod people of Philip Kaufman's 1978 sci-fi horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This unnerving tale of alien invasion arose from the anxieties of the 'Red Scare' of the 1950s when Soviet Union communism was the peak existential threat to the American way-of-life. The aliens clone humans in pods and use those clones to lure new victims. It is the strange behaviour of the clones that alerts the heroes to the presence of an invasive force. So, in the context of autism and neurodivergence, we find here a tale of neurological difference where behaviour and social divergence marks people out as 'other'. We toy with the idea that the pod-people are the conformist neurotypicals determined to assimilate everyone into their ideology, but those same aliens could metaphorically stand for the fears of the 'contagion' of neurodivergence. Perhaps the pod-people are thrillingly different? Perhaps they are revolutionaries? We twist and turn around these ideas, before contemplating what a present day version of this timeless tale might look like. The voices in this episode are Ethan Lyon, Alex Widdowson, and John-James Laidlow. Give us your thoughts by email cinemautism[at]<a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a>

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) dir. Philip Kaufman

Investigating autistic presence and expression on film and TV. We push beyond the obvious and seek out autistic themes and concerns in films from across the cinematic spectrum. We consider the ethics of performing autism, while also celebrating the autistic pleasures offered by the camerawork and the soundscapes. We delve into the works of cult directors who have hit upon an autistic way-of-seeing, perhaps without ever intending to. We entertain new possibilites for re-thinking beloved films in a neurodivergent light. Join regular contributors Janet Harbord, Georgia Bradburn, John-James Laidlow, David Hartley and Alex Widdowson for their fascinating and diverting discussions of a whole suite of suprising and challenging films. This podcast is brought to you by the Autism Through Cinema project, based at Queen Mary, University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust. For further information on the wider project, visit our website at <a href="http://autism-through-cinema.org.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">autism-through-cinema.org.uk</a> and follow us ...

Autism Through Cinema

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