Love (and Lust) on the Spectrum
Is the portrayal of autism in the Netflix series infantilizing or authentic?
If you haven’t already watched Love on the Spectrum, why not? I mean, aside from the fact that Netflix is grossly overpriced at this point.
I have watched the original Australian version and overall found it charming. The formula was clearly so successful that the producers decided to take it overseas to the US.
To be clear, the show is not perfect. Like any series, it has its detractors whose main objection as far as I can tell is that the series infantilizes its autistic stars. There is the matter of the voiceover when each new cast member is introduced, saying something like, “This is Barbie. She likes cotton candy and popping bubble wrap. She hates people who kill spiders.”
At first glance, such introductions appear seem patronizing and childish. They make already quirky people sound even more quirky and “odd” in their tastes. But that would be missing the point. If you are a huge fan (as I am) of the French 2001 film, Amélie, then you know that these introductions serve as homage to this wonderfully whimsical movie. When each character is introduced, we hear their likes and dislikes. Amélie herself famously likes: cracking crème brûlée with a teaspoon and skimming stones on the canal. She doesn’t like: in old American films when the drivers don’t look at the road.
(Fun fact: there is much speculation online that the character of Amélie Poulain is autistic, something I think the producers of Love are well aware of.)
So once you consider these intros as homage to a movie masterpiece, then they become less grating. Cast members like Kaelynn have also spoken up about allegations that the show infantilizes its cast. Hey, if the cast if happy with their portrayal, who are we viewers to criticize it?
I admire this show for bringing more exposure to the lives of autistic folks. Showing that we all want and deserve love. That we are funny and anxious and have all the usual conflicted feelings about dating and relationships. (And yes, even autistic people get horny. Love you, Dani!)
There is some—although not nearly enough—diversity in terms of race and sexuality, which is problematic given the fact that autistic folks are not overwhelmingly hetero. We are often gay, bi, or pan sexual or possess sexuality of many stripes.
My main beef this season is that the cast is a bit homogenous. They are all, by and large, around the same age, race, and socioeconomic demographic, e.g. (mostly) wealthy, (mostly) white, (mostly) still living at home with ageing parents.
While I love the inclusion of an older man, Steve, I would like to see older women—even late diagnosed women—represented. Or more women like Kaelynn who “pass” and don’t exclusively date fellow autists.
The spectrum is vast and should be depicted as such. We don’t, for instance, see anyone really struggling, having meltdowns or shutdowns. The show is light and upbeat, and that’s fine.
However, it would be less invasive and far less anxiety-inducing for cast members if the cameras were hidden and less in their face. I can only imagine the kind of pressure this puts on people who are already overwhelmed with going on blind dates. Reality TV can and should remain respectful of its subjects.
What do you think of Love on the Spectrum? Give me your take in the comments.
I enjoyed reading your review and your take on diversity as I am a person who ticks all diversity boxes being a black female, an autistic and a 'refugee'. I liked the Australian show but not watched the American one yet as I'm wary of US media products lol, I don't know how to put it to words but I feel like reality TV and things to do with relationships and dating are part of the social construct the same construct that we are less likely to typically get involved in due to the vulnerablities that comes with autism but I might be wrong!
Yes- fiction hasn't done autism a lot of favors. But neurodiversity is a wide spectrum, and singling out one group apart from the others is discriminatory.