As many may have heard, Sia has made her directorial debut with a film titled “Music,” featuring Maddie Ziegler as a non-verbal autistic teenager who navigates her world through vibrant pop musical performances alongside Kate Hudson and Leslie Odom Jr. To be honest, I haven’t seen it—I’m just sifting through enough information to express my bewilderment at the situation.
Unsurprisingly, many in the autistic community are outraged, some feeling deeply hurt by the film’s portrayal. It’s important to note that not all autistic individuals share the same viewpoint, so generalizations should be avoided.
I won’t delve into every single reason why this film is problematic; the autistic community can speak for themselves. However, I feel compelled to initiate a conversation.
Concerns About Casting
Firstly, Maddie Ziegler, while a talented performer, is not autistic. She has collaborated with Sia for years and certainly deserves a place in the entertainment industry, but casting her in such a role raises significant concerns. As Sara Luterman pointed out in her insightful Slate review, while Ziegler may not intend to offend, her portrayal of disability can be uncomfortable to watch. She is a teenager, and the adults around her have let her down by encouraging her to take on this role, especially in preparation that involved mimicking distressing behaviors of autistic individuals.
Sia, as the adult director, had ample opportunity to reconsider this project or rework it to avoid being offensive. At the very least, she could have cast an autistic actress. It raises the question—were all the autistic actresses unavailable? Spoiler: they were not.
Justifications and Misrepresentation
Previously, Sia mentioned on Twitter that she attempted to work with a non-verbal autistic girl but found the experience problematic. She justified her decision to cast Ziegler by claiming it would be “cruel” to cast someone at a lower level of functioning. This begs the question: if a non-verbal autistic person cannot portray the character authentically, then is it right to proceed with a project that doesn’t accurately represent their experiences?
Moreover, the film presents a sanitized and unrealistic depiction of autism, which diverges from the harsh realities many autistic people face. As Luterman notes, the surroundings for the character “Music” are overly idealized, lacking the genuine challenges that autistic individuals encounter daily.
Voices from the Autistic Community
The Autisticats, a group of autistic young adults, have shared their perspectives on why “Music” is problematic. One member, Eden, chose to watch the film despite its painful implications, providing insights that resonate with many in the autistic community. It’s crucial for neurotypical viewers to engage with these perspectives rather than dismiss them by defending Sia’s intentions.
Did you take the time to read the Autisticats’ posts? They describe feelings like caricature and mockery when watching the film. They highlight how the portrayal echoes personal experiences of bullying and discomfort.
The portrayal of scenes involving physical restraint, which Sia has since acknowledged as harmful, is still present in the film. Such scenes are not what the autistic community seeks in terms of representation. Authentic autistic characters deserve to be included in films, literature, and social media, created and portrayed by those who share their experiences.
Conclusion
While Sia has offered some apologies and agreed to make minor adjustments to the film, it is clear that her engagement with the autistic community has been fraught with resistance. The film continues to receive accolades, placing Sia in a position to benefit financially and reputationally from a project that many believe harms the very community she claims to represent.
Some might argue that I should watch the movie before forming an opinion. But I reject that notion. I don’t need to witness neurotypical performers portraying autism in a way that many find hurtful and inaccurate to understand its ramifications. Numerous autistic individuals have expressed that this film misrepresents their experiences and undermines their advocacy for acceptance and understanding.
Summary
Sia’s film “Music” has been criticized for its portrayal of autism, particularly due to the casting of Maddie Ziegler, who is not autistic. Many autistic individuals feel that the film does not accurately reflect their experiences and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Despite Sia’s attempts to justify her decisions, the film’s representation has sparked significant outrage within the autistic community, highlighting the need for authentic representation in media.