Autistic Authors, and Autistics and Autism in Literature: A Commentary - Paperback

by Thomas D. Taylor (Photographer), Thomas D. Taylor (Author)

Emerging trends suggest that autism is being portrayed in literature less as a diagnosis, and more as a minority lifestyle. Sometimes it is even portrayed as a culture. Autistic factional politics are having a significant effect on autism and literature as well.Of further concern, much of what is written by "autistics" is actually being written by "self diagnosed" autistics, and no matter who is doing the writing (autistic author or self-diagnosed author), plots, characterization, and other elements, are many times being drawn and presented based on observation of "autistics" with unconfirmed diagnoses in informal venues rather than upon observations of real, diagnosed autistics in realistic or controlled settings.This book offers some general opinions about the topic of autistic authors, and autistics and autism in literature, and gives a critique and criticism of some specific literary works. Covered are many different forms of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, autobiographical writing, journalism, and blogging.36,000 words

Author Biography

Thomas D. Taylor is the author of "Geo-213: The Lost Expedition" and other literary works. Early on in his writing career, one of his short stories, "The Interview," won the First Place Fiction award in the 1991 edition of Towers literary magazine. Another of his stories, "A Grasshopper Cerebrates Humanity," was published in the same issue. In 2013, his political commentary, "Idle No More: A White Man Speaks," was published in The First Perspective magazine. As a visual artist, Taylor's work has sold worldwide. He painted the front and back cover art for two of singer/songwriter Elyse Bruce's albums: "Midnight in Chicago," and "Countdown to Midnight." He has also done the artwork and photography for all of his publications.