Overview
Popular singer Sia has recently come under fire because of her new movie ‘Music,’ which tokenizes autistic people and is inherently ableist. Not only is the casting of Ziegler problematic, but her portrayal of a non-verbal autistic character can also be seen as mocking disabled communities.
What’s the problem?
In her directorial debut, Sia clearly demonstrated her ableist tendencies through her casting decision of a non-disabled dancer. Maddie Ziegler who was cast as the main actress and the negative and unrealistic portrayal of people with disabilities within the movie is overdone in Hollywood. ‘Music’ comes across as ableist and is inconsiderate towards the autistic community.
‘Music’
‘Music’ is a musical drama starring Kate Hudson, Maddie Ziegler, and Leslie Odom Jr. ‘Music’ follows Zu (Hudson), a newly sober former drug dealer who becomes the sole guardian of her half-sister Music (Ziegler). This movie is non-verbal and uses augmentative and alternative communications such as gestures, eye gaze, vocalizations, and facial expressions.
Hollywood’s Problematic History
Hollywood has a history of portraying people with disabilities negatively, inaccurately, and inauthentically. 95% of disabled characters are played by actors with no disabilities. This is unfair to the autistic community since 85% of autistic college graduates are unemployed. There is a stigma tied to the community as they are falsely perceived to be less capable in the workplace.
Sia’s Casting of Maddie Ziegler
Sia’s casting of Maddie Ziegler is problematic because she is taking away the opportunity for autistic actors, who have the ability to portray Music more accurately and authentically. When autistic advocates commented civilly about Sia’s casting on Twitter, she replied back with expletives and said to watch her film before critiquing it. Sia tried to cast a non-speaking autistic actor but found the whole experience “extremely stressful and overwhelming,” giving the impression that non-speaking autistic people are difficult to interact with. Rendering Sia as ableist and discriminatory since she is not able to make the filming process accessible for autistic actors.
Ziegler’s Portrayal of Music
To prepare for the role, Ziegler watched YouTube videos filmed by parents of autistic children having meltdowns (most likely filmed without consent). As meltdowns are some of their most vulnerable moments, this is not accurate as research material for an acting performance. The film is essentially a caricature of autistic behavior. For example: when Music has a breakdown, Zu attempts to physically restrain her. In real life, this should only be done as a last resort by trained professionals.
Following a Common Trend
‘Music’ is framed to give non-autistic people satisfaction after interacting with an autistic person instead of allowing viewers to empathize with Music as a character. The other characters will learn about how to love more deeply and be happier in their lives, but the audience will not gain valuable insight into how these relationships will impact Music or change the way she thinks about the world.
What’s next for ‘Music’?
At a time when directors should be doing what they can to ensure a more accurate and authentic portrayal, Sia is doing the complete opposite with ‘Music’. Despite receiving so much criticism and negative feedback, ‘Music’ has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
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Written by Althea Ocomen from Manila City, Philippines
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