Comics as communication: Developing more awareness and understanding of high-functioning autistic individuals through depiction of their lived experience

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Patterson, Dale

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McAuley, Michael

Fleischmann, Katja

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2024-04-12
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Abstract

Through creative synthesis, this research produced a comic in a bid to test whether comics could be utilized to effectively communicate a serious topic matter: the lived experience of autism spectrum disorder (HFA). Literature suggests that in-depth depictions of HFA individuals' consciousness are still left largely unexplored within fictional representations (Atwood, 2015; DSM-5, 2013; Grandin, 2012; Grandin & Panek, 2013; Silberman, 2015). Comics refer to a convergence of creative deliveries, which consists of many different formats. This project exclusively focuses on graphic narratives, which are also colloquially known by the term graphic novels. However, all terms are used interchangeably within. The means of address to the research inquiry posited is a comic titled Every Head A World (2023). The research argues that comics introduce a wealth of possibilities for communicating ideas effectively, through the medium's combination of word and imagery. The comic aimed to demonstrate a lived experience of HFA respectively and empathetically, through the synthesis of various lines of research, to address the aims and objectives outlined. Due to the vested motive of depicting human experience, the identified methodology deemed most appropriate is the qualitative research paradigm phenomenology. Both the pure and heuristic principles of phenomenology have been employed through methods of recorded interviews, surveys, case studies, and systematic review of relevant data. An auxiliary framework, also employed throughout this project is arts-based research (ABR). This is demonstrated through the process of creative synthesis, and the creation of the comic. The nature of arts-based research is noted to be largely multidisciplinary; therefore, phenomenological inquiry is identified as the core methodology in informing theoretical and ontological components of the research. The resulting comic proved the potential of graphic narrative for providing commentary on serious topic matters. The findings within this paper are based upon three phases of fieldwork conducted: Phase I surveys a subset of the population for their current perception and understanding of ASD; Phase II interviews high-functioning ASD individuals; and Phase III tests whether the comic addresses the research topic as well as question postulated.

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Thesis (PhD Doctorate)

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Doctor of Philosophy

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Queensland College of Art and Design

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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.

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Subject

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comics (Graphic works)

graphic medicine

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