Episode 53: Wednesday and coded vs canonized neurodivergent characters (with Jeremy Andrew Davis)

TRANSCRIPT HERE

 

Welcome to the kooky world of the Addams family - or an allegory for the neurodivergent experience?? The viral tiktoker and film maker Jeremy Andrew Davis joins Steph to talk about Netflix's Wednesday (2022), and how much Wednesday is coded autistic, whether intentionally or not... or is she coded something else?

Jeremy delves into the importance of appropriate representation in film & TV, what it means for a representation to be coded or canonized, and how writing a neurodivergent character led to his own diagnosis. Also Siri adds her own opinions in the mix, which are scarily appropriate.

 

Follow Jeremy for his excellent advocacy on tiktok @jeremyandrewdavis and instagram @jeremyandrewdavis and check out his website including films & writing here: www.jeremyandrewdavis.com !!

 

Also check the author Jeremy mentioned here: Sci-Fi Author Christopher Hopper

 

And neurodivergent screening tools mentioned here: Embrace Autism | The ultimate autism resource (embrace-autism.com)

 

CONTENT WARNING: discussion of ableism, murder & death

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REFERENCES:

• Famous People With High-Functioning Autism – Tim Burton | Verbal Behavior Associates (vbacalifornia.com)
• 'Wednesday' Star Jenna Ortega Experiences 'Post-Work Depression' (cheatsheet.com)
• “Wednesday”’s Christina Ricci Opens Up About Mental Health, Motherhood, and Being a ‘90s Icon: BUST Exclusive Interview
• Prozac Nation with Christina Ricci | Psychology Today Australia
• 15 Ways Wednesday Addams is Cool and Autistic | by The Autlaw | Medium
• I’m neurodivergent and here’s my issue with Netflix’s Wednesday | The Sun
• Wednesday's neurodivergent coding is both good and bad
• Schizoid personality disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

NOTE: This podcast is not designed to be therapeutic, prescriptive or constitute a formal diagnosis for any listener, nor the characters discussed. The host is not representative of all psychologists and opinions stated are her own personal opinion, based on her own learnings and training (and minimal lived experience). Host and co-hosts do not have the final say and can only comment based on their own perspectives, so please let us know if you dispute any of these opinions – we are keen for feedback!