Bibliographic details and abstracts are available to all. Downloads of full-text dissertations are restricted to University of Portsmouth members who must login. MPhils may be accessed by all.

Abstract

This dissertation explored autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. When the novel was published in 2003 by Mark Haddon it became the first fictional book with a depiction of ASD to achieve widespread awareness and has since remained an influence of society’s views on the condition. Eighteen years later and this story has been adapted into a west end play and used as exam material in schools to learn about ASD and how the story is written to represent and reflect the condition that impacts 700,000 people in the UK. As this story has become such a pivotal piece in our culture’s understanding of ASD, it is important to explore and study the book in relation to be able to determine if it is an appropriate and authentic representation. Through reviewing academic and scientific literature this dissertation was able to compare it to Haddon’s role to see the accuracy in the portrayal of ASD. The book was then compared further and analysed against the awareness raised by policies and charities to consider the impacts of each awareness and to see which was the best to widespread for the benefit of the condition and it’s community. The dissertation concluded that Haddon’s portrayal of ASD had positive and negative aspects. While the story is captivating and monumental in children’s literature, the depiction of ASD is very narrowly portrayed. It gives the reader an insight into a section of a much broader spectrum. Certain perspectives considered that this story could in fact perpetuate a stereotype or negative attitude to readers by overdramatising traits and events for entertainment purposes. While others believed there were some important traits raised that could help one to understand the condition as reading such a book from a young age could aid their understanding of themselves and others with disabilities. What the book misses is that those charities and policies provide the clear message that society should strive for inclusivity and see those with ASD as equals as the only difference is the ways in which information is internalised and processed and how the world is perceived.

Course: Childhood and Youth Studies - BA (Hons) - C1989F

Date Deposited: 2022-04-08

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13886.html