Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Approaches to American Studies: Health Topics in American Literature and Culture

THE ISSUE OF AUTISM IN THE

MOVIE “I AM SAM” AND THE
USE OF HUMOUR
Makri Eirini
Instructor: V. Dakari
Moschou Eleni
"I am Sam" demonstrates autism's role in being a parent and ways in which we can use
humour to talk about the issue generally.
 Directed by: Jessie Nelson
 Starring: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning

 The film is following Sam Dawson, a man with development disability,

autism who at the same time is struggling to raise his daughter Lucy in the
absence of her mother. When Lucy reaches the age of 7 she becomes more
competent so the social workers decide to take and send her to a foster family.
Sam finds Rita, a very successful lawyer and convinces her to take his case.
Finally, after a very intense trial experience and a series of hardships the
foster family decides to give the rights back to Sam ,understanding they both
need each other.
ADDRESSING THE
ISSUE
“Autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes
impairments in social interaction and developmental language
and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive
behaviors. Because of the range of symptoms, this condition is
now called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It covers a large
spectrum of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment.”
CHARACTERIZATION OF SAM THROUGH THE SPECTRUM OF AUTISM

has a job

is devoted to routine and order

High-functioning autistic person
has repetitive and restrictive habits

faces stress sometimes in social situations

BUT: Generally not severe difficulty in social interaction and communication

 Limited eye contact

 Repetitive statements/behaviors

 Failure to develop play inability to understand sarcasm, irony

 Echolalia

 Difficulty in dealing with changes

 Self-stimulatory behaviors hand-flapping, head-banging

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF AUTISM (FALSE STEREOTYPES)

 Advanced parent age

 Pregnancy complications
 Prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid

 Vaccines – DO NOT pose any danger on the embryo/child

 SAM AS A PARENT
Is caring

 Just like any father Has an irreplaceable bond with Lucy

Spends quality time with her
Provides her with the essential

HOWEVER:

Doesn’t understand some of her needs

 Due to his disorder
His mental capacity slows down Lucy’s progress

BUT: He wants her to progress, to learn more, to be happy

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqIJKnUkGLY
HUMOUR: HOW FAR CAN WE
GO?
Which are the limits of humour when a disease/ mental disorder
is concerned?

When does it turn into insult, stigmatization or mockery?

HUMOUR AND MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES
Cinema, like theater, is based on stereotypes in general


 In the movie, Sam’s friends display the stereotypical behavior of people with mental
health issues

 However, they are the ones that can be self-deprecating, while such comments from others
are considered insulting

 How would a person with mental health issues feel with such an approach ?

 Would you have a sarcastic conversation with a person with mental health issues?
CONCLUSION
 The emotional bond between the parent and the child is the only thing that matters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRzdzRMVsQ

 Autism, like any other mental health issue, is a delicate subject to talk about

There is no fixed answer to the question about the limits of humour

Thank you!
• https://prezi.com/bvelayfnfvlu/i-am-sam-movie-analysis/

• https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/high-functioning-autism

• https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/understanding-autism-basics#1

• https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/symptoms-of-autism#1

• https://
www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/video/pediatrician-on-autism-vaccine-connection