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| From Tim Burton to Daryl Hannah, many famous artists have lived within the autistic spectrum |
Throughout history we have been witnesses (and fans) of the work of some of the greatest artists in the world of music, painting, film and theater, these are individuals that we admire for their dedication and for the creation of masterpieces; they have brought a never seen before perspective to their respective guilds, some of them even had to overcome great difficulties in their lives to be able to create these wonderful works of art.
What many of us do may not know is that some of these artists had to overcome one of the biggest obstacles: Rejection, and a difficulty in tightening social and affective bonds; That's right, some of the greatest artists in history live or lived within the autistic spectrum, even before this condition began to be diagnosed by doctors. This is a list of 10 exceptional artists whose condition did not prevent them from reaching greatness.
Did you know these Artists were in the autism Spectrum?
- Courtney Love: One of the most controversial and highly glamorized singers from the past decade, selling multiple platinum level albums and songs though her career. While now being past 50, she still continues to be an active artist and actress as well.It was revealed through her biography by Poppy Z that Love was mildly autistic. According to statements made by Love herself, her social skills have always been below those shown by average individuals. To better herself, she and her friends visited LGBT clubs to soothe her frustration and improve her social skills.Despite the condition, she has shown shear resilience and an undeniable attitude towards her commitment for her career and her fans alike.
- Susan Boyle: Back in 2009, this Scottish singer auditioned for the Britain’s Got Talent, and she touched our hearts with her mesmerizing voice and instantly became a sensation. After that, she never looked back and went onto selling no less than 14 million records around the world. Until recently, Boyle announced that she was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, through a Scottish specialist, to which she called “a relief”. According to her “Asperger’s doesn’t define me. It’s a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself,” she said in one of her many interviews.
- Stanley Kubrick: One of the most recognizable Film Directors by his attention to detail, Stanley was quite obsessive and had trouble dealing with people while making movies. It is now known that his Asperger’s led to his passionate attention to detail and his eventual fame as a film director, Kubrick was diagnosed in retrospect by Dr. Michael Fitzgerald. He based his diagnosis mostly on Kubrick’s behavioral traits like obsessive interests, poor sociability and lack of adaptability towards trying new things.
- Hans Christian Andersen: This is none other than the beloved writer of such fairy tales as The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. The experts go back and forth over whether he was autistic or not. Most of those who insist that he appeared somewhere on the spectrum are those who are autistic themselves, and relate to Andersen on a personal level.Andersen’s diary describes to great length his many bouts of unrequited love for those who he considered unattainable. The experts also note the recurring theme of outcast characters in his stories. Most never achieve their sought after happy endings.
- Tim Burton: Is this iconic Film Director within the spectrum? His long-time partner (and mother to his children), Helena Bonham Carter, speculated that he was “possibly autistic” during an interview. While researching an autistic character for a film, Carter claims, she had an “a-ha moment” and realized that many treats of her research applied to Burton. Said Carter, “Autistic people have application and dedication. You can say something to Tim when he’s working and he doesn’t hear you. But that quality also makes him a fantastic father; he has an amazing sense of humor and imagination. He sees things other people won’t see.”
- Lewis Carroll: The controversial author of the classic book Alice in Wonderland. While some of his behavioral traits like continuously seeking the company of young girls, has made some experts wonder if the university professor was actually a pedophile, others use the same information to theorize that Carroll was autistic.Lewis Carroll lived in a different time and place, with very different social norms than what we are used to today. He was also known to be a quite poor communicator, and thus likely found interacting with children much easier than with adults. Finally, Carroll showed great mathematical and logical ability, both common traits of those on the spectrum.
- Michelangelo: This illustrious Renaissance artist that was most noted for being unable to keep relationships with anybody. Some doctors have even hypothesized that his troubled social life and Asperger’s symptoms led to a more intense focus on his art work, which led him to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.
- Daryl Hannah: The Star of movies like Splash and Steel Magnolias didn’t always have the ideal life, during her youth her social interaction was a nightmare for Hannah. She would even rock back and forth to self-soothe and and was so shy that once she began acting she refused to give interviews or even attend her own premieres. Though she has mostly learned to gain control over herself and live with her diagnosis, Hannah has all but left the entertainment business to focus on environmental issues.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Most scholars now agree that musical mastermind Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was somewhere within the spectrum. Mozart was allegedly extremely sensitive to loud noises, had a quite short attention span, and could change rapidly through a cycle of facial expressions within seconds. In one well-documented situation, a very bored Mozart began doing cartwheels and vaults over tables while meowing loudly, much like a cat.
- Andy Warhol: Some Experts (like Judith Gould, the director of the leading diagnostic center for autism in the United Kingdom) insist that it would be logical that Andy Warhol was living with autism. As we recollect from his lifetime, much of the artist’s work focused on repetition, on which those with autism more than often fixate. In interviews, Warhol almost always responded to questions with monosyllabic answers, possibly evidence that he had the verbal dyslexia that is so common among those on the spectrum. He reportedly refused to wear anything but a certain kind of green underwear. Those who argue against this posthumous diagnosis strongly suggest that Warhol’s different behavior was a calculated and voluntary effort to “enhance a sense of mystery.”
Here at Autism Soccer, we show you that no matter in what part of the spectrum you are, yu can not only look up to those before you that overcame the hardships of living witht this condition, but that you too can achieve great deeds
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| Literature, music and photography: autism has influenced the world of art for ages. |
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