FROM MADMAN TO GENIUS:

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AUTISTIC LEGAL SUBJECT IN TEMPLE GRANDIN

Abstract

The paper looks at the intersection between genius and madness throughout history, highlighting changes in social perceptions. It counters the traditional view that they are opposites, showing how figures labeled mad in the past can today be seen as prodigies, especially in the context of neurodivergence. The portrayal of autism in cinema is examined, with a focus on the 2010 film Temple Grandin, which deals with the life of an autistic woman. The analysis highlights the persistence of exclusionary practices, despite social changes, while emphasizing the importance of non-stereotypical representations. To this end, the study uses cinema as a tool to investigate socio-legal practices and political discourses, and seeks to discuss female protagonism in works dealing with neurological issues, considering the additional challenges faced by neurodivergent women. The methodological approach adopts the Foucauldian perspective of discourse as a socio-historical practice, drawing on Foucault's "History of Madness" to understand the evolution of the perception of madness over time, while examining film materiality to trace the representation of the autistic legal subject and the stereotypes associated with giftedness.