The investigation: 
Autism & the fantastical often find themselves intertwined. To be 'wired differently' suggests a cyborg brain, and feelings of alienation find their metaphors in otherworldly origins. But look among the fandoms of sci-fi and fantasy media and there are autistics aplenty. These are spaces of belonging and community, all the richer for neurodivergent presence.

This thesis takes two case studies from the big screen and the small screen. Cyberpunk classic Blade Runner is reformulated as an cinematic journey of neurodivergent rebellion, while groundbreaking TV comedy Community is explored as a realm where an unconventional autistic hero creates his own narrative worlds.

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