I've only just in the last few dfays discovered that David Byrne is Autistic & now I love him and his music even more; what a fabulous role model & great representative of autistic people!
This was one of the best videos I’ve seen in a long, long time. Even though it’s heartbreaking to discover that there are ”anti-autism groups” out there! 😱😱 Autism is a name that a majority group has slapped onto a minority just because they don’t function the same way as they do. It’s a social construct in such a way that it proves the narrowness of the REST of society; that society isn’t ready to accept all types of people. It says that our society is built in such a way that only certain kinds of people will fit in, while failing to understand that people come in all types and shapes. That’s why I really don’t like the word ”neurodivergent” - yes, it is diverging from the confines of our society, but not from the natural variations within the human race. It’s like saying that you’re a problem just because you’re taller than 180cm/6ft, or left-handed. But any society that embraces the human differences will be at an advantage. When we all use oure unique strengths together, to complete and help each other, we are stronger together than a uniform society ever will be. That’s why there are companies that only hire Aspies, for instance. Some are hunters, some are gatherers, some are farmers. But our industrial/post-industrial Western capitalist world forces us all to be salary men. If anybody who doesn’t fit into that box is considered a problem and not an asset, then the box needs to be changed, not that person. Society is supposed to be for humans, not the other way round.
the artists experience of the crowd vs the camera spotlighting him to boil down his soul to conversation or a medium of expressing himself in which abstract creativity is crippled
I think it's difficult for extroverts to understand how difficult an interview like this is for an extreme introvert, even if they don't have Autism. It takes a lot of time and practice to become good at it, but it still isn't comfortable, no matter how good you seem on the outside. He has done very well at performing during interviews as he has gotten older, but I am sure they are still very difficult for him.
I’d love to sit down and talk with him- His tone is comforting and we have similar manners of speech and thinking, it would be nice to have a conversation without any filter of our weirdness. And I do in fact have Asperger’s, and I have quite bizarre interests- I’d like to tell him of all the interesting art I find and study !
i just finished writing an analysis of autism representation and i'm very glad i found this video. david byrne is one of my favorite musical artists and creative minds, he has always been a form of inspiration for me as an autistic young adult and i am so relieved to see someone else who understands this. the "treatments" and "cures" these sick organizations advocate for have traumatized my friends and family, people like byrne being openly autistic makes me think we can move past this stigma eventually with the help of all those he has inspired.
i grew up around my cousin who was diagnosed with autism at a very young age. my entire family treated it like something that had to be cured (my aunt was 1000% an autism speaks mom) i always knew i was different from other people, but because of my families view of autism, i always masked everything and stayed quiet. i discovered talking heads a few months ago when i started realizing there is a very real possibility i’m autistic. i saw a lot of myself in david byrne, and it’s so refreshing to see him be praised for behaviours i was often criticized for growing up. Your video is incredibly well made and well spoken (you speak at the perfect speed its so easy to follow) thank you for sharing your interests and knowledge <3 [whoops and sorry this comment got so long]
i know this video is not new but i just found your channel and i am watching and enjoying all the videos on it, i want to thank you for making this video in particular since i am a huge huge fan of david byrne and talking heads and i am also autistic and david byrne is my role model and it’s really cool to see someone talk about it like this so thank you very much!!
I've accepted my weirdness. I remember when i would just stand there and start dancing in my own personal space in public and people would just look at me like "tf is he doing" haha
