Member-only story
Culture and Identity: When Good-Intentioned Films Miss the Mark and Offend
Preachy, good intentions are no longer enough when you are co-opting stories about marginalized communities and disempowered identities.
Last year, Sia tried to make a delightful fantasy film about an autistic girl who finds her voice in the world of MUSIC. It was supposed to represent people with disabilities with style, glee, and hope. I half expected it to be our generation’s Tommy.
Instead, people hated the film and heaped venom upon its unfortunate maker.
I love Sia’s actual music, and I trust her intentions were genuinely honorable and good. I don’t think she set out to hurt anyone, and I believe her when she said, “My heart has always been in the right place.”
But having no real connection to the lived-in experiences of the autistic community, she possesses glaring blindspots (as we all do) that only became apparent and exaggerated on the screen. Not only was she criticized for hiring…
