Exploring the Mind: Seven Studies

Prodigies and Their Relationships with Society

            From prodigies who can visualize a twisted timeline of numbers to savants who can memorize an entire book word for word in a single reading, autistic individuals seem to be capable of accomplishing the impossible. However, behind these spectacular abilities, autism has social drawbacks that can greatly influence their future lives. Stephen Wiltshire, a savant extremely talented in reproducing an exact replication of certain scenery through drawings, excels artistically, but lacks in building connections with other individuals, including his close family and friends. This ultimately results in social isolation, decreasing his chances of building a successful career and healthy adulthood. Stephen lives in a world unique to his own mind, where no one or thing hold any significance to him – a world of pure objectification. Without any personal intimacy or emotion, the world becomes a mere container of lines, shapes, figures, and objects.

Thus, while Stephen’s outstanding artistic talent can be acknowledged, his inability to communicate with language and establish emotional connections ultimately shape and limit his personal and social identity and the path of his future.

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