When Saga Norén meets neurotypicality : A liminal encounter along The Bridge

• In the Swedish/Danish co-produced TV series Bron (The Bridge), Saga Norén, a Swedish policewoman, must work with a Danish policeman to solve a murder that took place on the bridge between the two countries. Norén demonstrates a social awkwardness that is seemingly located somewhere on the autism spectrum. She has difficulty understanding social codes and cannot read others’ feelings well. Furthermore, she also depends heavily on routines. The character’s social obliviousness creates comic relief in a way that does not demean Norén but in some cases reveals the futility or counterproductivity of social conventions. The authors conduct a qualitative content analysis of the series humorous scenes to analyze how Norén’s interactions with other characters creates a liminal space between neurotypicality and neurodiversity where notions of identity, power and acceptance are negotiated. According to the authors, laughing at Saga helps the audience understand the peculiarities and assets of neurodivergence, and gives them a deeper appreciation of the possibilities and challenges that appear in the spaces in/between neurodiversity and neurotypical society. As such, The Bridge suggests the need for further investigations into the liminal space of mutual awareness and adaption, and for mutual appreciation of the power of the collaboration of diversity.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Media and Communication Science

Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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