Why We Should Embrace Sia’s Film — and Reject Cancel Culture
There’s a noticeable trend on social media — mostly on Twitter, it seems — whereby there are no grey areas to any subject, issue or person. It seems everything, at all costs, has to be divided strictly into a black or white category. A kind of immature grasp of what it is to be human in 2021: something is either brilliant, or it’s evil. There is seemingly no room for the in-betweens, for the open-minds or lingering uncertainties.
Social media apparently has it all — the judge, the jury and the hangman.
If somebody with any influence — whether it’s a celebrity with a successful career or a twitter account holder with a significant amount of followers — it really doesn’t take much to hashtag a momentum of sizeable energy towards the destruction of whoever — or whatever — it is that has rubbed some people the wrong way. It’s the very core of cancel culture, is it not? To try to remove, ban, censor or bully into oblivion, to remove the so-called offending article and dance on its grave in some kind of macabre victory.
Earlier this year, Australian singer Sia released her film, Music, a musical drama centred on the relationship between two sisters — one who is on the autism spectrum. Starring Maddie Zeigler, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr and Beto Calvillo, the movie has two Golden Globe nominations — and has garnered an immense amount of attention from Sia fans, the press and social media, where the themes and character portrayals are proving, at least to some, to be controversial.
Sia, we may surmise, might be feeling shocked at some people’s reactions to the film. She herself said, of her directorial debut, that it was intended as “both a love letter to carers and the autistic community.” Indeed, for many viewers and fans, the film came across as just that — a story of love, relationships, of breaking down barriers — with Sia’s unique musical creativity serving the story along the way.
It wasn’t long, though, before Twitter users began to serve up moral outrage in droves — with many admitting they hadn’t even watched the movie. Instantly, the film — and Sia as director of the picture — became the target of the cancel culture mob, who started to demand that the film be removed from streaming services and asking people not to support Sia or the film by watching it. A petition, too, was started, asking for the Golden Globes to remove the film’s two award nominations. It seemed that the by-now controversial topic had gained serious momentum — with people hashtagging their apparent disgust at Sia for her work on Music.
With the film portraying a central character who is on the autism spectrum — Music, played by Zeigler — there was a lot of interest from individual’s with autism, wanting to see how the film would depict the character’s abilities and how sensitively it would be done. Ultimately, it appeared that disappointment in the film arrived for two main reasons: one, that neurotypical Zeigler played the role instead of somebody on the autism spectrum, and second, that there was a restraint scene in the film. These two issues led a heavy blow to the project, despite the artist’s obvious heartfelt intentions.
Sia said Music was about a character who was “low functioning” and commented in an interview that she didn’t want to offend anybody through the character of Music. “There are no two people on the spectrum the same,” she said, addressing Zeigler’s performance. Yet she still tried to create the character Music with as much respect and authenticity as possible. After the film was completed, Sia said it was sent to the Child Mind Institute, in order to ask them if her film was a good representation, “Maddie (lead actress) scored 100 percent.”
“After the film was completed, Sia sent it to the Child Mind Institute, in order to ask them if her film was a good representation”
Furthermore, during the same interview, Sia confirmed that the character Music was actually based on a good friend of hers, and that the style, actions and movements of the autistic character was highly influenced by him.
The restraint scene — in which the audience sees Odom Jr’s character holding down Music during a highly emotional scene — was something that made many of Sia’s critics uncomfortable. They argued this was a dangerous thing to show, and argued that it could be harmful. Sia herself took to Twitter to address the issue, stating that the scene would be removed from all future printings of the film. At that point, she had done all she could to reconcile herself to those who had voiced complaints about it.
Whilst some of the complaints levelled at the film may be reasonable — especially from those individuals in the autism community who took issue with it and who deserve to have their opinions heard — there is a concern that, yet again, the steam-rolling on social media could actually be hindering what could be a fresh, positive conversation and learning curve on autism and the future of it’s depiction in art.
Sia has always appeared to be an artist who wears her heart on her sleeve. Whether it’s her open and frank lyrics, her discussions about her mental health, her years of animal rights advocacy or her compassionate nature (Sia adopted two teenagers on the brink of being removed from the foster care system in 2019), she has cultivated a core of dedicated fans who respond deeply to her and her art.
Whatever one thinks of the film itself, it cannot be denied that Sia’s intentions with Music were pure-hearted. The emotional story of a young autistic girl — who suddenly finds herself alone in the world after suffering a tragic loss — is beautifully depicted in the movie. The acting, the songs, the relationships between the main characters all work together cohesively, unfolding into a charming and unforgettable piece of art.
Sia herself has addressed some of the comments targeted at her. The main issue — that an autistic actor was not hired for the role — was explored. Sia confirmed she “tried working with a beautiful young girl non-verbal, on the spectrum,” but the girl “found it unpleasant and stressful. So that’s why I cast Maddie.” Sia added that there was “no way” she could have cast an actor with the same “level of functioning” as the character she had created. “The character is based completely on my neuroatypical friend. He found it too stressful being non verbal, and I made this movie with nothing but love for him and his mother.” Yet, still wanting to create an inclusive movie, Sia confirmed that she had hired thirteen neuroatypical individuals to work on the production.
“The character is based completely on my neuroatypical friend,” confirmed Sia
The contentions thrown at Sia for her film didn’t end there, though. Rumours abounded that she had been working with a group called Autism Speaks, an organisation considered by some to be controversial and not supportive of the genuine needs of autistic individuals. However, Sia confirmed that Autism Speaks approached her four years after the completion of the film — not during the process. Sia also clarified that when she learned of the divisive nature of the organisation, she stepped away from them. This has not stopped the rumour mill churning that she has an association with them and her words of clarification have not diminished the criticism some have levelled at her.
Are some of the problems raised about Music legitimate? Perhaps. Should concerns, especially those raised by autistic people, be heard, discussed and examined? Definitely, especially given that the film is a reflection on autism. However, does the online abuse (Sia closed her Twitter account after numerous abusive and threatening comments), calls for bans and censorship actually cause harm at a time when a film like this could be the catalyst for something constructive and beneficial?
It cannot be forgotten that, much like Sia herself said, no two people on the spectrum are the same. Each person is unique. Do those who do not feel represented in the film mean more than the number of people who may feel a connection with the film’s character? One only need trawl through the many tweets discussing the film to see there are, actually, a great number of people who have expressed appreciation of the film — yes, including individuals with autism. The loudest complaints (at least on certain social media pages) are from people who, by their own admission, refuse to watch it.
Autistic performer Cian Binchey, who was acting consultant at the National Theatre’s production of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time said he found Sia’s film “disappointing.” Yet why is this? For he himself said, “You can’t portray all of autism in one character because autism is a very, very complex condition.” Rather than confirming his stance, his words seems to say the opposite: Sia could have spent her lifetime researching autism and still would not be able to share a complete picture of autism in one acting role. The character, Music, is simply a single representation of an aspect of autism — nothing more, nothing less.
For many, there is a truly beautiful message to be found in Sia’s film, and it would be a great loss for this to be overlooked in the online masses of cancel culture keyboard warriors. Writing for the website Mamamia, autistic writer and mother Debbie Shepparton said:
“I’ve met many such beautiful people, and they’re all different. Every story is different, autism is so wide a spectrum that there’s no one thing that makes you autistic, just a cluster of attributes… But please, let’s not diminish what is a magnificent display of joy, the joy that so many of us in the autistic community get from music. Sia has captured that, and she needs applause, not attack. Sia, I see what you’re doing here and it’s beautiful. It’s my life.”
Writing for the National Council On Severe Autism, Writer Jill Esher said that the backlash Sia has faced is a tragedy for the community:
“The crusade to crucify Sia sends a diabolical message to every person in the performing arts: depict severe autism in your movie/film/play at your own peril. If you don’t do it exactly the way we want, you are toast. Transgress the Book of Neurodiversity in even the slightest manner and you will be pilloried, putting at risk months and years of creative effort and financial investment. Your reputation will be stained. Your artistic freedom squashed. In other words, what artist would dare to tread on the subject matter of severe autism when a tidal wave of mindless insta-denunciation awaits them, at the merest stroke of a self-righteous Tweet? For that’s what’s at stake here — banishment of depictions of severe autism.”
Could certain things have been done differently, in Music? Of course. But Sia’s project, several years in the making, has opened up one of the most significant and important discussions on autism that we’ve seen in many years.
For many, the film’s true beauty is in the story itself that has gotten lost to many along the way. The story of one young girl as she weaves her way through a time of grief, uncertainty and loss. The cast’s performances were impeccable, the songs themselves an enchanting accompaniment to the narrative. Sia has truly created something unlike anything that’s been seen before — visually and audibly.
“Sia has truly created something unlike anything that’s been seen before”
For those wanting to drag the film to a gristly demise, maybe they will stop and ask if their voices should be heard above those who do feel an affinity to the film. Many outspoken fans on Twitter — even Sia herself — were abused and ridiculed for standing by the production, leaving some fans frightened to admit they even enjoyed the film. Intimidating other schools of thought into silence isn’t something that should exist in this world in 2021. Not when those doing it are supposed to be championing fair representation to all.
Calling for the cancellation of the film will ultimately lead us nowhere. At a time when so many say they are standing up for free speech, uncensored art, equality for all and fair representation for everyone — how can destroying a heartfelt piece of art about one person’s portrayal of autism align with this? It simply doesn’t.
Sia wanted to produce something elegant and beautiful in tribute to her autistic friend. No offence, no mockery, no unfairness was ever intended. We know that, don’t we? Of course, that does not undo the aspects of the film that some people have taken issue with, but crucifying the artist actually shows us there are many who don’t want true diversity and freedom for all.
There are no black or whites when it comes to this complicated issue. There are no definitives. Some have appreciated Music, some have not. But the bottom line? People are talking. Autism is on the lips of people of all ages — and Sia’s Music has been the catalyst.
Music was a bold, adventurous and beautiful depiction of love. That’s what the story was about, in the purest sense. How can we not want more of that in these trying times?
MUSIC Trailer (2021) Kate Hudson, Sia, Maddie Ziegler Movie — YouTube
