Synchronization and Syncopation: Conceptualizing Autism Through Rhythm

In this article, I argue that rhythm is a key concept in understanding autism. The article builds on fieldwork conducted amongst autistic children at two specialized institutions in Denmark, as well as interviews with parents of autistic children, some of whom were also autistic themselves. The paper draws on Lefebvre's theory of 'rhythmanalysis' and treats rhythm as a 'way of being'. Viewing autism as a rhythm by using locutions expressed by my interlocutors, such as staccato, schematic, robotic, desynchronized, not tuning in and dissonant, illustrates the many ways to perceive social interaction as rhythmic. I add to this the concept of syncopation, to describe some of the most common features associated with autism, pointing to a non-pathological way of being irregular or offbeat. This 'non-pathologizing language' communicates both the challenges and contributions of social interactions between autistic people and their friends and family members.