In depth analysis of Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan"
Citation preview
1. BLACK SWAN Psychological Thriller
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS Psychological thrillers emphasise
the psychology and emotional state of its character. Psychological
thrillers are a sub-genre from the broad Thriller category.
Respective sub-genre conveys similarities between Gothic and
Detective fiction; this is due to: - Dissolving sense of reality -
Moral ambiguity - Complex/tortured relationships between mentally
disturbed characters Psychological thrillers incorporate: Mystery,
drama and psychological horror. Psychological thrillers usually
incorporate the horror sub-genre, however films such as the
Mechanist focus entirely on the characters unstable emotional
state.
3. DARREN ARONOFSKY Born February 12th 1969 in Brooklyn.
Studied Film at the University of Harvard (live action and
animation). Won several awards resulting from his senior thesis
film, Supermarket Sweep. Starring Sean Gullette, leading to a
National Student Academy Award Finalist. Aronofsky didnt create a
feature film until February 1996, creating the concept for Pi
(released 1998). Thus further his successes as he creates Requiem
For A Dream. Sean Gullette is a frequently casted actor in
Aronofskys films. Darran Aronofskys films make top 10 best ever
made psychological thrillers (Pi (5 th) and Black Swan (10
th).)
4. ARONOFSKY TRADEMARKS
5. ARONOFSKY TRADEMARKS Darren Aranofsky is renown for his
hip-hop montage. Respective extract from the movie Black Swan
exemplifies this trademark. Aronofskys use of hip-hop montage in
the movie Black Swan portrays Ninas (Natalie Portman) journey
toward evil. The series of fast-paced jump-cuts within the scene
are usually paired with a techno beat and drug use (also used
heavily in the cult-classic Requiem for a Dream). During respective
scene, the implied use of drugs exposes Ninas Dark side, as she
experiences the slow metamorphosis towards become the Black
Swan.
6. ARONOFSKY TRADEMARK Aronofsky is also famous for his
fading-out to white in his work. This is done towards the end of
the Black Swan. This represents two distinct features of a
psychological thriller as well as Aronofskys personal directing
style. Firstly, the fade to white emphasises a break in the story,
or an end of an act/section in the story, thus concluding the
ending of the Black Swan. Secondly, the fade to white may symbolise
the characters demise, however without evidence of the protagonists
, this technical convention editing leaves the audience dumbfound,
questioning whether the mentally unstable character has met her
maker.
7. BLACK SWAN Aronofsky also imbeds into the characters persona
strong obsessions which ultimately drives them towards
self-destruction. In the Black Swan this is portrayed in a variety
of different ways, such as the Bulimia scene previously shown: this
indicates the ultimate drive towards perfection, to be slime, as
ballerinas stereotypically are. This exemplifies Aronofskys style,
especially since he conveys sub-conscious self-destruction in the
process, e.g. the back-scratching, a sub-conscious punishment for
failure to meet perfection. One may argue previous attempts of
self-harm (As well as drug abuse, during the Club extract) are an
attempt of control: this relates to her mothers over controlling
attitude towards Ninas life (referring to the previous extract).
The only control she has over herself, is the self-destruction she
conducts. This drive doesnt come from herself, but from her mother,
who lives through her daughter, due to her giving up her career to
have Nina (Natalie Portman). Thus this perfection idolised by her
mother is personified though respective scene, displaying the
emotional distress as Ninas sub-conscious shouts she cannot be
perfect.
8. BLACK SWAN Aronofsky also imbeds into the characters persona
strong obsessions which ultimately drives them towards
self-destruction. In the Black Swan this is portrayed in a variety
of different ways, such as the Bulimia scene previously shown: this
indicates the ultimate drive towards perfection, to be slime, as
ballerinas stereotypically are. This exemplifies Aronofskys style,
especially since he conveys sub-conscious self-destruction in the
process, e.g. the back-scratching, a sub-conscious punishment for
failure to meet perfection. One may argue previous attempts of
self-harm (As well as drug abuse, during the Club extract) are an
attempt of control: this relates to her mothers over controlling
attitude towards Ninas life (referring to the previous extract).
The only control she has over herself, is the self-destruction she
conducts. This drive doesnt come from herself, but from her mother,
who lives through her daughter, due to her giving up her career to
have Nina (Natalie Portman). Thus this perfection idolised by her
mother is personified though respective scene, displaying the
emotional distress as Ninas sub-conscious shouts she cannot be
perfect.
9. BLACK SWAN Aronofsky also imbeds into the characters persona
strong obsessions which ultimately drives them towards
self-destruction. In the Black Swan this is portrayed in a variety
of different ways, such as the Bulimia scene previously shown: this
indicates the ultimate drive towards perfection, to be slime, as
ballerinas stereotypically are. This exemplifies Aronofskys style,
especially since he conveys sub-conscious self-destruction in the
process, e.g. the back-scratching, a sub-conscious punishment for
failure to meet perfection. One may argue previous attempts of
self-harm (As well as drug abuse, during the Club extract) are an
attempt of control: this relates to her mothers over controlling
attitude towards Ninas life (referring to the previous extract).
The only control she has over herself, is the self-destruction she
conducts. This drive doesnt come from herself, but from her mother,
who lives through her daughter, due to her giving up her career to
have Nina (Natalie Portman). Thus this perfection idolised by her
mother is personified though respective scene, displaying the
emotional distress as Ninas sub-conscious shouts she cannot be
perfect.