The Analysis of the Black Swan Movie in the Context of Psychoanalytic Therapy


DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15709598Keywords:
Black Swan, Psychoanalysis, Therapy, Emotional Conflict,Qualitative ResearchAbstract
This study examines Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. The main character Nina’s repressed desires, unconscious conflicts, and identity fragmentation are analyzed using Freud’s structural model of personality (id, ego, superego) and defense mechanisms, as well as Lacan’s mirror stage and the concept of “the gaze of the Other.” Nina’s dependent relationship with her mother, the pressure of perfectionism, and her transformation on stage are interpreted as artistic expressions of the unconscious. Hallucinations, psychotic elements, and the distortion of reality in the film reflect the protagonist’s psychological breakdown and identity crisis. In this context, Black Swan stands out as a significant example of psychoanalytic film analysis, demonstrating how unconscious processes can be represented through cinematic narrative.
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