Let's Nix the 'Black Swan' Diet

People -- and media -- keep talking about losing weight and shaping up à la "Black Swan." "Do this to lose weight like "Black Swan!" "This workout will get you in "Black Swan" shape!"

If I see one more "Black Swan" weight loss plan, I might scream. Maybe these folks aren't familiar with the harsh realities of the movie, so let's review the facts.

Fact: Natalie Portman barely ate while filming the movie.
Fact: Natalie did dance training up to eight hours a day.
Fact: Natalie said there were some nights that she "literally thought I would die."
Fact: Mila Kunis said that "I would look at myself in the mirror and ... all you saw was bone. I was like, This looks gross."
Fact: Mila said that she began bingeing as soon as she finished filming the movie.

It doesn't seem like the "Black Swan" weight loss plan is healthy.

Websites, TV shows and magazines that have promoted a "Black Swan" lifestyle are quick to point out that they aren't encouraging people to fully embrace the movie's ways. That's reassuring, considering Portman's character starved, purged and self-injured. However, it seems encouraging people to look like a character who suffered from an eating disorder is a detriment to their audience. It is my belief that the media should in no way promote this unhealthy diet, even in moderation, because it is founded on an unhealthy lifestyle that centers around unhealthy behaviors.

You want to know what "Black Swan" is good for? Watching, enjoying (or not enjoying) and discussing it. I don't think the diet or the workout should be emulated and the media -- and others -- have a responsibility not to promote it.

 

Follow Adia Colar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/adiac

Comments

[tiffanytsai]

06:31 PM on 02/27/2011

I completely agree with your article..the amount of press concerning dieting/unhealthy body image that this film has generated is ridiculous. Currently, I am writing an article about the film that addresses this exact topic as well as gender performance, and I am interested in trying to get it published on Huffington Post. Would you be interested in reading it? Please do let me know.

[No Good Names Left]

03:12 PM on 01/27/2011

They both seemed pretty skinny before the movie
I suspect all these claims of method acting are just claims, meant to prop up their chances for an academy award

[Adia Colar]

05:29 PM on 01/29/2011

I hear you. Actors and actresses certainly could be lying about method acting, but I have a tendency to take them at their words regarding that.

[Highball]

11:50 PM on 01/30/2011

Portman lost between 15 and 20 lbs, and she only weighs like 115 to begin with. Believe me, I've seen Natalie Portman in tons of stuff, and interviewed many times. She has never looked anything like she did in Black Swan.

You can tell from her face, compared to the interviews she did promoting the film.

[moodyring]

01:16 PM on 01/25/2011

I really liked Black Swan, but Natalie Portman's character was a mess. As you said, that's not something that needs to be emulated.

[ShreveportSister]

10:33 PM on 01/24/2011

I haven't seen the movie and now have doubt that it's for me. I want to see healthy behavior and relationships instead of seeing how women sometime treat themselves for the benefit of others.

[Adia Colar]

11:39 PM on 01/24/2011

You know what? I haven't seen the movie either. Although a friend and I plan on watching it this week, I've gathered the information for this piece from what Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis have said about preparing for this role. We'll see my thoughts once I see it (I'll share them on http://blog.adiacolar.com), but from what friends who've seen it have told me, the characters definitely aren't healthy by any means.

[Highball]

11:51 PM on 01/30/2011

Have you see much ballet? They aren't far off.

Also, their look is supposed to be at least exaggerated, given the nature of the story and themes of the film.