In the film Black Swan, Natalie Portman gives a stunning portrayal of an emerging female battling the developmental forces of innocence and rebellion. Portman's character, a ballerina in the New York City Ballet, demonstrates not just the pressures of being a ballerina, but how the pulls to act restrictive and indulgent permeate self development, especially during the tender years of young adulthood.
At its heart, Black Swan is a psychological story about a daughter imprisoned by the defense mechanisms used to cope with her mother's narcissism. Faced with a mother who invades her personal space and dominates her emotional life, Portman's character, Nina, turns to "being the best," as a means of surviving. In Nina's case "the best" is symbolized by her star role in the ballet.
Having grown up with a mother who never allowed her the safety of speaking her mind, Nina demonstrates what happens when one is robbed of a sense of self-worth. She, like others who feel the need to defer to the dictates of their mother (or father), adapted to a core belief that suggests "what I feel or think doesn't matter; what's important is what will please my mother." In seeking out ways to give one's parent what they emotionally demand, a daughter (it could also be the same for a son) acts instinctively to calm her mother down and reduce the level of conflict, thus alleviating her own anxiety. Over time, angst and worry grow, as does a pervasive sense that "I'll never be good enough."
Seeking perfectionism is a common path for daughters in these complicated family situations. In the short-term, adoration from others may, in fact, offer relief from the emptiness felt within. It may also allow for a sense of living as though "all is fine," when in fact it isn't. But as Black Swan shows, perfectionism as a route to the promised land doesn't work for the long-term. Eventually it leads to a darkness and recklessness within, that may threaten to destroy relationships, the body and ultimately, one's life.
As we begin this new year, let's take a lesson from this psychological thriller. Become mindful of those ways that perfectionism flirts with you and say no to its seductive nature. Recognize how you adapted to childhood circumstances and support your courage for learning new ways to cope. Be aware of and challenge the cultural messages that harm you in order to embrace the ones that heal and sustain.
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YouTube - BLACK SWAN - Official HD trailer
Fox Searchlight - Black Swan - Official Site
Black Swan (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
'The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable' - New York Times
When the actress (Nat. Portman) has sex with the woman in her room (who is a part of her mind and not a real person) she's in fact having sex with her own mother (not really, but in her mind).
Also when she masturbates, her mother is there without her noticing at first. Clearly symbolic of her mother's refusal to let her mature into a sexually healthy adult.
You tend to kick yourself and replay every major decision you make in your head.
I think the mother was living vicariously through her daughter and controlled her out of terror that her daughter would make the same "mistake" (give up). Nina's perfectionism and control are a natural response to feeling so controlled, dominated and invaded/violated.
And I think Nina's "dementia" is to a large extent the physiological result of her not eating and other self-abuse. Long-term starvation can eventually impact the mind, resulting in hallucinations, etc.
As for Nina's "personality," how could she ever find time or space to develop one, with a mother like that?
which my mother was witness to. This has definitely changed the dynamics between
all three of us. Interestingly, several months later, my sister remembers that day
completely differently. I have noticed that perfectionists tend to have dissociative
identity disorder issues and wonder if that is what happened in this case.
mental health professionals will see this movie and retort that the craziness was caused by men.
Victimization and powerlessness at it's best. Where are the advocates for the right of women to
be as crazy as men? One either gets all the rights and responsibilities or none.
With the Stars?