Black Swan Dissociative Identity Disorder Analysis
Baloloy, Mariah B. Ms. L.E.J. Lopez
The Black Swan BSTTM 1-1
I. Introduction
Black swan is a pyschosexual thriller that describes the unglamorous part of the Ballet world inspired by Swan Lake, a famous ballet. Darren Aronofsky is the director of the film who is known for his wild creative imagination. In the movie, the ballet mentor, Cassel, decided to cast only one person for both the White Swan and Black Swan. The main character, Nina, was chosen as the Swan Queen so she has to play both the White Swan and Black Swan. Because Nina’s traits are fearful,innocent and controlled, the White Swan’s character comes naturally for her . However, she finds it difficult to portray the seductive, dark and mysterious Black Swan. …show more content…
Nina pushes herself to be the opposite of who she is in order to play the Swan Queen that led in many hallucinations and pyschotic behaviors. The movie shows Nina’s transformation into the Swan Queen, her strive for perfection and her obsession with it.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
The 1st part when Nina’s dream was being shown. It is important because it symbolizes the white side of Nina and the dark side of her that will be shown in the proceeding scenes.
When Nina returned to her dressing room to find Lilly offering to play the black swan in the costume. Nina fought with Lilly and killed her.
The last part when Nina dances the rest of the performance and the final scene where she jumps. It is significant because for Nina this is her last breath. She can see her Mum is proud in the audience and jumps. She has found the perfection she is looking for.
III. Disorder featured
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior.
In the movie, Nina experienced frequent hallucinations like her doppelganger, her reflection in the mirror, lesbian sex with Lily, Beth stabbing herself, her imagination of killing Lily, and her transformations into a swan.
IV. Conclusion
In the end of the movie, the main character, Nina, unconsciously stabbed herself because of her hallucinations and died after the flawless performance. The film taught me about how dreams could affect and control our minds. I realized that under extreme pressure, one could trigger hallucinations, paranoia and pyschotic behavior. In our lives we constantly encounter situations that put us under pressure wether in our work or studies. We struggle to reach the expectations of those around us and we are afraid to disappoint them. We should’nt let that pressure to eat and destroy us like it did to Nina. We should just relax our minds and do our best. We shouldn’t be afraid to fail because nothing is perfect and everyone commits mistakes. Love ourselves, accept our flaws and know our limitations.
Blackswan shows the 2 sides of one’s self. The white side and the black side just like the White Swan and the Black Swan. We all have bad side and good side.Others just don’t know how to manage those two sides just like Nina. She had problems releasing her black swan and it pressured her so much that her mind failed. We shouldn’t be like that. Releasing ourselves and being carefree are not bad. Its just shows that we arent afraid to show both our white and black swans.
One of the reasons why Nina wanted perfection badly was because of her mother. Her mother was an over protective woman who supports Nina in achieving her dreams because she was also a ballerina during her time but surrendered her career to give birth to Nina. Nina felt guilty about that and wanted to become a perfect ballerina for her mother. She treated Nina as a baby and that made Nina childlike and mentally undeveloped. Her mother was also the reason why she wanted to be free. This made me realized that our family especially the one who raised us has a big role in shaping our personalities. My mother is also a protective, supportive and sweet type of mom. She always makes sure our needs are right in front of us that’s why Im dependent and a little bit childish. I know that these attitudes will prevent me from success that’s why I am doing my best now to be matured and independent.
V. References
Marquez D. (2012) Black Swan: A Film Analysis
Retrieved from: www.academia.edu/1131071/Black_Swan_A_Film_Analysis
Mayo Clinic Staff (2014, January 24) Schizophrenia Mayo Clinic
Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/basics/definition/con-20021077
Baloloy, Mariah B.
A Beautiful Mind
I. Introduction
“A Beautiful Mind” is the story of the brilliant mathematician John Forbes Nash who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. It 's based on a true life story and was directed by Ron Howard. The film begins with Nash starting his career at Princeton University as a mathematics graduate student where he was popular because of his intelligence. Nash is an arrogant and socially awkward student, who spent most of his time discovering a perfect equation in mathematics. Half way through the movie, it is revealed that half of the events that occur in the film are only illusions within Nash 's “beautiful” mind. This is when we find out that Nash is suffering from a severe illness which is schizophrenia. The movie ended with Nash as a passionate, patient elderly man winning the Nobel Prize and still battling against his inner demons together with his wife Alicia who supported him all through out his journey.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
When Alicia asked John “you want to know what’s real?” and she put his hand in her heart, and his hand on her face saying “… this is real.” Minds can lie but our hearts cannot. Even though John is mentally illed, his love for Alicia is still the same and will never change. That’s the reality that Alicia wanted to imply to John when she did that.
When Nash realized that Marcee is a figment of his hallucinations because she has remained the same age since the day he met her. He tells Alicia, "She never gets old." Only then does he accept that all three people are, in fact, part of his hallucinations. This is important because this is the part when John finally accepted that Parcher, Charles and Marcee aren’t real.
When Nash said goodbye to the three of them forever in his attempts to ignore his hallucinations and not feed his demons. However, he thanks Charles for being his best friend over the years, and says a tearful goodbye to Marcee, stroking her hair and calling her "baby girl", telling them both he wouldn 't speak to them anymore. I love this part because it is very heartbreaking and shows that even though they became a part of his life, John will never entertain them anymore.
III. Disorder featured
Schizophrenia has been defined as “split mind”. It refers not to a multiple personality split but rather to a split from reality that shows itself in disorganized thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions. Nash experienced severe delusions and hallucinations which were then diagnosed as symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. There are subtypes to Schizophrenia, and paranoid schizophrenia is when being preoccupied with delusions or hallucinations, generally with cases of persecution.
IV. Conclusion
I think it is entitled as “Beautiful Mind” because the main character, John Nash, truly has a beautiful mind. He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined. “Minds can lie but our hearts can never will.” That’s what I’ve realized when I watched this film. John Nash is mentally illed but his heart is not. He still loves Alicia and that love helped him overcome his hallucinations. By the power of love, Alicia helped him to see the reality and stood beside him all through out his fight against himself. John chose to ignore his hallucinations and wanted to be cured because he doesn’t want to lose Alicia and wanted to have a normal life with her and his child.
Beautiful Mind is a very good movie. It ispired me that even a sick minded man can still achieve his dreams if he will only push it and never give up. With the help of his wife, John never gave up. And so he succeeded at the end and won the Nobel Prize and respect of other people.
V. References
Franklin. D (2004) Psychology Film Analysis
Retrieved from: http://beautifulmind-m71.blogspot.com/2010/03/beautiful-mind.html
Baloloy, Mariah B.
The Ward
I. Introduction
The setting of "The Ward" took place in a naturally menacing North Bend Psychiatric Hospital, where the main character, Kristen, a teen amnesiac, faces off against Dr. Stringer, an inquisitive therapist, after she inexplicably burnt down a farmhouseTogether with a group of other inmates, she slowly becomes aware of a ghostly figure stalking the ward at night. As she struggles to rremember her past, Kristen pesters the other young girls imprisoned with her for information about the identity of the ghost presence knocking them off in a dreadful manner one at a time. At the end of the movie, Dr. Stringer explained to her that she and the other young girls in the ward together with Alice (the ghost) are the same person and that she suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
The scene where Kristen has been trying to escape from the mental hospital, thinking that she killed Alice 's ghost, but she accidentally reached Dr. Stringer 's office. This is important because this is the part where she discovered the truth that she is Alice and Kristen is actually one of many split personalities of the real Alice Hudson.
When Alice 's ghost appeared and threw herself and "Kristen" out of the window, reawakening Alice.
The last scene where Alice was in her room, preparing to leave the hospital. As she had opened her cabinet Kristen suddenly came out from it and grabbed Alice. This symbolizes that her last personality, Kristen was still there in her mind and that she wasn’t completely cured.
III. Disorder featured
Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a condition wherein a person 's identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personalities. Sufferers of this rare condition are usually victims of severe abuse. The person also experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
During Alice’s childhood, she was kidnapped and sexually abused by an unknown person and was left chained up for two months in the basement of the same farmhouse "Kristen" had burned down. That resulted on her DID. This is the way her brain used to protect her from remembering the trauma she had.
IV.
Conclusion
We all have bad memories.Different kind of bad memories. Some people experienced bad trauma, and abuses, like Alice. She was kidnapped and sexually abused by some unknown person. And in order to escape that trauma her brain suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. We all want to escape and forget about our bad memories. We sometimes hope that it didn’t happen. Past experiences have a great impact on us. It may affect our present lives and ruin us. That’s why we shouldn’t dwell in our pasts. Especially if we had bad experiences in it. Instead, we should use that wound to be stronger and focus on the present and the future.
V. References
Dusan F. (2013) The Ward Ending Explanation
Retrieved from: http://dusanf.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-ward-ending-explanation.html Dusan F. 2013
American Psychiatric Association (2008) Dissociative Identity Disorder
Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
The Black Swan BSTTM 1-1
I. Introduction
Black swan is a pyschosexual thriller that describes the unglamorous part of the Ballet world inspired by Swan Lake, a famous ballet. Darren Aronofsky is the director of the film who is known for his wild creative imagination. In the movie, the ballet mentor, Cassel, decided to cast only one person for both the White Swan and Black Swan. The main character, Nina, was chosen as the Swan Queen so she has to play both the White Swan and Black Swan. Because Nina’s traits are fearful,innocent and controlled, the White Swan’s character comes naturally for her . However, she finds it difficult to portray the seductive, dark and mysterious Black Swan. …show more content…
Nina pushes herself to be the opposite of who she is in order to play the Swan Queen that led in many hallucinations and pyschotic behaviors. The movie shows Nina’s transformation into the Swan Queen, her strive for perfection and her obsession with it.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
The 1st part when Nina’s dream was being shown. It is important because it symbolizes the white side of Nina and the dark side of her that will be shown in the proceeding scenes.
When Nina returned to her dressing room to find Lilly offering to play the black swan in the costume. Nina fought with Lilly and killed her.
The last part when Nina dances the rest of the performance and the final scene where she jumps. It is significant because for Nina this is her last breath. She can see her Mum is proud in the audience and jumps. She has found the perfection she is looking for.
III. Disorder featured
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior.
In the movie, Nina experienced frequent hallucinations like her doppelganger, her reflection in the mirror, lesbian sex with Lily, Beth stabbing herself, her imagination of killing Lily, and her transformations into a swan.
IV. Conclusion
In the end of the movie, the main character, Nina, unconsciously stabbed herself because of her hallucinations and died after the flawless performance. The film taught me about how dreams could affect and control our minds. I realized that under extreme pressure, one could trigger hallucinations, paranoia and pyschotic behavior. In our lives we constantly encounter situations that put us under pressure wether in our work or studies. We struggle to reach the expectations of those around us and we are afraid to disappoint them. We should’nt let that pressure to eat and destroy us like it did to Nina. We should just relax our minds and do our best. We shouldn’t be afraid to fail because nothing is perfect and everyone commits mistakes. Love ourselves, accept our flaws and know our limitations.
Blackswan shows the 2 sides of one’s self. The white side and the black side just like the White Swan and the Black Swan. We all have bad side and good side.Others just don’t know how to manage those two sides just like Nina. She had problems releasing her black swan and it pressured her so much that her mind failed. We shouldn’t be like that. Releasing ourselves and being carefree are not bad. Its just shows that we arent afraid to show both our white and black swans.
One of the reasons why Nina wanted perfection badly was because of her mother. Her mother was an over protective woman who supports Nina in achieving her dreams because she was also a ballerina during her time but surrendered her career to give birth to Nina. Nina felt guilty about that and wanted to become a perfect ballerina for her mother. She treated Nina as a baby and that made Nina childlike and mentally undeveloped. Her mother was also the reason why she wanted to be free. This made me realized that our family especially the one who raised us has a big role in shaping our personalities. My mother is also a protective, supportive and sweet type of mom. She always makes sure our needs are right in front of us that’s why Im dependent and a little bit childish. I know that these attitudes will prevent me from success that’s why I am doing my best now to be matured and independent.
V. References
Marquez D. (2012) Black Swan: A Film Analysis
Retrieved from: www.academia.edu/1131071/Black_Swan_A_Film_Analysis
Mayo Clinic Staff (2014, January 24) Schizophrenia Mayo Clinic
Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/basics/definition/con-20021077
Baloloy, Mariah B.
A Beautiful Mind
I. Introduction
“A Beautiful Mind” is the story of the brilliant mathematician John Forbes Nash who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. It 's based on a true life story and was directed by Ron Howard. The film begins with Nash starting his career at Princeton University as a mathematics graduate student where he was popular because of his intelligence. Nash is an arrogant and socially awkward student, who spent most of his time discovering a perfect equation in mathematics. Half way through the movie, it is revealed that half of the events that occur in the film are only illusions within Nash 's “beautiful” mind. This is when we find out that Nash is suffering from a severe illness which is schizophrenia. The movie ended with Nash as a passionate, patient elderly man winning the Nobel Prize and still battling against his inner demons together with his wife Alicia who supported him all through out his journey.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
When Alicia asked John “you want to know what’s real?” and she put his hand in her heart, and his hand on her face saying “… this is real.” Minds can lie but our hearts cannot. Even though John is mentally illed, his love for Alicia is still the same and will never change. That’s the reality that Alicia wanted to imply to John when she did that.
When Nash realized that Marcee is a figment of his hallucinations because she has remained the same age since the day he met her. He tells Alicia, "She never gets old." Only then does he accept that all three people are, in fact, part of his hallucinations. This is important because this is the part when John finally accepted that Parcher, Charles and Marcee aren’t real.
When Nash said goodbye to the three of them forever in his attempts to ignore his hallucinations and not feed his demons. However, he thanks Charles for being his best friend over the years, and says a tearful goodbye to Marcee, stroking her hair and calling her "baby girl", telling them both he wouldn 't speak to them anymore. I love this part because it is very heartbreaking and shows that even though they became a part of his life, John will never entertain them anymore.
III. Disorder featured
Schizophrenia has been defined as “split mind”. It refers not to a multiple personality split but rather to a split from reality that shows itself in disorganized thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions. Nash experienced severe delusions and hallucinations which were then diagnosed as symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. There are subtypes to Schizophrenia, and paranoid schizophrenia is when being preoccupied with delusions or hallucinations, generally with cases of persecution.
IV. Conclusion
I think it is entitled as “Beautiful Mind” because the main character, John Nash, truly has a beautiful mind. He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined. “Minds can lie but our hearts can never will.” That’s what I’ve realized when I watched this film. John Nash is mentally illed but his heart is not. He still loves Alicia and that love helped him overcome his hallucinations. By the power of love, Alicia helped him to see the reality and stood beside him all through out his fight against himself. John chose to ignore his hallucinations and wanted to be cured because he doesn’t want to lose Alicia and wanted to have a normal life with her and his child.
Beautiful Mind is a very good movie. It ispired me that even a sick minded man can still achieve his dreams if he will only push it and never give up. With the help of his wife, John never gave up. And so he succeeded at the end and won the Nobel Prize and respect of other people.
V. References
Franklin. D (2004) Psychology Film Analysis
Retrieved from: http://beautifulmind-m71.blogspot.com/2010/03/beautiful-mind.html
Baloloy, Mariah B.
The Ward
I. Introduction
The setting of "The Ward" took place in a naturally menacing North Bend Psychiatric Hospital, where the main character, Kristen, a teen amnesiac, faces off against Dr. Stringer, an inquisitive therapist, after she inexplicably burnt down a farmhouseTogether with a group of other inmates, she slowly becomes aware of a ghostly figure stalking the ward at night. As she struggles to rremember her past, Kristen pesters the other young girls imprisoned with her for information about the identity of the ghost presence knocking them off in a dreadful manner one at a time. At the end of the movie, Dr. Stringer explained to her that she and the other young girls in the ward together with Alice (the ghost) are the same person and that she suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder.
II. 3 Significant Scenes
The scene where Kristen has been trying to escape from the mental hospital, thinking that she killed Alice 's ghost, but she accidentally reached Dr. Stringer 's office. This is important because this is the part where she discovered the truth that she is Alice and Kristen is actually one of many split personalities of the real Alice Hudson.
When Alice 's ghost appeared and threw herself and "Kristen" out of the window, reawakening Alice.
The last scene where Alice was in her room, preparing to leave the hospital. As she had opened her cabinet Kristen suddenly came out from it and grabbed Alice. This symbolizes that her last personality, Kristen was still there in her mind and that she wasn’t completely cured.
III. Disorder featured
Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a condition wherein a person 's identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personalities. Sufferers of this rare condition are usually victims of severe abuse. The person also experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
During Alice’s childhood, she was kidnapped and sexually abused by an unknown person and was left chained up for two months in the basement of the same farmhouse "Kristen" had burned down. That resulted on her DID. This is the way her brain used to protect her from remembering the trauma she had.
IV.
Conclusion
We all have bad memories.Different kind of bad memories. Some people experienced bad trauma, and abuses, like Alice. She was kidnapped and sexually abused by some unknown person. And in order to escape that trauma her brain suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. We all want to escape and forget about our bad memories. We sometimes hope that it didn’t happen. Past experiences have a great impact on us. It may affect our present lives and ruin us. That’s why we shouldn’t dwell in our pasts. Especially if we had bad experiences in it. Instead, we should use that wound to be stronger and focus on the present and the future.
V. References
Dusan F. (2013) The Ward Ending Explanation
Retrieved from: http://dusanf.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-ward-ending-explanation.html Dusan F. 2013
American Psychiatric Association (2008) Dissociative Identity Disorder
Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder