From the very beginnings of cinematography, the main role of every film is to arouse the viewer's interest. Every director has his own visions and employs unique methods and techniques in the film-making process. One of the major and all-purpose methods is to show the decline of the protagonist. This degradation very often accompanies the process of self-destruction and mental disorders as presented in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan and David Fincher's Fight Club. The purpose of this dissertation is to present the depiction of dissociative identity disorder and the self-destruction processes presented in Fight Club, Psycho and Black Swan.
The first chapter of this dissertation is focused on the phenomenon of dual personality, which is called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The chapter is divided into three parts: the first part is devoted to Psycho, the second to Black Swan and the final one - to Fight Club. Every subchapter begins with a short background which is compulsory in order to understand and to familiarize oneself with the plot of the film. After a brief introduction I shall focus on the analysis of the respective protagonist's behaviour and list of the reasons which lead to their mental disorders. Finally, the chapter depicts the course of events which follow after the protagonists develop DID.
The second chapter discusses the patterns affecting the self-destructive behaviour. Because of the apparent similarity between self-destructive behaviour and DID, the structure of this chapter is practically identical as the first one - even though it does not include the brief introduction. This chapter examines the process of the protagonists' self-destruction, starting with the reasons which cause this process, and ending with description of the twists and turns of the protagonists.
Table of Contents
- Chapter I
- 1.1 Introduction to the films and the definition of Dissociative Identity Disorder
- 1.2 Dissociative Identity Disorder in Psycho
- 1.3 Dissociative Identity Disorder in Black Swan
- 1.4 Dissociative Identity Disorder in Fight Club
- Chapter II
- 2.1 Self-destructive behaviour
- 2.2 Self-destructive behaviour in Psycho
- 2.3 Self-destructive behaviour in Black Swan
- 2.4 Self-destructive behaviour in Fight Club
Objectives and Key Themes
The dissertation aims to analyze the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID) and self-destructive behaviors in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, and David Fincher's Fight Club. It explores how these films depict the decline of their protagonists, linking their mental deterioration to self-destructive acts.
- Depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in film
- Analysis of self-destructive behaviors in the chosen films
- Exploration of the connection between DID and self-destructive tendencies
- Examination of the evolution of cinematic techniques in portraying mental illness
- Comparison of the portrayal of mental illness across different filmmaking eras
Chapter Summaries
Chapter I: This chapter delves into the phenomenon of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as dual personality. It provides an introduction to DID and then analyzes its representation in Psycho, Black Swan, and Fight Club. Each film's analysis begins with a brief plot summary to provide context. The analysis focuses on the protagonists' behaviors and the factors contributing to their mental disorders, tracing the events following the development of DID. The chapter systematically examines how each film portrays the manifestation and progression of this disorder in its respective protagonist, drawing parallels and highlighting unique cinematic approaches.
Chapter II: This chapter investigates self-destructive behaviors in the three films, mirroring the structure of Chapter I. While lacking the introductory section, it maintains a consistent comparative analysis. The chapter examines the process of self-destruction in each protagonist, exploring the underlying causes and tracing the progression of their self-destructive actions. The analysis details the pivotal moments and turning points in their respective journeys, highlighting the interplay between self-destructive behaviors and the broader thematic context of the films. The chapter compares and contrasts the portrayal of self-destruction across different cinematic styles and eras, emphasizing the evolution of narrative strategies in depicting such complex psychological states.
Keywords
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), self-destruction, mental illness in film, Psycho, Black Swan, Fight Club, Alfred Hitchcock, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, cinematic representation, psychological thriller, comparative film analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the focus of this academic work?
This academic work analyzes the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID) and self-destructive behaviors in three films: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, and David Fincher's Fight Club. It explores how these films depict the decline of their protagonists, linking their mental deterioration to self-destructive acts.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include the depiction of DID in film, the analysis of self-destructive behaviors in the chosen films, the exploration of the connection between DID and self-destructive tendencies, the examination of cinematic techniques in portraying mental illness, and a comparison of the portrayal of mental illness across different filmmaking eras.
What is covered in Chapter I?
Chapter I introduces Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and analyzes its representation in Psycho, Black Swan, and Fight Club. It provides a brief plot summary for context and focuses on the protagonists' behaviors and the factors contributing to their mental disorders, tracing the events following the development of DID. The chapter compares how each film portrays the manifestation and progression of this disorder.
What is covered in Chapter II?
Chapter II investigates self-destructive behaviors in the three films, using a comparative analysis similar to Chapter I. It examines the process of self-destruction in each protagonist, exploring the underlying causes and tracing the progression of their self-destructive actions. The chapter compares and contrasts the portrayal of self-destruction across different cinematic styles and eras, emphasizing the evolution of narrative strategies in depicting such complex psychological states.
What films are analyzed in this study?
The analysis focuses on three films: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, and David Fincher's Fight Club.
What are the main keywords associated with this study?
The keywords include: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), self-destruction, mental illness in film, Psycho, Black Swan, Fight Club, Alfred Hitchcock, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, cinematic representation, psychological thriller, and comparative film analysis.
What is the overall objective of this dissertation?
The dissertation aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how dissociative identity disorder and self-destructive behaviors are portrayed in these three films, exploring the cinematic techniques used and comparing their representations across different filmmaking styles and eras.
What type of academic work is this?
This is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a dissertation, including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
- Quote paper
- Przemysław Pietruszka (Author), 2012, Picture of Dual Personality and Self-Destruction presented in PSYCHO, BLACK SWAN and FIGHT CLUB, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/207801
