A Detailed Analysis of Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010) Through a Semiotic Approach With the Focus on Colour

Essay from the year 2020 in the subject Philosophy - Theoretical (Realisation, Science, Logic, Language), ( Middlesex University in London ), course: BA (Hons) in Theatre Dance, language: English, abstract: Colour, a form of non-verbal communication, physically affects the human senses such as taste, touch and smell however, this essay will mainly focus on the relationship between sight and the 'spiritual harmony' of colour, in supporting maximum emotional interpretation through narrative. The work of Russian artist and theorist, Wassily Kandinsky has guided deeper analysis of Black Swan into the underlying psychic experience which colour offers. Costume and lighting are examples of objects displaying colour and are believed to be 'the outward expression of inner meaning'; colours are 'seen by the mind and not by the eye'. Aronofsky's 'inner need', i.e. desire for artistic expression, is constructed from three principles which trigger sensations in the human psyche (mind) and soul: colour harmony, form harmony and from the combined form and colour, object choice. This experience is only short-lasting and very personal, differing between individuals based on culture and religion; the experience also lacks significance unless unconsciously associated with a spiritual vibration, the psychic effect. Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.