To me, the use of colors in Black Swan is the most visual striking element of the film. I love how colors are used to demonstrate the contrast of an innocent Natalie Portman turned into a dark character full of madness. Light colors are used to portray the childlike and innocent Nina. The beginning of the film Nina is dressed either in white or light pastels. She even comments on the pinkness of her breakfast. The light colors depict her shy childish character; quite, nervous, and guarded. However, as the movie progresses she is consumed by a world of darkness; she walks the city at night, and the dark halls of her studio, and she “befriends” Mila Kunis’ dark character, Lily. Nina herself becomes dark, she begins by wearing dark lipstick and she dresses in black to reflect her new found confidence.
Madness runs continuously through this movie. Nina’s desire for perfection ultimately is her downfall. Each time she starts to lose herself to insanity. To portray her insanity, Darren Aronofsky literally turns Nina to be swanlike. She begins sprouting feathers and her legs bend at inhumane angles. To literally turn Nina into something inhumane depicts just how she no longer identifies as being a human nor does she think human thoughts. She has turned into the black swan.
Proximity also plays a role in the film. Nina is generally separated from other characters. She remains a sort of outcast at her dance studio. Even when her instructor initiates close contact she pulls away. The exception of this lies in Nina’s mother. Her mother is always within close proximity to Nina. She dresses her, kisses her, and is even present when Nina attempts masturbating. She is a motherly figure that is ever present and keeps Nina as the white swan. However, as Nina turns more and more dangerous she pushes her mother away for her new friend, Lily. Lily embraces darkness out of Nina that her mother tries to hide.
The combination of these elements all add to the dark transformation that Nina undergoes.
A Transformation of Darkness (Blog Entry 10)
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The Official Blog of WRTG 3007, Summer 2012 
I totally agree with you that Lily pulls the darkness out of Nina. A particular example that I can think of is when they go out together for the first time and Lily persuades Nina to try ecstasy for the first time. It is very obvious during this persuasion that Nina is very sheltered and straight-laced, while Lily marches to the beat of her own drum, for lack of a better term. This mindset is demonstrated by Nina herself after this night when she tells off her mom and starts to lock her out of her room. I think that Nina’s rebellion may definitely be associated with her “dark transformation.” I think this analysis is very good! Nice work.
I really like how you connect confidence with wearing black. I agree that Nina’s drive for perfection is what makes her crazy and that her mind is possessed with this obsession. I like your analysis about Nina’s mother too. She is a very influential character to Nina’s psychotic breakdown by the end of the story and is the reason why she is so obsessed with perfection. I’m curious as to what you think about the reality of the movie. Do you think this is what is actually happening or what is seen through Nina’s eyes.
I really like all of your connections too. The colors really help to get the different “atmospheres” across and to give the audience a better sense of what’s going on. Your analysis of the importance of proximity also brings up some good points. I think it’s valuable to address that her mother (usually a protective figure) becomes less of a presence as Lily and darkness/risk become more important.