Black Swan acts as a women's version of Fight Club
Fight Club examines masculinity shaped by consumer capitalism
Black Swan examines femininity constrained by perfectionism and a patriarchal ballet culture
Fight Club: Emasculation through consumerism produces Tyler as the repressed "masculine" self
Black Swan: Perfectionism and strict control produce Lily as the repressed "feminine/erotic" self
Fight Club: Inflicting pain on oneself is framed as liberation
Black Swan: Sexuality, mutilation, and self-destruction become Nina's route to a "perfect" performance
Fight Club: Tyler propels self-destruction as a means to transcendence
Black Swan: Nina only fully becomes the Black Swan by destroying herself