The “Obsessed Artist” is a character we have seen portrayed throughout the history of cinema. The character strives to perfect their craft by any means necessary, often leading to their own mental, psychological, and physical self-destruction. The story can be both aspirational and dangerous, as the obsession for perfection comes with consequences. Black Swan and Whiplash embody the “Obsessed Artist” through their lead protagonists, each of which pushes themselves beyond the limits of their minds and bodies in order to become not just great, but the best. In this episode, we examine why these types of stories are so powerful on screen and compare the arcs of each obsessed artist. 

Chapter Timestamps:

  • 0:00:00 Introduction
  • 0:04:12 Double Feature Introduction
  • 0:08:25 Black Swan
  • 0:44:22 Whiplash
  • 1:27:22 Theme Comparison
  • 1:35:46 Polls
  • 1:37:13 Double Feature Pitches


The Rolling Tape is a multimedia film and entertainment outlet for podcasts, online, publications, and film production. The podcast is a TRT production covering weekly film reviews, industry updates, and awards season news.

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Eugene Rocco Utley on Letterboxd, Instagram, and Twitter
Matthew Soto on Letterboxd, and Instagram

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Credits:

  • Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
  • Artwork by Danny Jarabek
  • Edited by Danny Jarabek