Analysis of Documentary: Supersize Me The McDonald’s Corporation, the largest fast food chain in the world, was once known as a carefree place for people to consume a cheap and convenient meal. However, in the last decade, the restaurant has transformed into the main representation of global obesity. In 2004, an expository documentary was released that gave audiences a chance to view the effects of consuming an excessive amount of fast food from McDonald’s. This film, Supersize Me, effectively delivers significant amounts of ‘infotainment’ through commentary and interviews in order to entertain its viewers. Although it is argued that the film is an exaggeration of the traditional American lifestyle, it has caused huge debate within the public sphere and changed the fast food industry forever. The main point of my essay is to argue how even though this documentary is a construction of reality, viewers still respond to it on the faith that it strives to be accurate in the representation of reality. It is important for the public to gain a deeper understanding as to why Supersize Me was so successful at converting individuals to change their lifestyles and eliminate fast food from their diets. Since documentaries offer a visual understanding, the public is able to feel more connected to the issue being presented because they are able to witness first hand what Morgan Spurlock had to endure in order to raise awareness and ignite public debate on the effects of fast food and obesity. It has been stated that a documentary film brings a “fresh eye to the events of the world and told stories that broaden and awaken new possibilities” (Nichols, 2001). However, in an era consumed with technological advancements, demands on the produc... ... middle of paper ... ...people across the globe regarding fast food and McDonald’s. By portraying the concern of the global obesity epidemic through an individualistic approach, audiences all over the world were able to directly witness the effects of fast food. Even though the film was an exaggeration of reality, Supersize Me ignited much public debate within the public sphere, causing individuals to adopt new lifestyles for fear of weight gain and health risks. By presenting the issue in a documentary and allowing viewers to watch the duration of the month, the film was able to instill a fear in the minds of many and influence individuals to eliminate fast food from their diets. The power of Supersize Me reflects the constant debate of the global obesity epidemic within the public sphere and continues to influence individuals around the world to think twice about eating fast food.
When people consume supersized fast food meals, is the food to blame when they themselves become supersized? Morgan Spurlock takes on the challenge of eating only McDonald's every day, three times a day, for thirty days straight to see how these meals affects the physique and general health of a human body. The Film Supersize Me uses logos, pathos, and ethos to effectively persuade the audience that eating fast foods, namely McDonald's, has horrible side effects.
...lly has a critic. To strengthen the arguments and persuade viewers to their side of the debate, film makers tend to present only one side of the story. Specific placement of an object, the choice of words and the selection of scenes are possible elements that could be woven into documentaries to shape viewers’ perspectives on certain issues. Fat Head is a great case in point, which is likely to convert some public opinion about the ideology of healthy eating. Documentaries may contain biases that mislead the viewers; presenting ‘facts’ but perhaps not revealing the entire picture. Therefore, in a sense, documentaries can be truthful, but also fallacious. It is imperative to evaluate the techniques used in documentaries, in order to distinguish readily from what is fantasy. It could be concluded that Fat Head and Super Size Me are two version of the same reality.
The documentary titled Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat is a documentary shedding some light on the growing trend of America and its expanding waistlines. The documentary is geared to unmask the epidemic of obesity in our country. The film sheds some light to our society is how our society is fixated with living and unhealthy lifestyle. The film goes on to inform you on how bad the situation really is, where two-thirds of the American population qualifies as obese or overweight. The documentary tried to uncover the root and causes of how this epidemic came to be and how it can be reversed.
“Don’t Blame the Eater” is an article by David Zinczenko that explains to Americans, specifically overweight young Americans, about the risks eating at fast food restaurants and its cause of affecting one’s health. In his article, he tries to address the issue about America’s food industries by using literal devices such as tone, logos, ethos, diction, and organization in order to spread his message. He begins his article by addressing the topic and as he continues writing, he supports his topic by writing about personal experience and moves onto the reasons why his topic in a serious issue. Although he shows an overall clear progress, he does tend to have a few problems with his writing that could be improved.
“Supersize me” is a film written and directed by Morgan Spurlock, this documentary observes the effects of the fast food industry on the American society. The premise of ‘Supersize me’ is an attempt to eat only McDonalds for a total of thirty days. This ‘Mc Binge’ was inspired by a trial evolving two teenage girls who were attempting to sue McDonalds for their obesity and the health. McDonalds, the number one fast food industry at the time, could be food almost anywhere you looked, the option of supersizing one’s food order gave the satisfaction In order to examine the effects of fast food on society. Spurlock decides to take on the challenge presented by a judge whom ruled that unless it could be proven that McDonalds could in one month make an individual physically sick, there would be no grounds for the case. Hired to test and prove that the girls had a case, Mr. Spurlock began his fast, imbibing nothing but McDonalds sold products. Spurlock provides many techniques in order to capture the attention of the audience; he uses logos, pathos and ethos throughout his film.
This documentary takes a look at how our school’s lunch programs and government play a role in the spread of obesity across the nation. The film really attempts to drive home the idea that our children are being immorally brainwashed into wanting unhealthy foods. At some points of the film, it appears that the director uses big companies and school lunches as a scapegoat for our nations crisis. It is a valid point that our nation’s children are being
In a society that is facing numerous problems, such as economic devastation, one major problem is often disregarded, growing obesity. As the American society keeps growing, so does growth of the fast food industry and the epidemic of obesity. In order to further investigate the main cause of obesity, Morgan Spurlock, the film director and main character, decides to criticize the fast food industry for its connection with obesity in America. In his documentary Spurlock performs a radical experiment that drives him to eat only from McDonald's and order a super-sized meal whenever he is asked. By including visual and textual techniques, rhetorical appeals, and argumentative evidences, Morgan Spurlock was able to help viewers know the risks of fast food and how it has caused America to be the world's “fattest country”.
Super Size Me, a 2004 documentary film starring and directed by independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock 's film document the effects of an all fast food diet on the human body, more specifically Spurlock 's body. Not only does this film show the drastic adverse physical effects of this diet, it also presents evidence how fast food companies target advertising at our youth and also the influence fast food corporations have on government policies. For thirty days Spurlock ate exclusively at McDonald 's, three meals a day. He had to eat everything on the McDonalds menu and could not consume anything not offered by McDonald 's. After watching this film it was undeniable the damage fast food has on your health, the advertising tactics used by McDonald’s or the influence these giant fast food companies wield in government.
Obesity has become an epidemic in today’s society. Today around 50% of America is now considered to be over weight. Fast-food consumption has been a major contributor to the debate of the twenty-first century. Chapter thirteen, titled “Is Fast-Food the New Tobacco,” in the They Say I Say book, consists of authors discussing the debate of fast-food’s link to obesity. Authors debate the government’s effects on the fast-food industry, along with whether or not the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise in obesity throughout America. While some people blame the fast food industry for the rise in obesity, others believe it is a matter of personal responsibility to watch what someone eats and make sure they get the proper exercise.
Spurlock, Morgan. Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005. Print.
The United States is the fattest nation in the world. Obesity has become an epidemic among society. The main contributor to obesity in America is the abundant number of fast food restaurants and lack of exercise. Eating Fast food is very unhealthy and will effect someone’s long term health. In his film Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s job is to go on a 30 day McDonalds’ binge to show the effects of eating large amounts of fast food. During the film, Spurlock stresses three main factors of the obesity epidemic. The three main factors of obesity stressed in the film Super Size Me are the health problems associated with eating large amounts of fast food, food being served in schools, and the advertisement of fast food restaurants.
It related to the social issue and critical issue in the American society. Supersize Me is not a simple documentary, much of this documentary is an experiment, and an action. The film producer tried to use a real observation to try to change the viewer’s perception with action. When people visit fast food restaurants, and this film will remind them to think of their bodies, and remember to have a balance diet. It clearly pointed the disadvantage of American food culture. Anya’s story analyzed the girl living, and the pressure they faced in the school. The comic links to the food culture too, Anya wanted to be skinny to fit in the large group, and got the recognition from the peers. Everyone is unique with different behaviors to compete the whole series. The message brings out from the story can switch the social identity to a right way and to take note of the real beauty in the society. Food is an essential thing in daily life, food is very important for maintaining a good health. We need food to provide energy for growth, and build up the body tissues. Besides, Food helps to contribute the manufacture of American culture too. Like Victor and Thomas, they enjoyed food to integrate culture and understand diversity in the United States. Food can look through the social issues to see how it affected in the American
Before it can be gone into detail about how fast food companies are to blame for people over eating their food, it first must be proven that fast food is indeed the main problem causing today's obesity in America. It is known to many people how the number of fast food restaurants in America has increased tremendously over the past several decades, but it is difficult to calculate by how much due to the lack of historic statistics. Also, it is difficult whether or not to categorize certain restaurants as fast food. Although, a good way to get a feel on the growth of the fast food industry is to take a look at McDonald's, which has been America's most popular fast food chain for decades. In 1968 McDonald's open its 1,000th American restaurant. This number has increased to 13,800 restaurants in 2011 (McDonald’s 1), which really shows how much more fast food people are consuming compared to the past. Consider th...
Everyday, one in four Americans visits a fast food restaurant. Spurlock however, manages to eat enough food for three out of four those people in a month. He films the documentary of his binge, and names it Super Size Me. He makes a plan to eat only McDonald’s for a month to see how it will affect his health. Spurlock’s thirty-day binge to prove that McDonald’s is the source of America’s bad health is invalid, because he isn’t an average America.
It has become common today to dismiss the topic of obesity due to the fast food diets. In discussions about obesity, one controversial issue has been the effect fast food restaurants have on health. Many people today do not want to realize how badly fast food affects the human body. They also do not want to accept the fact that obesity has become such a major problem in today’s world. “Today, one in three adults is considered clinically obese, along with one in five kids, and 24 million Americans are afflicted by type 2 diabetes, often caused by poor diet”(Moss 477). On the other hand, companies president 's argue that it’s not their fault that people are becoming obese and developing other health issues due to their products. These companies