Supersize Me: The Rhetoric of French Fries The United States of America has long been considered a “big nation”, whether is has the biggest cities, houses, and on a negative note, biggest people. In 2003, Morgan Spurlock, a healthy-bodied film director, set on a quest to show America the detrimental effects of the fast food industry and raise awareness on the controversial issue. He produced the documentary “Supersize Me”, where McDonald’s meals were consumed for every meal of the day for thirty days. His film was released to movie theatres so that people could understand the devastating effects of McDonald’s on his body in a very short time span. At the end of his experiment, Morgan gained twenty-five pounds, developed a thirteen percent body mass increase, cholesterol skyrocketed immensely, and fat accumulation in his liver rose to. He became depressed and he only felt happy and in no pain when he was eating the fast food. By using ethos, logos, and pathos, “Supersize Me” became one of the most watched documentaries in the United States. Without these appeals, this documentary would not have developed the effect that it did. Ethos is the credibility of knowledge and written word. Or in laments terms, that one has the authority to spread true knowledge. It shows the importance of what you are talking about and gives a speaker credibility to talk about the subject. “Supersize Me” fulfills this bin that it provides the viewers with facts and statistics about obesity and the fast food industry in America. It was reported in the documentary that each day, 1 in 4 Americans visit a fast food restaurant, and that in 1972, America spent three billion dollars a year on fast food where as today we spend more than $110 billion a year (S... ... middle of paper ... ...ing me puke” (Spurlock 2004). Obesity in America can be considered to be at an all time high, and this is particularly evident in the documentary. One man was brave enough to take on the challenge to show America what they were actually putting into their bodies when eating fast food. By using ethos, logos, and pathos, “Supersize Me” became one of the most watched documentaries in the history of United States film and shocked people throughout the nation. Without the use of these rhetorical appeals, this documentary quite possibly would not have had the effect that it did on its audience. The documentary was very successful in getting its’ main thesis across. The audience left the documentary with a different view on the fast-food industry and the growing problem of obesity in the United States. Essentially, the director achieved his goal of influencing a nation.
Obesity is a serious epidemic that majority of Americans face. The dangerous of obesity should not be taken lightly and addressed admittedly. However, the big question is how or why do some individuals stay skinny or become fat. The movie Weight of The Nations, Part 2: choice helps us explore this unanswered question to give us a better understanding of how this problem has gotten so out of control. This movie targets the obese society in America. This documentary uses scientist to research and address techniques to help people prevent weight gain and loss unhealthy weight. Most Americans want quick fixes to this problem, but have to realize big changes take time, but offer big results. Over all, the idea is to get people motivated by positive results to live a healthier live style.
Ethos is the act of proving one’s self (namely the author), reliable to the reader, and a credible writer to research and explain the topic
Fast food, while a quick alternative to cooking, has always been known to be less healthy than traditional preparations, but the extent of its health benefits or detriments was not known until a lawsuit came out which inspired documentarian Morgan Spurlock to engage in a 30 day experiment. The resultant documentary specifically targeted McDonald’s, the largest fast food chain in the world, which also happens to be a major recipient of lawsuits linking obesity and their food. Spurlock endeavored to spend a thirty day period eating nothing but food that came from the golden arches, with the rules that he would supersize only when asked, and every time he was asked, and that he would have everything from the menu at least once. In the 2004 film Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock explores the concept that McDonald’s contributes to the nation’s obesity problem through the utilization of statistics and scientific evidence as a logical appeal, comedy and repulsive qualities as an emotional appeal, and s...
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 affect the physique and general health of the 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. McDonald's is one of the most popular fast food restaurants across the country with some of the most sugar and calorie packed foods. In America, that spells trouble since the smaller sized items tend to be the largest sizes in other countries across the globe.
As the rising epidemic of obesity has attracted considerable media attention, so has the promotion for maintaining healthy wellbeing. Tom Naughton’s documentary, Fat Head, is a stellar model of this media attention. It examines the exact cause of weight gain, and the reliability of the Government’s nutritional guidelines. The contention of Fat Head is that the U.S Government and Morgan Spurlock (the creator of Super Size Me) present misleading information. However, Naughton’s bias becomes apparent through the careful selection of film techniques, and the silencing of certain characters, who may express opposing viewpoints. The ideal audience of this documentary, parents and concerned parties such as medical professionals, are invited to agree that the U.S Government and Spurlock are deceptive.
Ethos is a category that appeals to connecting one thing to another to help advertise the product.Resse's uses this tactic by including the pretty well -known rapper Mr.lupo linking the fans of mr.lupo to the cereal.People who watch the commercial will recognize mr.lupo and will want to buy the cereal from the commercial he's in.Connecting the two products together gets out more publicity for and the said product.Ethos is efficient in the process of linking two different subjects so they benefit each other.
Documentary films have become very popular in the last few years, with the success of Michael Moore’s films fueling interest in learning while being entertained. Two filmmakers have benefited from this new interest in the non-fiction film movement, including directors Morgan Spurlock and Lee Fulkerson. The two filmmakers both made documentaries regarding healthy eating, or the lack thereof, in North America. Spurlock’s film, Super Size Me, was about a healthy man who wanted to see what would happen to his body if he ate nothing but items from McDonalds for an entire month. On the other hand, Fulkerson’s Forks Over Knives is about a man on a quest to improve his health by consuming a plant and whole food based diet.
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 on 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 tries 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.
Morgan Spurlock decided to make this documentary to investigate the fast food companies, and the effects of certain fast food chains products, particularly McDonalds, on the health of society. This Documentary explores the United States growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes as well. Morgan decides to eat nothing but McDonald's food for thirty days. He must eat one of everything on the menu at least once, and when asked to super size his meal he must do so. Another stipulation of Morgan's experiment is that he can only take 5,000 steps a day to replicate the exercise that most average Americans get on a daily basis. He must also eat three meals a day, no exceptions and if McDonalds doesn't serve it Morgan can't eat it.
McDonald’s is killing Americans, at least that is what Morgan Spurlock believes. In his documentary Super Size Me he embarks on a quest to not only describe and use himself as an example of the growing obesity trend, but to offer the viewers with base-line nutritional knowledge that will allow them to draw their own informed conclusions. Spurlock's primary intention is to prove through self-experimentation that eating solely McDonald's food is dangerous. His secondary intention is to denounce the rising obesity rate in American by using statistics, his own research, and the opinions of experts. His broader message is for a general audience while he tailors select chapters towards more specific demographics such as parents or McDonald's themselves.
Thousands of Americans across the U.S. suffer from obesity. The Public Service Announcement (PSA), “Rewind the Future” showcases the life of an average obese American. This PSA shows an obese man that has been sent to the hospital due to a heart attack. Between a life of plentiful fast-food and a severe lack of exercise, this man suffers from a heart attack in his 30s, weighing in at 300 pounds (as stated in “Rewind the Future”). While the man is being assisted by doctors, the PSA proceeds to display the man’s life in reverse, letting the audience see his unhealthy lifestyle. In the PSA, “Rewind the Future,” produced by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life, the video has pathos which overshadows the secondary presentations of ethos and logos concerning the topic of obesity.
America has always been about being the biggest nation: the biggest houses, the biggest cars, biggest cities and unfortunately the biggest bodies. There is no doubt that fast food is causing major health problems for many Americans today. In his documentary, Super Size Me, released in 2004 Morgan Spurlock decides to eat only food from McDonald’s for thirty days to see how it would affect his health. Spurlock starts out healthier than the average man for his age. Throughout the film, we can see that his health gradually degenerates and reaches a critical point, before his thirty days are over. Super Size Me is very persuasive in showing the negative effect in fast food restaurants by using logos, pathos, and ethos.
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
McDonald’s, one of America’s fastest growing fast food restaurants, has made more than its share of money within the last twenty years serving more than 46 million people daily. They have twice as many restaurants as Burger King and more restaurants than KFC, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell Combined. Often children have the dream of eating fast food for every meal of every day. Well, Morgan Spurlock took the challenge to see how dangerous it would be to eat McDonalds for every meal. He also took the challenge in response to a lawsuit against McDonalds by a family whose children became obese by the contents of its meals. Directed and starring Morgan Spurlock, who is married to a vegan chef and a healthy man for his age, Super-Size Me is a film that followed Spurlock for 31 days as he follows certain rules set by a series of physicians. He was only allowed to meals off the McDonalds menu including water. Also, he couldn’t exercise but had to walk the same amount of steps as the average American. Filmed all over the United States, Super-Size Me was made to inform the public on the manufactured foods they consume daily. The film also raises awareness on the dangers of what manufactured foods do to the body. Super-Size Me showed how one of the most popular fast food restaurants around today may be leading future generations to severe health problems.