“I consumed over thirty pounds of
sugar…that’s an average of a pound of sugar a day,” says Morgan Spurlock,
director and star of Supersize Me. This
quote was in reference of the documented 30-day challenge where Spurlock consumed
McDonalds’ food for every single meal for an entire month. Supersize Me takes viewers on an eye-opening adventure as they walk
hand in hand with Spurlock through a McDonalds lover’s “hay day”. Viewers are
encouraged to think about their own eating habits as they observe the physical
transformation that Spurlock’s experiment has on his body. The claims within Supersize Me were convincing and helped
create a successful documentary.
This documentary would not have
been made if obesity was not an increasing problem in the United States. Spurlock
explains that the documentary was prompted by his learning of the fact that
more than 60% of all Americans are overweight. Spurlock addresses this problem
by using statistics in the first part of the film in order to solidify his
claim and catch viewer attention. Spurlock claims that many Americans do not
understand the life-threatening consequences of the fast food lifestyle. Obesity
has more than doubled since the 1980s and he believes that Americans needed to
be informed about the serious problems that a fast food diet will cause.
Supersize Me was created to influence
the minds of fast food eaters in America. Although the film was created for
this target audience, Spurlock emphasizes that this documentary could provide
beneficial information to all Americans because the USA is the most overweight
country in the world. Though the target audience was very broad, the number of
viewers was limited due to the mediums used. This film was shown in film
festivals around the United States and then eventually produced on DVD and
Netflix. Although this movie was well-liked by film festival viewers, it could
have reached a larger quantity of Americans if it had been released in theaters or on television.
The
purpose of the documentary was to increase awareness of the negative effects
that fast food can have on the body. This claim was supported by the appeals of
pathos and logos. Viewers feel an emotional connection to Spurlock as they
watch his vulnerability on screen. He is an “open book” and shares personal
information by showing footage of his doctor’s appointments and sharing his
insecurities with the world. Spurlock increases logos by including
health-related facts from reputable sources. In the book “Everything’s an
Argument,” Lunsford address the importance of strong facts and states, “We will
even listen to people we don’t agree with if their evidence is good” (55). Although
some viewers may have been apprehensive about this documentary, the usage of
facts from sources like the National Center for Health Statistics aided in the
credibility of the film.
Morgan
Spurlock’s presence served as an important element of the success of this film.
The decision to base this film from his personal point of view makes the
documentary seem more approachable to viewers. His authentic nature adds humor
to the film and makes viewers feel more connected to him. Lunsford reminds
readers that, “If you strike the right
emotional note, you’ll establish an important connection” (32). Spurlock’s
decision to show vulnerable moments like him puking, gaining weight and dealing
with emotional instability, gives readers a greater understanding of the impact
fast food addictions can have. Spurlock’s intense physical and psychological effects are absolutely astonishing.
After watching this documentary, I
am convinced that I will never desire a meal at McDonalds ever again. There
were positive results after the creation of this film, including the fact that
McDonalds made some changes to their menu and added some healthier options. I
believe that it is the type of effect that Spurlock wanted. I am giving Supersize Me 4/5 nachos because I feel
truly impacted after watching it. While I think that Supersize Me could have been more influential on a different
medium, it successfully influenced me to examine my own eating habits. I am now
more aware of the consequences of this lifestyle and I know that I will think
twice before going to grab fast food when I’m feeling lazy. For a brief summary on the film, watch this!
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