Super size me
Is an American film released in 2004 that involves a social experiment in fast food gastronomy starring Morgan Spurlock (Spurlock) see’s him exist uniquely on food purely from only the McDonald’s menu for a month to see what this can do to a human’s health. Only being allowed to exercise has much as the average American citizen of 5,000 steps per day and must super size when asked. In the process his weight balloons, energy levels plummet and experiences all kinds unexpected and terrifying side effects. He does this with also a keen interest on exploring the effect of cooperate giants (MCdonald’s, KFC’s) growing role in American youth & adults and its contribution to America’s obesity epidemic.
Review
Not being much of film buff Super size me held my attention for all 1hr and 40 minutes and would go into one of the more unique film’s I,ve watched. As this film explores the worldwide epidemic of obesity and how these global fast food chains being primarily McDonald’s in Spurlock’s film is largely to play for this still current epidemic. The film highlights and showcase’s Spurlock’s weight gain of a total 11kg’s throughout his mouth journey with Spurlock’s previously being a fit, active New Yorker with a starting weight of 84kg’s but due to the extreme nature of the diet ends up weighting 95kg’s with a serve risk of permit liver damage demonstrating first hand the negative side effects of fast-food and undertaking this unique diet. But Spurlock’s motivation behind the film is obviously to get to the centre of America’s obesity problems whilst also having a deep desire to exploit the misleading marketing of McDonald’s and the effect this is having on their youth which can be seen at the start of the film where the group of children are singing global fast food chain’s such KFC, Pizza Hut & McDonald’s in song lyric’s highlight this misleading marketing. I found this film informative and eye opening surprising my knowledge of fast food and its affects making this a must watch for anyone with a general interest in health and well-being.
Where was it made?
The film Super Size Me was made in the American City of New York where Morgan Spurlock lives in the humble town of Manhattan with vegan wife and cook Sara Bernstein
Who is its intended audience?
The films targets audience are adults who go to McDonald’s or fast food chain’s regularly. The audience is largely aimed at all American’s to raise awareness to obesity crisis that is happening in American. His audience is also worldwide has obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death. I also believe Spurlock is having a dig at McDonald’s itself trying to show cooperate figures how their propaganda is negatively affecting the youth & adults of America.
Cultural knowledge needed to understand “Super Size Me”
Before viewing the film the only cultural understanding needed is the how the derailing American lifestyle and fast-food has lead to a culture of obesity and minimal exercise with more than 60% of the U.S population being overweight. Also viewer’s need to be aware of how McDonald’s globalisation and propaganda has managed to integrated itself into pop culture with logo’s such as the famous “Golden M” or slogans “Mcloving it”. But Spurlock cover’s both these cultural understanding well in the beginning of the film allowing the viewers to be update and helping their understanding and enjoyment of the film.
How Super Size Me relates to ideas of homogenisation
Homogenisation of Super Size Me occurred when the films themes of obesity & misleading marketing spread worldwide due to its global relateablilty with many nation’s facing similar challenges due to the globalisation of Mcdonald’s. With America’s power only adding to the film’s ability to travel across the globe raising awareness of the obesity epidemic that is occurring worldwide. With many nation’s using to adapt and show the film to again raise awareness of their own countries obesity. To try and persuade people to have a different outlook and perspective on their owe health.
Overall
Personally, I throughly enjoyed the film and recommended anyone with an interest in health and how fast-food is affecting the population to watch this film.
Reference’s
- EndocrineWeb, accessed 27th August 2019, https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/obesity/obesity-america-growing-concern
- Prezi.com, 2014, accessed 27th August 2019, https://prezi.com/45azfvygybpn/super-size-me/
- Prezi.com, 2012, accessed 27th August 2019, https://prezi.com/p9fhzl5rwdzr/globalization-super-size-me/
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