Frederick Newlin

Ms. Soring

AP Language

20 September, 2016

Fat People Problems

America has become the fattest country in the world, and it is arguably because of all the

fast food chains. In his documentary, Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock proposes that America

should put less value on fast food, as it is a leading factor in American obesity. To justify his

claim, he embarks upon a one one month McDonalds binge in which he eats and drinks nothing

but items off the McDonalds menu and abstains from exercising or working out, emphasizing

the effects it has on his body. During the documentary, Spurlock utilizes various techniques to

influence the opinions of the viewers. Through Spurlocks various uses of statistics, expert

testimonies, factual data and information, personal anecdotes, and the mockery of American

ignorance to the problem at hand in the documentary Super Size Me, he stresses the importance

of healthy eating and devaluing fast food industries to avoid the damage that they are taking on

the country and its citizens.

Spurlock opens Super Size Me with facts and statistics about America and their fast food

places and continues to do so throughout the film. His use of factual information, specifically at

the beginning of documentary, overwhelm the viewers with a surplus of shocking information.

With phrases including Nearly 100 million Americans are today either overweight or obese

and with nearly 300,000 deaths per year associated to related illnesses he strategically uses

both pathos and logos to leave a lasting impression on the audience right at the start (Spurlock).
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Later in the film, he supplies the knowledge that each day, one in four Americans visits a fast

food restaurant, and knowing that a quarter of the U.S. population eats junk everyday is eye

opening to the audience (Spurlock). This continuing pattern of wowing the viewers is a method

that paves the path for a memorable video.

Utilizing ethos, Spurlock obtains medical supervision for his McDonalds binge through

the aid of three different doctors: Steven Siegel, a cardiologist; Lisa Ganjhu a gastroenterologist;

and a general practitioner, Darryl M. Isaacs. He also enlists the guidance of Bridget Bennett, a

dietician and nutritionist, and Eric Rowley, an exercise physiologist from Haelth LLC. Between

the five professionals, it is established that Spurlock is in superb health, slightly above average

physical condition for his age, and normal weight for his size. They state that [His] general

health...is outstanding and [He is] starting off terrific (Spurlock). By seeking expert advise,

the audience is given enough information to conclude that Spurlock is credible and suited for his

imminent food binge. His experiment is being tracked by trained professionals, so even if

Spurlock isnt trustworthy, the doctors are.

The documentary often shows the use of interviews to display a copious amount of data

from first hand sources. There are three different forms of interviews that Spurlock uses

throughout the movie. The first is through informal interviews. Spurlock is seen interviewing

people on the streets about their opinions on fast food chains in America and their personal

exertion of the nearby fast food restaurants. The collection of data from average people gives

viewers a sense of guilt as they relate to the interviewees. This use of pathos through guilt

tripping in the film can compel the audience to start trying to make better choices pertaining to

their health because they feel bad that theyre eating so poorly and damaging their life. Using
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similar tactics, Spurlock then points his interviews at children, asking them to name famous

people such as George Washington, Jesus, and Ronald McDonald, featured on cards that he

shows them. This allows viewers to realize that the children of America cannot recognize

need-to-know faces, but they can name fast food icons. It puts Americans directly at fault for the

degradation of the country, influencing them to take action to prevent the downfall of society.

Contrary to the first, the third and final interview method is standard, or formal interviews. These

are interviews that were scheduled ahead of time allowing the interviewee to prepare information

that they might use. He uses people that are directly related to junk or fast food corporations such

as John Robbins, son and self-proclaimed taste tester of Baskin Robbins ice cream chain, and

Jared Fogle, former spokesperson for Subway. Robbins is a fervent advocate for healthy

nutritional choices, telling of his own negative experiences with ice cream from his childhood,

and Fogel likewise gave frequent presentations around the country to share his own battle and

triumph over obesity. The effect of these interviews is to provide a direct and educated opinion

from those who have experienced the trials and tribulations of the fast food world. Receiving

information from somebody who knows what they're talking about is a surefire method to gain

the audiences attention, trust, and retention of the knowledge. Through the exploitation of

various interview strategies, Spurlock successfully captivates his spectators, just one step further

in convincing them to adopt his stance on the fast food argument.

To accentuate his opinions, Spurlock uses his own narratives throughout the

documentary. He does so to let his viewers relate to him at a personal level. He tells of his

childhood, and how they never ate out - only on those few, rare special occasions (Spurlock).

The quote shows just how important fast food has become to todays Americans. The previous
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generation rarely went out for food, and in comparison, people might as well eat it three times a

day as Spurlock does. To address the relation between obesity and smoking, near the beginning

of his binge, Spurlock states how it was similar to the struggle to quit smoking. He says I made

it over the three-day hump Its the three-day hump when you quit smoking cigarettes. If you

can make it over those three days without smoking one cigarette you're fine. Same thing with

this. I made it past day three. Im alright (Spurlock). He admits that he used to smoke and that

he had also quit. Due to the myriad of smokers in America, he puts his binge into terms that they

can understand. With their attention secured, this use of pathos almost guarantees these viewers

agreement to his claim.

In another attempt to elicit emotion from the viewers, Morgan Spurlock mocks American

ignorance of the issue. Rather than trying to elicit more guilt or empathy, through humor and

ridicule he is stimulating emotions that will differ from person to person. To some, his jokes are

funny, but to others, they kindle anger and disgust. Early in the film, he establishes that it will be

fairly informal by using a humorous tone at the beginning of the film with the group of kids

singing about their love of fast food. Also in the beginning he says America has now become

the fattest nation in the world. Congratulations. making fun of it as if it were a goal to strive for.

At one point, Jacob Sullum, the senior editor of Reason Magazine states One is now socially

acceptable -- to hector smokers -- but the other one isnt quite yet, so the question is, at what

point will it become acceptable to publicly hector fat people in the way that smokers are publicly

hectored? This generally embodies what Spurlock is doing throughout his documentary, not

only through the verbal humor, but also through images that are shown, and songs that are

played. Two songs, Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen and Rock n Roll McDonalds by Wesley
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Willis, played at the intro and the middle of the movie respectively, set a comedic and ironic tone

because the lively, and practically jovial, songs actually promote being fat and overweight.

Spurlock uses this and other humor in juxtaposition with his point that America needs to show

less emphasis on fast food and unhealthy eating habits. It emphasizes just how materialistic

America is and the how is put on fast food. Americans see this and realize the gravity of the

situation. Becoming aware that the obsession with the food industry has leaked into seemingly

unrelated aspects of their culture like music and art is simply appalling.

Morgan Spurlock effectively raises awareness to Americas obesity and fast food

epidemic in Super Size Me through the uses of various rhetorical strategies. By offering an

abundant amount of statistics that enforce a common objective, seeking credibility in the form of

doctoral supervision, collecting statements from interviews with both experienced and educated

citizens, providing experiences from his own history, and resorting to humor and ridicule,

Spurlock drives home his contention with fast foods dominance over the country. The

techniques used to execute the film are so compelling that the viewer may desire nourishment in

the form of wholesome food, such as an apple, to satisfy the feelings of repulsion evoked while

watching it. Should this documentary prove to be ineffective in conveying the intended message

to the audience, then American citizens would have to be far too divulged in the fast food empire

to save. Based on Spurlocks findings, like McDonalds, America is saying im lovin it and

facing the consequences.

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Works Cited

Spurlock, Morgan, dir. Supersize Me. THE CON, 2004. Film.