1. ‘Supersize Me’,adocumentaryfilm;written,directedandproducedbyMorganSpurlock,follows
himin his30 day McDonaldschallenge.The documentarypractisesseveral differentdocumentary
modes,whichexpressaclearpolemical approachtothe challenge. Throughoutthe documentaryhe
showsa numberof representational scenesreferringtoAmericanSociety.
‘Supersize Me’fitsintothe genre of Self Reflective,also,the modesthatare evidentparticipatory,
expository,reflexiveandperformative. Interms of genre,itisclearlyself-reflectiveashe
continuouslyturnsandtalksdirectlytothe camera,mostly givinginformationandexpressinghis
thoughtsandopinions.Byusingindirectaddress,he talkstothe audience,givingafeelingof
involvementandconversation. AsclassifiedbyBill Nichols,the documentarymodes,helptoshape
the genre and presentationof ‘Supersize Me’andalsohelpsthe audience developtheirown
opinion.Forexample,asthe participatoryandperformative modesare used,the audience getsto
knowMorgan Spurlockbetter,andbeginstoempathise withhim, imaginingthemselvesinhis shoes,
whichwould,inturn, generate anopiniononthe topic.Morgan SpurlockusesVoice of God
narration– the expositorymode- throughoutthe documentary,generallyovershortclipshe has
filmedof the public.One cliphe usesisof anoverweightman, demonstratingthe possible effectsof
fastfoods,representingthe Americansocietyasoverweightashe onlyprovidesthatimage,givinga
sense of realismtothe audience. He alsodemonstratesthe conflictingopinionsof professionalsand
the general publicbyusingamixture of Vox PopsandExpertInterviews.Throughoutthe interviews
withthe general public,he questionsthemonhow muchtheyeatfastfood,and how oftenthey
thinktheyshould.The majorityof themsaythat theydon’teatfastfoodvery often,andthat it
shouldn’tbe eatenvery often. .ByusingExpertInterviewswithprofessional doctorsandhealth
specialists,itaddsa sense of realismtothe documentary,furtherinfluencingthe opinionof the
audience astheyare providingwithfacts andstatisticsfromSpurlockhimself,whichisthen
supportedbya professionalopinion. Also,bythe use of the phone callsfrombothhismotherand
girlfriendshow the implicationstorelationshipsif youconsume toomuchfastfood.Spurlock’s
methodof generatinganopinionseemsverymuchlike propagandaashe onlypresentsone opinion,
that fastfoodis bad foryou.This,once againissupportedbythe expertsconcernforhishealthafter
justa couple of weeks.
Throughoutthe documentary,the modern Americansocietyisdisplayedinapoor light.The firstclip
usedinthe filmisa shot of youngchildrensingingasongaboutfast food.Arguably,some of these
childrenare overweightfortheirage soit isclearthat Spurlockchose thisscene o show to parents
that obesityisn’tjustamongstadults.The followingshotof the Americanflagaddsapatrioticfeeling
and symbolisespower,he thendevelopsthisbydiscussinghow everythingisbiggerinAmerica,from
cars to housesto companies.Spurlockthen changeshisangleandgoesonto discussobesityin
Americaandits risingstatisticamongstAmericanadultsfrom1987 to 2002, supportingitwith
statisticsandan illustratedmap.The patrioticangle once againcomesupfurtherintothe
documentarywhen anoverweightwomanisunsure of the AmericanNationalAnthem,but
comfortablyrecitesthe descriptionof aMcDonaldsBig Mac.
On the otherhand,Spurlockstill showsapositive sidetoAmericansociety,withhiswifefollowinga
strict vegandiet.This illustratesthatnotall Americanseatpoorly,andsome follow ahealthyregime.
As well asthis,the strengthandqualityof the Americanhealthservice isdisplayedthroughoutthe
documentarywith‘Bruce Howlett’undertakingagastricbypasswithinhalf anhour.Contrastinglyto
‘MadisonJuniorHighSchool’,Healthydietschemeswithinschoolswere displayedin‘Appleton
2. Central Alternative HighSchool’whichshowedthatthe childreneatinghealthilyhadimproved
behaviour.Additionallytothis,the positive andjovial nature of Americansocietywasdisplayed
withinthe ‘vox pops’,asall the intervieweeswere willingtocooperate andshowedapositive,happy
attitude.
A numberof stylisticdeviceswere shownthroughoutthe documentary.The cartoonchapter
headingsprovidedanelementof humour,contrastingthe relativelyseriousstyleof the
documentary,givingthe audience arestandgrippingtheirattentionagainforthe nextsection. The
mountedtripodwasan effective tool givingasense of steadinessandprofessionalismwhereasthe
handheldcameraprovidedamore ‘real’view onthe situation,especiallywhenSpurlockpuked.A
varietyof shotswere used,includingclose ups,longshotsandalow angledlongshotwas sued,
providinganaestheticallypleasingelementtothe film, keepingthe audience engaged.
The diegeticandnon-diegeticsoundthatwasuse was effective andprofessional.There were no
soundissueswithinvoiceoversandinterviews,andthe speechof Spurlockhimself withthe diary-
entry style clips.Appropriatebackingtrackswere used,creatingatmosphere withthe clips.Elements
of humourwere addedthroughthe use of soundeffects,forexample,the bomblandingHouston.
The special effectsandgraphicsthatwere usedaddedaninterestingandengagingelementtothe
film.Theywere creative yetprofessional,forexample,the flagsonthe mappinpointingareasof
concernrelatingtoobesitywithinAmerica.
The mise-en-scenethatwasusedwasprofessionalandappropriate,withbooksasa backdropfor
the doctors alongwithwhite coatsfortheircostume,alongwitha leatherchairforthe lawyer.These
addedan elementof seriousnessandstereotypical realism, makingwhattheysaidmore believable,
whichwouldcause the audience totake the filmmore serious.
Overall,the filmusedstylisticandtechnical devicesappropriatelyandprofessionally;displayingthe
effectsobesityhasonAmericansociety.Whilstbeingslightlybiasedtowardsthe negativeaspects,
the positive aspectsof American societywere still displayed.
