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1. BaldeepGahir
“What are the main codes and conventions of the documentary genre used in ‘Super-Size Me?’ &”How is
modern American society represented in the documentary?”
Supersize me is adocumentarypresentedbyMorganSpurlockand focusesonthe fast food
industriesandoverweightpeople inAmericansociety.The filmisopinionatedandhasa clear view
on whatSpurlockthinks; itisalsorecordedina videodiarystyle whichgivesita more personal feel.
It was shownonSeptember10th
2004 in the U.K. Some of the main codesandconventionsof a
documentary genre includeexpertinterviewswhichgive aprofessional viewpointonthe topics
raised, digeticsoundeg: backgroundmusictoengage the audience andkeepthe show excitingand
entertaining, use of titles (forexampleinexpertinterviewstoinformthe viewersof whothese
people are) andvox popswhichgive arealisticfeel tothe documentaryasthese are seenas“real
people”and the fact thatthese interviewsare notrehearsedgive itmore of areal life feel.Someof
these are usedinthe documentaryforexample the use of vox popsanduse of titlesinexpert
interviews.
Throughoutthe documentary,alotof interviewsfrompeople onthe streettoexpertinterviewsare
included.Forthe expertinterviews,the settinglooksformal andprofessional.Eg:the mis enscene of
the image belowissetinan office ina school environment.The post-itnotesonthe computer
screenand the postersonthe wall behind show thatit’sa busyworkingenvironment,lastly her
outfitissimple andhertopis a blackcolour whichhasconnotationsof formalityandclassand
connotesthatshe is seenasan importantand authoritative memberof the school.Anotherexample
of the man inthe suit.“Gene Grabowski”alsowearsa smart attire of a
smart blazer,white shirtandtie andthe settingis of what lookslike a
businessmeeting background.Itgivesthe impressiontothe audience
that thispersonknows whathe istalkingaboutand isa knowledgeable
figure. The overall purpose of anexpertinterview isfirstlytoshare
perhapsa differentperspectiveof the issuesraisedinthe documentary,
because the majorityof the vox popinterviewsportrayanegative
representationof Americansocietyastheytalkabouthow much junk
foodtheyeaton a somewhatregularbasis.AllthoughexpertInterviews
give a positive representationof Americansandshowsthattheir
mentalityisnotall the same and thatchangesare tryingto be made to
improve the amountof people thatare eatingunhealthily.
There are manyvox popsthat are usedthroughoutthe documentaryandtheygatherpeople’sviews
on junkfood,eghowmuch theyeatin a week etc.This isa keyelementinthe show intermsof

2. BaldeepGahir
showinghowAmericansocietyisrepresented.ForexampleInone of the clipsa man discusseshow
he eats fastfoodup to three or fourtimes a week.Thisrepresents themasstereotypical Americans
that are noteducatedenoughtoknowhow to eat inmoderationandare uneducatedintermsof
knowingaboutmeal sizesandnutritionalvalue.Itreinforcesthe negativestereotypeof Americans
being“fatand stupid.”There are manydifferencesfromaformal interview andavox pop,for
example inavox popthe noise levelsare highertoemphasise andshow the environmentinwhich
the interview isbeingshotineginSupersize me the backgroundnoise isbusy streets,cartraffic
ect.Alsothere isnouse of titlesinvoxpops incontrastto expertinterviews,asexpertinterviews
specificallyshowthe viewerwhothe personisthat’sbeinginterviewedandtheyare more likelyto
be more convincedbywhattheyare sayingif theyknow that thispersonhasan strong view that
theystandby and if theyare professionalsinthatparticularfield. Anotherfeature of expert
interviewsisthe use of mis-en-scene,forexampleinthe show;David Satcherwhoisa formerU.S
surgeongeneral iswearingasmartsuitto connote that he has a professional positionof authority,
alsothe backgroundshowsa lot of booksin a large cabinetwhichconnotesthathe iseducatedand
intelligent.Lastly the use of subtitlesinvox popswouldbe more likelytobe includedasif the digetic
soundof the backgroundnoise ishighthenthe viewermay notbe able tohear the personspeaking,
althoughinan expertinterviewthe rightequipmentsuchasa microphone anda quietlocation
wouldbe providedsothe use of subtitleswouldn’tbe necessary.
In supersize me we are shownanon screenpresentercalled“MorganSpurlock”he guidesus
throughthe showand takesus on hisjourneyof eatingMcDonaldsforthirtydays straight.The use
of havinganon screenpresenteristhatitgivesthe show a more personal feel toitandit engages
the audience more. Also,the use of himfilmingwhatgoesoninhishome,hisrelationshipwithhis
girlfriend,hislove life,athe lastdinnerbefore the experimentandhisgirlfriend’spersonal thoughts
and feelingsof whathe isdoingonce againadd to the personal touch.Throughout the documentary
he talksto the cameraand givesdirectaddresswhichgivesthe show avideodiary style.Morgan
usesinformal language alotof the time and taboolanguage forexample “sue the bastards”itgives
the showmore of a light-heartedfeel.
For documentarymakers,theyhave achoice of usingan on screenpresenteroran off screen
presenter.There are advantagesanddisadvantagesof both. Forexample,the prosof usingan off
screenpresenterare thattheirvoice islikelytobe heardmore clearer,alsoyouwouldbe able to
readfrom a script sorehearsal andacting isnot one of the verymainthingsthatneedstobe focused
on.A disadvantage of beinganoff screenpresenteristhatthe documentarymaynot be as livelyand
excitingif anoff screenpresenterwastobe included,asanonscreenpresenterwoulduse body
language,gesturesandfacial expressionstomake the show engagingtowatch.Anadvantage of
beinganon screenpresenteristhatitcreatesa more personal andintimate connectionwiththe

3. BaldeepGahir
viewerasmentionedabove whentalkingaboutMorganSpurlockinSupersize me.Onthe other
hand,a disadvantage of usinganonscreenpresenteristhatthe personplayingthisrole wouldneed
to learntheirlines,rehearse pickoutthe appropriate costume andsoforthwhichwouldtake upa
lotof time.
Duringthe showa lotof backgroundfootage wasusedforexample animations,montagesof fast
foodrestaurants,people eatingjunkfoodsandimagesof obese Americans.These are especially
significantatthe start of the documentaryas itgivesthe viewer asnippetof the issuesthatthe
presenteristalkingabout andalongside it,makesthe documentarymore exitingandinterestingto
watch due to the differentcolours,images,animations,avarietyof videosandpicturesect.Alsothe
use of the facts andstatisticsare informative andeducational forthe viewerasitletsthemknow
shockingfactsof the realityof whichsome peopleeat,forexamplepeople weresuingMcDonalds
due to howunhealthyitisforyou.Beloware some of the imagesthatwere shown.
In the documentary,the use of non-diegeticsoundegthe backgroundmusiciseffective andisused
ina lotof the places,forexample,the introduction,whereimagesandanimationswere shownand
the endof the programme.There are many purposes of usingbackground,forexample tomake the
showfunand lively,tocreate atmosphereandconveys emotions.Also inthisshow some of the
musicincludeslyricsthatcohere withthe overall issue of the show;obesity.Forexample,atthe end
of it,one of the lyrics is“waited inthe line fora burgerand some fries” thisisusedfora light-
heartedandperhapscomedicpurpose. Also,atthe startof the documentarythere are a large group
of youngchildrensingingsongsaboutfoodforexample “Kentuckyfriedchickenandapizzahut” In
the professional interviewthere isnobackgroundnoise,inorderforthe viewertoclearlyhearwhat
the expertissaying.
Throughoutthe documentary,editingisamajor elementwhichaddstothe livelymoodof it.For
example shortcutsare usedfor the backgroundfootage,the cutsskipfromone to anotherquickly
and thiscreatesa sense of a documentarythatispackedwithinformationandenergy.

4. BaldeepGahir
Overall,there are manycodesandconventionsof atypical documentarythatare included,butIfeel
as thoughthe mainonesthat were the mostsignificantwere the use of titlesInthe expert
interviews,the use of backgroundimagesandmusic,use of apresenter(inthiscase onscreen.) and
technicalityof realism,andwhatI mean bythisis creatinga show that representsreal life,for
example real people’sviewsandopinionswhenconductingthe vox pops,the lightingisnatural and
so isthe backgroundsound.All thesecodesandconventionsusedcreate a professional
documentarythatkeepsthe viewersengagedandinterested.
Part b)
In the documentary“Supersizeme”the overall depictionisnegative,evenwiththe actual title of the
showconveyingmeaningsof obesityandbadhealth.The presenterclearlyhasastrongopinionated
viewaboutthistopicas throughoutthe documentaryhe constantlytalksaboutthe negativesof fast
foodrestaurantsandthe dangerouseffectsthattheycan have ononeshealth.
In the documentarythe mainthingthatis beingcriticized/targeted isthe numberof people in
Americathatare obese,butmore importantlythe governmentandthe school systems.My first
example isthe schools,the conceptof puttingmoneybefore healthisseenasthe filmasinthe
schools,whenthe presentergoesinto talkto one of the dinnerladiesshe emphasizeshow boxed
mealsare quickerandeasierto prepare.Some mayargue that people suchasschool kidsare seenas
the “victims”as youngpeople are notmature enoughtomake the decisionof pickingahealthyor an
unhealthy option.Theseunhealthyoptionsare beingalmost“forced”uponkidsanditseemsasif
theydon’thave a choice as a lotof the optionsare notfreshlymade andcome in a box.Allthoughon
the otherhand thiscannotbe saidfor all schoolsinAmericaasin the show we are introducedtoa
school forchildrenwithbehaviourissuedandthe headprincipal haddeclaredthe banof sugary
drinksandreplacedthemwithwaterandthe mealswere healthyandall freshlyprepared.Theysaid
that theysawan increase inconcentrationlevelsandadecrease inthe amountof behaviour
problems.Thiscertainexample portraysAmericansocietyaspositive asitshowsthatthere are
people outthere thatare determinedtomake achange and overcome thismajorhealth battle of
obesity.
My secondexampleof whyAmericansocietyisbeingnegativelyrepresentedisthe government, one
of the expertsdiscussthe governmentinaneagtive waybysayingthat theyputshort termprofit
before health, forexample inthe cliptheytalkabouthow physical educationlessonsare being
replacedwithliteracylessonsandstudentsincertainstatesnolongerhave todop.e as part of their
curriculum.Thisishavinganegative effectonkidsastheyare not encouragedtotake part in a
healthylifestyle.Inthe clipthere are avarietyof wide shotsthatshow kidsexcersizingandtheylook
happyand healthy.The positivesforthisisthatenglishskillsimprovewhichmeanhighergradesin
schools.

5. BaldeepGahir
Lastly,the thirdexample of aninstitutionis the actual firmsthemselves,forexample McDonalds
spenta lotof moneyonadvertisingtheirfoodaswell astheirproductsandaimthemat children,in
the clipwe see imagesof McDonaldsancillaryproductssuchas toys,whichlure kidsintobuying
themand encouragingmore unhealthyfood.ThisrepresentsAmericansociety,inparticularthe bug
companiessuchas McDonaldsas perhapsevil andmanipulatingastheyhave deliberatelyaimedthe
majorityof itsproductsas youngchildrenwhoare more easilyconvincedanpersuadingintodoing
something. Alsothe governmenthassaidthatlessadvertisementsonjunkfoodare to be put on
childrensshows.Allthoughonthe otherhand,McDonaldshastriedto advertise more of itshealthier
optionssuchas saladsand have createda new line of premiumsaladstoencourage healthyeating.
In conclusionthe documentarywaseffective intermsof informingandeducatingthe viewersonthe
issuesraisedinthe filmandtoprove a point,thirtywhole daysof eatingMcDonaldswascarriedout
whichcan be seenas “extreme”andlurespeopleintowatchingit.Americansocietyhasbeen
representedinanegative waybutthere are some positivessuchaspeople actuallytryingtomake a
difference bycampaigningandsuing fastfoodrestaurantsinordertomake lifestyleshealthier.One
of the mainargumentsthatcouldbe saidagainstMorgan Spurlockisthat people are individually
responsible fortheirownactionsandfastfoodrestaurantplacesdohave healthyoptionsaswell,i.e:
inthe documentary,waterwasprovidedaspartof the menuinMcDonalds.itcanbe arguedthat
mostpeople are capable of usingjunkfoodas a “treat” as opposedtoa regulardiet.The
documentarywasinterestingandfuntowatch mainlydue tothe visualsasthere was a lotof
backgroundfootage suchas animationsandegvisual representationsof the amountof sugarand fat
that Morgan consumedat the endof the thirtydays.Lastlyinmy opinionthe editingtiedthe whole
documentarytogetherasitwas fastpacedand showedamontage of differentstyle clips.
Effective techniquesused:
- Fast pacedediting
- Lots of differentstylebackgroundfootage eg:animations
- On screenpresenter-addstothe livelyfeel
- Videodiarystyle feel whichaddsamore personal touch