The documentary Supersize Me follows filmmaker Morgan Spurlock as he eats only McDonald's food for 30 days to document the effects on his health. Some key themes explored include the links between fast food, obesity, and addiction. Through interviews and filming his own experiences, Spurlock examines the debate around corporate marketing practices versus personal responsibility. The documentary uses a variety of cinematography, editing, sound, and graphic techniques to engage viewers and convey its message about the health impacts of a fast food diet.

1. SUPERSIZE ME ANALYSIS
By Lily Corcoran

2. TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY
 Supersize Me was a documentary written and directed by Morgan
Spurlock which follows his life for 30 days as he only eats
McDonalds food to see how it will affect his health. This was a mixed
documentary as they did interviews with experts and other people
who ate at McDonalds frequently. Spurlock also filmed himself
almost like a video diary. It was also in chronological order as it
follows a day to day order.

3. THEMES
 There are many themes that are explored throughout this documentary. The
main theme during this documentary is the 30 day challenge Spurlock puts
himself up to. There are links between obesity and food, mainly fast food
companies such as, McDonalds and KFC. Also, the themes including
corporate greed VS personal choice as it is argued whether the marketing of
fast food companies is the problem with obesity in America, especially
children. There was also the theme of addiction as it is possible to become
addicted to junk food.

4. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
 Morgan Spurlock handles the narration of the documentary
where he talks quickly to get his point across. This
documentary is linear as it has an order in which it goes in.
Throughout, it has sections where they talk about different
topics such as, health. Also, the narrative is both open and
closed as Spurlock’s personal story is closed but the
McDonald’s story isn’t over as they continue to advertise their
meals to children like it’s a good thing, which allows the
audience to understand the narrative.

5. CAMERAWORK
Shots used:
 Steady Cam
 Handheld
 Cuts
 Mid Shot
 Medium Close up
 Panning
 Two Shot
Morgan Spurlock used many different camera shots such as, mid
shots and medium close ups to keep the audience’s attention. This also
captures both the interviewer and the interviewee’s reaction to
what is getting said and it helps the audience to establish the
opinions of the general public. When the interviews are being
conducted there are two shots being used as both the interviewer and the interviewee are in the frame.
A Mid Shot and a two shot is
being used here.

6. MISE-EN-SCENE
 This documentary includes a lot of mise-en-scene features. For
example, they use experts and doctors to show the medical side
of the documentary which helps the audience understand the
health element and risks of this challenge. This is shown through
the clothes and props used as the experts are talking such as,
doctors are wearing white coats, gloves and stethoscopes and
lawyers look smart as they are wearing a suit and tie. This helps
the audience establish that these people are professional and
know what they are talking about. Also, we see different age
groups being interviewed throughout which suggests that the
McDonalds is trying to reach different social groups in America.

7. SOUND
 ‘Supersize Me’ is narrated by Morgan Spurlock through diegetic
speech as it follows his journey through his 30 day challenge. He
narrates from behind and in front of the camera. There is also a lot
music over the top of clips in order to relate to the scene for
example, music about obesity plays when obesity is the topic of
the clip. Also, there is classical music playing when the man is
having an operation which juxtaposes to the event as operations
are supposed to be scary not calming, however it could relate to
the fact that doctors are so used to performing the surgery that
they are calm about it. Furthermore, there are voiceovers included
that may suggest that McDonalds see themselves as superior in
America.

8. EDITING
 During this documentary there were many different
editing techniques used for example, cuts when the
experts are getting interviewed. Montages are also used,
as well as elliptical editing, freeze frames and cut outs so
the narrative is what they want the audience to see. The
lighting is used to show the audience the positive and
negative parts of the documentary. For example, when
the lighting is bright then it is positive and the lighting is
dark when it is negative e.g. when Spurlock feels sick as
he has eaten too much.

9. ARCHIVE MATERIAL
 The archive material included throughout this
documentary is beneficial as this backs up the points that
Spurlock is making with evidence such as, photos,
statistics and facts. Old newspapers and interviews were
used to create evidence and were shown alongside
animations and still photos to relate back to the
audience.

10. GRAPHICS
 Graphics are used throughout the whole duration of this
documentary to make it more appealing and friendlier to
the audience so it doesn’t get boring and the screen is just
permanently filled with facts and statistics. Illustrations
and animations are used to represent each topic that is
discussed; these make it more enjoyable to watch. For
example, there was a map of America that highlighted the
states that had the highest percentage of obese people
living there.
Animations

11. THEORY
 Propp Theory
Hero: Morgan Spurlock
Villain: McDonalds Corporation
Princess: Health and exposing McDonalds
Socioeconomic group A is shown in this documentary as there
are doctors and people of a high profession throughout
checking Spurlock’s health. Also group c2 is included as these
are the general public who got interviewed on the street.