Supersize me analysis for media

9
Documentary Analysis

description

lol :p

Transcript of Supersize me analysis for media

Page 1: Supersize me analysis for media

Documentary Analysis

Page 2: Supersize me analysis for media

Themes

Obesity Diet/Health Shifting of blame

Advertising power

A theme of addiction runs throughout the whole of the documentary, “Don Gorske” eats at least two big macs a day . McDonalds even have

names for their more devotedcustomers that eat in McDonalds three times a week, they call them “heavy users”. Spurlock found that after feeling down all day he could eat a McDonalds and feel significantly better.

Page 3: Supersize me analysis for media

Camera

Medium Close up

Establishing shot

Close up

Page 4: Supersize me analysis for media

Supersize me could be considered both open and closed ended. The documentary is closed in the sense that we find out the

ending of Spurlock’s investigation being that McDonalds has a severely negative impact on Spurlock’s health. However it may be considered open because we don’t find out how

McDonalds intend to do something or if in fact they do intend to change their menu/health implications. The documentary

is single stranded as it follows round one man’s journey of eating nothing but McDonalds for a month. Finally the

documentary is linear as it begins from day one right up until the end of the month documenting the days with on screen

text.

Narrative Structure

Page 5: Supersize me analysis for media

Graphics

Graphics are used heavily throughout the documentary to help the audience understand what they are seeing. By illustrating the day it helps the audience to identify what kind of changes are occurring

within the process as time does by. The importance of the time shown illustrates that the diet is doing bad things to him even in the night.Names appearing on screen are to help the audience

understand who is on screen without wasting film time .explaining/

Page 6: Supersize me analysis for media

Archive Material

The archive material used in this documentary is mostly used to the set the scene or illustrate the narrators voice. It acts as visual aid so

the audience remain interested and occupied. The news report shown above illustrates the 2003 blizzard, this shows that despite there was a

blizzard outside Spurlock still ventured out to get his McDonalds.

Page 7: Supersize me analysis for media

Mise-en-sceneMedical Centre

We understand this is a medical centre through the mise-en-scene. In clothing we see that one doctor is wearing a typical lab coat which we

stereotypically associate with doctors. Furthermore we see Spurlock wearing a

medical gown something we further associate with patients at a hospital. Also the use of

equipment further illustrates the setting, we see a machine being used to take blood

pressure and we can see Spurlock hooked up to medical equipment/machines.

McDonalds Restaurant

Through a variety of different shots we understand that Spurlock is in a fast food

restaurant. For example the menu’s on the wall combined with the food leaflets and neon

lighting all suggest he is not in a home or work area. Furthermore the branded wrappers and containers show the symbol of the fast food restaurant he is in. Typical items such as little sauce pots help create a sense of a fast food

restaurant. Also, we expect to see advertisements such as “go large” in order to

make the customer buy more food.

Page 8: Supersize me analysis for media

The editing in Supersize Me is significant in order to show the journey. An example of things is a particular series of

scenes illustrating how ill Spurlock becomes off his first supersize meal. The use of fade ins and fade outs allow the

story to be sped up be still have the desired effect of showing time was passing. Jumpcuts are used in the

documentary, to make this less harsh and difficult to follow for the audience the scene will often jumpcut to an image

with voice over narrative to make the transition less noticeable. If this didn’t happen the audience may feel as

though the documentary is jumping around too much.

Editing

Page 9: Supersize me analysis for media

Appropriate music is used as non dietetic sound to help set the scene, for example “rock and roll

McDonalds” is played when children are shown playing on a McDonalds play area. The

documentary opens with a group of children singing the “Fast food song”, this was used to

illustrate the fast food culture and how early its onset into children is. The documentary is fully narrated, using voiceovers to talk through any

images shown during the documentary.

Sound