“60% of all US adults are overweight or obese.” This fact will shock a lot of people, but how many people will it prompt to ask “why?” “Why are 60% of American adults overweight, or obese?” “Why has childhood obesity doubled in the last 20-25 years?” As future educators that is what we want our students to do. We want them to ask “Why?”
In his film, “Super Size Me,” Spurlock asks “Why are Americans so fat?” He goes beyond just stating startling facts and seeing what will happen to him if he eats only McDonald’s for 30 days. He looks for reasons. He finds that kids can identify a picture of Ronald McDonald more easily than they can identify one of Jesus or George Washington. He looks at how much money McDonald’s spends on advertising. He looks at how Happy Meal Toys, Ronald McDonald, and indoor playgrounds lure in children. He even looks at the psychology behind why we like to go to these places. Spurlock finds that the answer to “Why are American’s so fat?” is a complex one. Political, social and individual aspects are all intertwined.
Showing this movie will help students look for a “Why?” It will prompt them to think further. It will help them get passed the “Wow, that’s an interesting statistic,” or, “Because we eat a lot” type of an answer. It shows students how social and political aspects are tied into nearly every part of our everyday lives. It also shows students different ways to find answers to the “Why” questions.
Students can see that this type of research is fun. Spurlock’s movie is packed with information, but it is also hilarious. It is fun to watch. You could ask student’s “Why do you think Spurlock chose to make this a movie instead of a book or a lecture?” Maybe it was because he got the idea for the film while watching T.V. Maybe he knew how T.V. affects the American people. If advertising can make us buy cheeseburgers couldn’t it make us buy his movie? And, if we believe in commercials and advertising and what we see on T.V., couldn’t we also believe in his documentary? After watching his documentary you start to notice how easily we believe things, and how easily our mind can be manipulated in to thinking something. It would not be hard for Spurlock to take advantage of that either. Were we being deceived in Super Size Me? What if someone ate McDonald’s “healthier” food for a month? Could they lose weight? Did Spurlock use a lot of the media tricks on our mind? Dr. Michael Eades seems to think so.
All in all the movie was kind of funny and definitely enjoyable to watch, but there was so much idiocy masquerading as truth and good sense that I don’t know where to begin.
Spark your interest? That is the point of using a movie like this in a classroom, or using critical pedagogy. Well if it worked and you want to know more about Dr. Eades thoughts and the “Anti- Super Size” movie that he is starting in then click here.
Either way, this film shows us how to question what seems strange, or even what seems normal, instead of just accepting it. Having students ask “Why” will help them see a lot about the society in which they live in. This film can make for a great learning experience.
I have to put out one caution, however. Make sure that your students will feel comfortable watching this, or any movie. Be aware of your class. Are there extremely obese children in it? Will they feel uncomfortable watching this film and taking part in the activities? Will other students make fun of them? This is true for any movie. We don’t want to make outcasts of any kids and we know high school is a sensitive time.
*All Statistic were taken from Morgan Spurlock’s documentary Super
Size Me.
SuperSize Me. Morgan Spurlock. Morgan Spurlock and The Con. 2004.
For more information about this documentary and Morgan Spurlock, click here.
For more information on obesity, click here.
For more information on childhood obesity, click here.
For more information on McDonald’s nutrition, click here.
