Thursday, September 16, 2004

I feel fat and disgusting and unhealthy. And do you know why this is? Because I went to see Super Size Me tonight at the SLB. This is the documentary about the man who ate McDonalds three times a day for 30 straight days. If it wasn't on the Micky D's menu, then he didn't eat it. Period. It was vile, it was disgusting, and I don't think I'll be eating any fast food in the coming weeks. It really sheds a lot of light on the health issues in America, though. Obviously obesity is a huge problem in the US. Just look down the street. It's there. It's everywhere you go. But watching this really drives the point home and you realize how much of a problem it really is. An epidemic, as the film said. Here's a summary from the official site about the movie: "Why are Americans so fat? Find out in Super Size Me, a tongue in-cheek - and burger in hand -- look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food. Ominously, 37% of American children and adolescents are carrying too much fat and 2 out of every three adults are overweight or obese. Is it our fault for lacking self-control, or are the fast-food corporations to blame? Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth. During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three simple rules: 1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!) 2) No supersizing unless offered 3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who's ever wondered if man could live on fast food alone. The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health." After the movie premiered at various film festivals (like Sundance) and word got out, some changes at McDonalds were made. Was it coincidence that the famous fast food chain took away the ability to Super Size a meal or was it something more? Anyway, you should definitely check it out if you can. It's not just about fast food - it's a statement about health in general, and it's something everybody's got to hear, whether you live in the States or not. I'm partially reminded of Pop Art, probably just because of the blatant social critiques during the film. Which, I admit freely and gladly, I am quite fond of. We've just started going over it in my art class and I loves it. Pop Art is probably my favorite genre, if you will, because it doesn't deal with the artist's "inner self".. it's about society. It's about real life. It's a social or political statement about the culture, about the times. Kind of like the documentary. Has anybody else seen it, or has anything else to add?

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