Supersizing America: Fatness and Post- 9/11 Cultural Anxieties compares vulnerabilities created by the culture of fast food consumption to weakness in America following the events of 9/11. The article is based heavily on the John Spurlock film, Supersize Me, but often refers to writings such as Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Aimed at the public in general, the review is of particular interest to those who is concerned about the potentially unfavorable effects of fast food and anyone with an interest in the benefits of good nutrition.
The central theme is the vulnerabilities caused by overindulgence in fast food create weaknesses primarily in the adult American male who is seen as the protector. His body is observed softening and weakening throughout the film as he consumes only fast food. This softening and weakening is compared to the softening and weakening of the defense capabilities of the United States as a whole leaving it vulnerable to economic and environmental threats as well as another terrorist attack (Journal of Popular Culture, 2010).
Focused mainly on the detrimental effects of John Schlosser’s 30 day fast food odyssey, the article makes many cultural, religious and social references to obesity. Schlosser’s fast food adventure begins showing him as a healthy, American male and follows his change in lifestyle for one month as he consumes only supersized fast food meals. As a result, he gains 25 pounds during the month and is in poor health. This is an exceptional contrast to the current reality shows like The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover where the participants already have an overweight or cosmetic condition which is remedied on the show, Spurlock creates the fat unhealthy condition through the course of the film through unhealthy eating habits and then reverses the condition through diet, hard work and exercise.
The article proposes that since Spurlock was able to change from thin and fit to fat and unhealthy that anyone should be able to accomplish the same results through will power and favorable practices. The majority of Americans are overweight (CDC, 2010) and the trend continues. The author compares the overweight condition to America’s overindulgence in other areas. It alleges that the tendency to overeat is the basis for overindulgence in the choice of cars, houses and the corporate takeover of the world. The article emphasizes hard work and exercise as remedies for the overindulgence in unhealthy fast food. The author also examines the difference between the unhealthy, lethargic lifestyle to that of the dieter whose practices eliminate the need for compensation by never having practiced the overindulgence in the first place.
The article throws a Christian religious twist to the story by comparing Spurlock’s sacrifice of his previously healthy body to the suffering of Christ and his sacrifices for the sins of others. The tendency to eat fast food is considered sinful while embracing healthy, organic food and exercise as acts of redemption.
There is a comparison of good health, healthy, organic eating habits and attractive looks to good citizenship. The author suggests that healthy habits and thinness equate to a person being a good citizen in that the healthier condition eliminates the public burden caused by poor health. There is less need for public assistance and medical care for those who practice a healthy lifestyle versus those who overindulge eating fast food and acquire the resulting health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Recent medical research and social awareness most likely support this premise but the decision to observe a healthy lifestyle is ultimately a personal one.
The overindulgence and overweight conditions in America are seen as symbolic of greed and bullying by Americans. Though the article is verbose and riddled with complex phraseology, there are some good points made. The conclusion is that the tendency to overindulge and become more powerful in all aspects of American life is also the ultimate cause of weakness and softening of Americans.
References:
Bailey, C. (2010). Supersizing America: fatness and post 9/11 cultural anxieties. Journal of Popular Culture, 43(3), 441-462.
Center for Disease Control. (2010). Obesity and overweight, data for the U.S. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm
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This is an interesting article analysis. It is important for people to stay healthy and eat right. Like stated here too much fast food has a lot of detrimental long term effects. It is also interesting to see the short term effects like a weight gain of 25 pounds in a month.
ReplyDeleteThe freedom this country grants is sometimes a double edge sword. We have to take responsibilty for ourselves in all the choices we make including food. With the media bombardment these fast food marketing giants use it does make it almost unfair to try to stay away from these places when they do such a good job of showing how good thier food is.
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