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scattered thoughts

Super Size Me

A film of epic proportions

“I have a theory about McDonalds, and that is that everything they make is all one thing. And in the back, they have this big vat full of this ’stuff,’ and these little molds come by and SCHLURP! Hamburger SCHLURP! Malt SCHLURP! Paper box SCHLURP! Here’s your change.”

Steve Martin, Comedy is Not Pretty, 1979

“And think of poor Socrates, with his simple answer to the question ‘What is justice?’
There was no way for him to have foreseen a jury’s $3 million payout to a McDonald’s customer who spilled a cup of too-hot coffee in her lap.”

Steve Martin, The New York Times, January 2, 2000

Morgan Spurlock’s film Super Size Me is a strange beast. One part social commentary, one part college prank, and one part shameless media manipulation, the film makes some excellent points - but in precisely the wrong way.

As a film, it succeeds brilliantly, drawing the viewer into a fairly complex argument relating the obesity epidemic weighing down our nation to the marketing methods employed by our most familiar restaurant, McDonald’s. Several cinematic choices in the film were particularly inspired, notably his choice of Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz to accompany film of surgery, an apparent tip of the hat to Stanley Kubrick. However, Spurlock’s thesis ultimately boils down to a condemnation of capitalism as a whole.

I am, in general, a staunch supporter of McDonald’s, and of carnivory in general. I find it to be a symbol of Man’s ultimate triumph over nature. Hunting, growing and cooking food consumed most of our predecessor’s time - it is a wonder today that we can get filling food, served immediately, for an unimaginably low price. A half hour’s safe labor brings a full, if somewhat “unhealthy” meal - a deal that any prehistoric predecessor would have preferred to the lengthy and risky process of obtaining one’s meat on the hoof. Modern man has time for pursuits more appropriate to his position - architecture, dance, literature - in part thanks to the division of labor that capitalism brings. The fact that there are four McDonald’s per square mile in Manhattan means that New York can lead the world in finance, performance, and a thousand other pursuits.

Consumer demand is what has driven fast food chains to provide their gargantuan options - I clearly remember when French fries were served a la carte, rather than included in a meal. Everyone ordered fries. People don’t ask for less food, they ask for more - and they don’t ask for higher prices. People like salt and fat and sugar, because they taste good.

Indeed, Spurlock seemed to be enjoying his McDonald’s binge, for the most part - reveling in his sedentary, 2000 steps per day lifestyle, enjoying nearly every soft bite. He makes the most extreme choices possible, making his point somewhat weak. It seems clear to me, for example, that he would likely be neither more nor less healthy after a month of home cooked meals with an equivalent proportion of ingredients - and would likely be even more overweight with “family style” servings!

The problem, of course, is not exclusively one company, or even a group of companies. It makes more sense to blame the consumers who choose convenience and leisure over health - but even this is missing the deeper point, that technology has outstripped our genes. The effects of this are widespread, and point to a number of other problems, from overpopulation to global warming.

An excellent point is made, however, with regards to McDonald’s marketing towards children. Certainly, children cannot be expected to make proper food choices, and left to their own devices will eat poorly. Nonetheless, the food served is food, and is more or less nutritious. A Happy Meal may not be the healthiest option for a child, but it’s certainly better than candy - or nothing. But should we blame McDonald’s for providing safe, clean play areas for children, or condemn the local governments which do not?