The Bad Influence of
Fast Food: Genre Analysis of a Documentary and a Newspaper Article
Fast
food advertising and restaurants are almost everywhere. People can find
advertisements and/or restaurants in magazines, newspapers, television,
websites, radio, etc. However they are not always informed about the bad
influence and bad consequences fast food causes to their health. Not all
advertisements informed or showed the public on true facts or the negative
issues regarding the fast food, since fast food advertising campaigns are not
as highly regulated as other products. Most fast food restaurants focus on children
and students as they make an important market for them. The bad influence of
fast food regards health problems, including obesity, as well as economic
issues regarding the community’s income. Schools, parents, physicians, the
actual restaurants and other health institutions have to communicate the
audience with information of the bad influence of fast food, providing
information of why it is not recommended to consume fast food or junk food on a
daily basis.
Purpose
and Audience
The
purpose of this communication is either to inform or persuade the audience,
involved and concerned of fast food issues, in order to inform clearly and
appropriately their message. Therefore
information is communicated through different genres and the genre will convey
that information for the intended audience. The Super-Size Me documentary and The
New York Times newspaper article “McDonald’s Happy Meal to get Healthier”,
Strom (2011), are two different genres attempting to inform and communicate the
audience with information of the bad influence of fast food. The outcome of the
message given by each genre for its intended audience can be determined by
analyzing both the documentary and the newspaper article. The New York Times newspaper is informative, open to opinion, as well
as articles and facts. The Super-Size Me
documentary is based on a true story experiment that was done to prove the
outcome and effect of eating fast food on a daily basis. The genres communicate
the audience with articles and true data regarding the subject.
The
purpose of the documentary Super-Size Me
is to inform and persuade the audience not to consume fast/junk food on a daily
basis as it can conduce to obesity. This
documentary examines the influence of fast food industry, and the consequences
of health on a diet of solely fast food. The documentary shows an experiment
done to Morgan Spurlock who is physically above average shape based on his
personal trainer, the nutritionist, cardiologist, as well as a general
practitioner. It was a 30 day period experiment to prove the lifestyle dramatic
effects on the man physical well-being and how it encourages poor nutrition for
its own benefit. The reason of this documentary was the enormous increase on children’s,
as well as young adults, obesity health problems and regarding the legal issues
of restaurants selling food that is unhealthy. The documentary wants to
persuade the audience, in this case people who eat fast food on a daily basis, by
informing of the danger of eating fast food constantly and by experience and
outcome of the experiment.
Whereas
the documentary aimed to persuade the audience, Strom (2011), newspaper purpose
is to inform the reader. The newspaper article contains information covering
prices, percentages of sales, and calorie count on different fast food
restaurants that affect and influence the society. In the articles the audience
can learn why eating fast food is such a bad influence, become familiar with
the company’s reaction to get healthier, the governments concern regarding the
food chains, as well as the influence advertising has on these products. The
article provides sources and a wide selection of articles regarding fast food
issues; for the audience to locate whatever topic or information they want to
know based on the subject. The New York Times
fast food articles provides balanced information to any audience interested
for fast food or against fast food, to inform of the effects this can bring to
a person’s health, the restaurants banned from the market, as well as why it
affects a country’s budget. The news about the fast food industry, including
commentary and archival articles published.
The
intended audience for both genres is those with health problems, like obesity,
including children and young adults, as well as any audience involved and
interested which can range from doctors, physicians, school authorities,
companies, and the industry market. The documentary is more specifically
directed towards American children, teenagers, and adults, since it’s the place
of its origin. However because of the success is more likely to have a larger
audience than the intended discourse community. Super-Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film; it was aired on
movie cinemas as well as television. The intended discourse community is likely
to have heard the health problems fast food can cause to a human body, like
obesity, but they should be informed and prevented of the causes. In addition
the audience is probably familiar with the fast food restaurant where the
documentary was filmed, as well as with the drastic change eating fast food
daily can bring to one’s lifestyle.
Unlike
the documentary, the online article, McDonald’s Happy Meal to Get Healthier,
reaches to a more formal and professional audience. The article is not intended
to such a general audience, since its purpose is based to inform. Even though
the newspaper is sold mostly anywhere it is more often bought by adults, and
people involved with reading news regarding the world issues. If the audience
is interested in the topic with detail, they will take the time to read the
whole article and actually look up for the reviews or on any updates, not just
pay attention to the headlines. The audience may look for specific information
and just read straight thru it or research any information they are seeking.
Since it is such an important newspaper, worldwide, the intended audience may
lead to people outside the discourse community to read it. Newspapers are found
everywhere and are in the reach of anyone, therefor bored or interested people
are going to read about the newspaper articles/headlines. Therefor the context
and information of the articles will educate even outside the intended
audience.
Rhetorical Issues: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
The
documentary is effective in establishing credibility. It is based on a true
story and an actual experiment with the actual data. Super-Size Me first
premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where Morgan Spurlock won the
Grand Jury Prize for directing the film. The documentary was
meant to persuade the audience of the bad influence of fast food, therefor it
may be seen as a successful genre of communication. The creator of the
documentary used clever emotion-evoking material and an actual 30-day period
trial to reveal the awareness of fast food. The emotion of the genre is
attempting to make the audience concern of the poor nutrition of fast food,
even though it may be delicious and seem harmful. Excitement is showed at first
by the actor of getting to start the experiment and see the results. However throughout
the film fear and depression are developed by the negative results of eating
fast food on a daily basis. Also emotions regarding sick symptoms and loss of
energy, as well as concern from his close ones. The documentary preview visual
showed Spurlock mouthful of fries and his expression showed surprise, risk and
threat. The genre of the documentary is reliable and valid since it aimed at
the audience to inform and educate with a significant message.
In
contrast the newspaper article established credibility; however it may depend
on the article’s source. The credibility of the newspaper article is effective
through is structure, reputation, and resources. Supplying additional sources
and the arrangement of the information gives the articles credibility. However
choice of genre for communication piece and its purpose determines the level of
credibility of the audience. Some emotions elicited by the articles are similar
but less potent than those from the documentary. The articles inform on
different issues regarding health, economic, and industry problems, which make
the tone more formal. The readers may be
in shock, surprised by some information, concerned, or simply open to believe
the information. The New York Times
newspaper will evoke credibility and reliable information to its intended
audience.
Structure
The
structure of the genre shapes the information that is carried; limitations of
the piece of communication differ on the genre. The creator of the documentary
had to consider the audience in order to focus on the theme. It’s organized on
a chronological basis showing day per day the 30 day trial the effects and
advances of the experiment. It had a limiting of time; however it aimed to pass
the correct information and the importance of the documentary. The newspaper
article information was conveyed with different topics, headlines, and open
issues regarding the topic facilitating the audience interest. There’s also limitation on the newspaper
article because of the size of the document. The amount of information is the
key to inform the reader with only important information in order to maintain
the audience attention. Both the newspaper article and the documentary
facilitate their purpose by developing ideas and information, as well as
separating and organizing the information for the audience.
Style and Language
The
documentary used informal language as an important source of communication.
Spurlock narrated and was actually filmed in the documentary. The actor
expressed what he felt in his own words throughout the film, as we can also see
and listen to his expressions and emphasis which made it easier for the
audience to understand. The newspaper however used formal language to
contribute to its purpose. Because the intent is to inform it is normal to have
a more formal language concerning important issues of the topic. The general
font is black; with white color background which makes the content stand out,
though some headlines of important words may be highlighted. The article titles,
paragraphs, and traditional writing styles are also important to guide the
reader throughout the material.
Conclusion
Both
genres are important to achieve the correct information and purpose of each
piece of communication. Though it cannot be determined whether or not the
audience was persuaded of the bad influence of fast food, the documentary was
more often to be successful in delivering its message to the audience. Since it
was more extensive, detailed, and more understandable to the intended audience,
in this case fast food consumers. Though both genres were effective, as they
both reach a similar but different audience with different information
regarding fast food bad influence. Both showed sufficient and accurate
information in a well-organized manner. The genre chosen to communicate information
to a specific audience is very influential to the message.
References
Spurlock, M. Super-Size
Me (2004). Spurlock morgan [Theater]. Available from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/
Strom, S. (2011,
July 27). Mcdonald’s happy meal to get healthier. The New York Times, p.
1. .
Retrieved from
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