Outfoxed Vs Supersize Me

The news is supposed to review facts, documentaries are supposed to observe real life. With reference to Supersize me and Outfoxed do you agree with these statements?

Introduction

Supersize me is a documentary based on making people aware about obesity and Outfoxed is a documentary that examines media empires led by Rupert Murdoch and takes an in depth look at Fox news. There are factors within Supersize me and Outfoxed to suggest that the statements are true and false. Looking at these factors, I am going to explore these statements to decide if they are correct.

Codes and Conventions

Codes and conventions are familiar and predictable forms and techniques used by the media to get a desired impression to communicate for different purposes. A documentary is a media text which observes real issues in the world today. In a programme there is normally a formal voice over or narrator, and also presents facts and evidence on a particular subject, interviews and eyewitnesses.

Looking at Supersize me this documentary has the majority of these conventions however there are others which are different that are in Supersize me. For example the documentary tries to entertain by adding music - non diegetic sound and montage. Montage is fast pace editing mainly used in music videos to keep the viewers interested for longer. The voice over or narrator also uses informal language. He does this to help create a relationship with the viewer to make he’s argument more persuasive.

Looking at Outfoxed this also has the majority of conventions as a documentary but this documentary is also about the news. The news is a media text which review fact. Presenting facts and evidence about what happens in the world when it happens in a very formal manner. However in Outfoxed, the news reporter Bill O’rilley comes across as very rude and informal. He also gave he’s personal opinion over very strongly and threatens his guest which rarely happens in the news.

I do agree with these statements as although Supersize me and Outfoxed wonder outside their genre, they still include the main conventions that their genre includes. As apart of the audience I still expect the news to report fact and documentaries to observe real life even if it includes any other factors such as