However, fast food nation is a forthright piece of social criticism and deserves to be criticized from that point of view. The trans fats, chemicals and artificial flavors these corporations pump into their socalled food has been. Secondary plots deal with the exploitation of illegal immigrants from mexico, the expectations of fast food restaurant employees and how they are treated, and the efforts of a small group of young anticorporate activists to save the cattle from horrendous conditions. Fast food nation is a 2006 comedydrama film directed by richard linklater and written by linklater and eric schlosser. Its not only a critique of fast food, the chemicals we are ingesting and the health problems we are facing, it is also critical of a system that allows exploitation of young, old and immigrant workers, and of the suburban sprawl. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The ending initially feels abrupt, and the fates of the characters unresolved. Checking out of a chain hotel in colorado, after a factfinding mission for his fastfood company, mickeys, has led to disturbing revelations, greg kinnear answers a battery of questions from the cheery clerk behind the counter. Americans spend billions of dollars each year on fast food, and only a few corporations control most of the nations food supply. Fast food nation is a 2006 black comedydrama film directed by richard linklater and written by linklater and eric schlosser. The book was adapted into a 2006 film of the same name. Fast food nation is a film directed by richard linklater with greg kinnear, ethan hawke, kris kristofferson, patricia arquette, year. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of fast food nation by eric schlosser.
Fast food nation film by linklater 2006 britannica. May 19, 2012 a short video summary of the book fast food nation by eric schlosser. Fast food nation chapter 10 study guide thebestnotes. Fast food restaurants are strictly regimented, giving employers power over their employees, who become dispensable. Schlosser clearly demonstrates that this industry alone has been. In this chapter, schlosser provides a backdrop of how the fast food nation began. Jan 17, 2001 fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. Many of the food policy issues are still unresolved. Summary introduction fast food is a revolutionary force in american life, and interests eric schlosser both as a commodity and as a metaphor. By providing this, he also includes how well the economy was, and. The dark side of the allamerican meal, published by houghton mifflin. The screenplay was written by linklater and eric schlosser, loosely based on the latters bestselling 2001 nonfiction book fast food nation. Mickeys is the most popular fastfood chain in america, and the big one is. Fast food nation has brilliant acting and great themes strung around a loose narrative that mimics reallife.
Fast food nation film trailer participant media youtube. Besides teenagers, the fast food industry workforce is comprised of elderly, disabled, and immigrant. Fast food nation summary from litcharts the creators of. Nobody in the united states is forced to buy fast food, writes schlosser. Often lowwage workers, relegated to kitchenless hotel rooms have limited food options. Director richard linklater helms the political drama fast food nation. Eric schlossers fast food nation is a good oldfashioned muckraking expose in the tradition of the american way of death thats as disturbing as it is irresistibleexhaustively researched, frighteningly convincingchanneling the spirits of upton sinclair and rachel carsonschlossers research is impressivestatistics, reportage, firstperson accounts and interviews, mixing the. Many books have taken on the topic of fast food, and while they all emphasize different aspects, they share one unanimous message.
Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. Yet while it feels like a call to arms, the movies glamourless style and the conditions it describes are so stark you go home spent. The most serious thing about fast food nation is that it was written 15 years ago and not much has changed. Prior to the rise of large meatpacking plants, people would become ill from bad food in small, localized arenas. Financial analysis of fast food nation 2006 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado.
Schlosser describes a visit to one mcdonalds plaza in oak brook, il, where he goes to the mcstorean enormous gift shop for the companyand the ray kroc museum. Schlosser charts this transformation by tracking many different people. Fast food nation is a 2006 americanbritish comedydrama film directed by richard linklater. From the punishing conditions suffered by slaughterhouse workers and the horrific abuse of animals raised for meat to the truly disgusting stuff that ends up in burgers, fast food nation is food for thought for anyone who has ever ordered a burger to go. Independent film fast food nation had a limited cinema release. Organization of fast food nation point of viewtone i thought that the author made a good choice in his point of view because it seemed very credible because he has done all the research and then wrote about it. Contaminated meat is getting into the frozen patties of the.
Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a. Schlosser has unveiled several hazardous practices of meat processing industry in the book and criticized fast food industry for rising obesity in america. Would you say richard linklater has a distinctive directorial style. Besides teenagers, the fastfood industry workforce is comprised of elderly, disabled, and immigrant. In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle. Things arent quite that bad, but at the same time, fast food has made a complex problem even more so. The story of meat packing plant workers follows sylvia catalina sandino. Fast food nation 2006 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The dark side of the allamerican meal, is a thoughtprovoking, researchbased account of the rise of the fast food industry and the resulting consequences of the drive for lowcost, rapidly prepared meals. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. The film shows that behind the smiles and the flashy ad campaigns, all is not well. Aug 19, 2008 don henderson greg kinneara marketing executive at mickeys fast food restaurant chain, home of the big onehas a problem. The film, an international coproduction of the united states and the united kingdom, is loosely based on the schlossers bestselling 2001 nonfiction book fast food nation. Fast food nation is a groundbreaking work of investigation and cultural history that may change the way america thinks about the way it eats.
Eric schlossers fast food nation is an attempt to describe how american eating and food production patterns have changed since world war two. Fast food is certainly ripe for this perspective because it is a chief american export. Fast food nation film wikipedia republished wiki 2. The movie nonetheless feels like both a work of investigative journalism and an immense humaninterest story, veering into muckraking, horror, teen comedy, and what passes for twilight. As williss character slyly says, most people dont like to be told whats best for them. The dark side of the allamerican meal study guide and get instant access to the following summary. The book focuses on numerous ways fast food affects american culture and examines indepth the industries around fast food, such as meat packing. Adapted from a bestselling book, this factbased drama follows the stories of various people all employed by a huge american fastfood corporation called mickeys ranging from wealthy executives who ignore the dangers presented by their products to consumers health to mexican workers. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a food borne disease. Jan 30, 2015 fast food nation film complet soustitree en francais fast food nation full movie subtitled in german fast food nation volledige film ondertiteld in het nederlands. Don henderson greg kinneara marketing executive at mickeys fast food restaurant chain, home of the big onehas a problem. Thus far in the book, schlosser has focused on specific people in specific locations colorado springs, greeley, etc. It thoroughly explains what happens at the slaughterhouses all over the country.
Eric investigates on the different locations where food is prcessed and learns how everything started in the business or in the world. By examining the images of the movie and the descriptions of the book, we can truly see why the united states has become a fast food nation. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this fast food nation. Due to world war ii breaking out, the economy and business was at its best. Contaminated meat is getting into the frozen patties of the company. The fast food nation lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Fast food nation was written by eric schlosser and published by houghton mifflin in 2001. Fast food nation has been criticized by the american meat institute, the national restaurant association, and the mcdonalds corporation, as well as by leading conservative publications. Fast food nation this is a fiction movie taken by the omonym best seller of eric schlosser.
An ensemble piece examining the health risks involved in the fast food industry and its environmental and social consequences as well. The dark side of the allamerican meal was a factual expose a passionate, crusading, factual expose designed to alert. Im afraid that blaming our widespread obesity problem on fast food is a gross oversimplification. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nationwide epidemic. You may wish to look at other richard linklater films for examples. I think where it throws off some viewers is that, as in reallife, theres no apparent payoff. Fast food nation shows how the fast food industry has massive consequences on many other aspects of our lives, including our education, health and working conditions. Its an angry movie that could shame a big mac lover into having a salad. Fastfood restaurants are strictly regimented, giving employers power over their employees, who become dispensable. Eric schlossers fast food nation is an investigative nonfiction book that many students will find informative of the impact the fast food industry has had on american life. Nov 17, 2006 richard linklaters fast food nation is major. Aug 24, 2008 the movie to which you refer has taken a few minor truths and blown them into a tale of monumental conspiracy and fraud. What elements might you use to promote the film stars, director, genre.
Like gus van sant, linklater has an auteur signature that he can set aside for a regular studio paycheck and this film tactfully hints that his mainstream movies of the noughties like bad news bears, fast food nation and me and orson welles were forgivably disappointing because he had his mind on boyhood the whole time. The first section of fast food nation opens with a discussion of carl n. Inspired by a nonfiction book, the film follows several intertwining stories related to the fast food industry. Dec 28, 2006 however, fast food nation is a forthright piece of social criticism and deserves to be criticized from that point of view. Fast food nation film trailer participant media duration. Mainly the story aims to speak out the desease caused by the fast food system and to denounce the businessmens behavior of neglecting the events because of the great deal of money earned with this trade. Fast food nation, a book by eric schlosser examines the local and global influence of fast food industry in the united states. Fast food nation offers some bitter truths about america. Other articles where fast food nation is discussed.
With fast food nation, linklater, a director who has made some seriously good films notably dazed and confused and before sunrisesunset, has crafted a twohour finger wag at those awful, awful people involved in the fast food industry, hoping to convert those ignorant masses who do, in fact, eat meat at fast food restaurants. Eric schlossers fast food nation is an attempt to describe how american eating and foodproduction patterns have changed since world war two. Because the fast food industry relies on an operating system and machines, it does not require its workers to be skilled. The book focuses on numerous ways fast food affects american culture and examines indepth the. The fast food nation community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The book and movie follow the same ideas but both uniquely describe and display the workings behind the fast food business, thus giving the widest possible perspective on the industry. The dark side of the allamerican meal was a factual expose a. The film has a point of view, but thanks to linklaters deft touch, is never didactic. The book is about the industrialization of food and how it has changed. The films serious flaws, in the end, are inseparable from the fact. Fast food nation is an informational book that lets readers in on the actual food process.
While fastfood companies actively market their product to impressionable minds, parents are the ultimate decisionmakers for their children. Inspired by a nonfiction book, the film follows several intertwining stories related to the fastfood industry. The book reveals the terrible methods and working conditions caused in great part by the fast food industrys focus on profit that are used to create our food. What are the differences between fast food nation the book.
The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the united states fast food industry first serialized by rolling stone in 1999, the book has drawn comparisons to upton sinclairs 1906 muckraking novel the jungle. Today fast food is part of the american way of life. Fast food nation is a shocking and sometimes heartbreaking look at americas burger industry. Moreover, there is a classelement at stake in fastfood consumption. Americas fast food industry, fast food nation combines an allstar. With greg kinnear, bruce willis, catalina sandino moreno, wilmer valderrama. Don greg kinnear, a marketer for fictionalized restaurant mickeys, is troubled to learn of the meat packing plants terrible working conditions and contaminations, but is told by two veterans of the business that he cant stop the corporate suits.
In considering the effect fast food has had abroad, schlosser emphasizes the significance of his research. Inspired by author eric schlossers new york times bestseller of the same name, director richard linklaters ensemble drama examines the health issues and social consequences of americas love affair with fast food and features an allstar cast that includes greg kinnear, ethan hawke, kris kristofferson, patricia arquette, and luis guzman. Karcher and the mcdonald brothers, examining their roles as pioneers of the fast food industry in southern california. She acted in the latter film while already working with linklater on boyhood. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fast food nation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
While the book came out in 2002 and the film in 2006, fast food nation is still as relevant as ever. The idea underlying fast food nation is intriguing. Pris individuellement, les fragments qui composent le film sont souvent. Fast food nation is a book by eric schlosser, which uncovers the fast food industrys greed, unsanitary conditions, and almost. It examines the world of fast food and its impact on american society. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nation wide epidemic. From discussing american dining culture to criticizing fast foods effects on human health, schlosser presents a multitude of hardhitting facts that will provide an. Agreed, yet fast food nation likely will help the viewer be more conscious of whats on the end of that fork.
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