This tale serves as a backdrop for schlossers real projectwhich is to illuminate the machination of the contemporary fast food nation. Karcher carl is one of the american fastfood industrys pioneers. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of fast food nation by eric schlosser. Despite some fine performances and memorable scenes, fast food nation is more effective as eric schlossers eyeopening nonfiction book than as richard linklaters fictionalized, mostly punchless. Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. 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. 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. The world of fastfood mascots is populated with mayor mccheese, grimace, and a ton of rats. This study guide consists of approximately 47 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of fast food nation.
The folks who created this cartoon delivered the same message as fast food nation in less than 15 minutes i learned as much and it was fun. Contaminated meat is getting into the frozen patties of the company. 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. Trouble is, it didnt leave much room for a fictional cinematic treatment. I gave the book, fast food nation 4 stars out of 5. What are the differences between fast food nation the. Fast food nation is as relevant today as it was a decade ago. Melissa sweeney introduction taking place in the many different fast food franchises, chicken and cattle farms, and factories around the united states, fast food nation, by eric schlosser, teaches the world the untold story of fast foods. Fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government regulation, the unchecked power of multinational corporations and the importance of our everyday decisions.
The book is a work of nonfiction with chapters that cover the dangers of the fast food economy, from slaughterhouse conditions to health issues to environmental devastation. Today fast food is part of the american way of life. Carl eventually turned his hotdog stands into drivein. Eric investigates on the different locations where food is prcessed and learns how everything started in the business or in the world. The dark side of the allamerican meal from the worlds largest community of readers. Based on the controversial bestselling novel, fast food nation is a provocative drama that cleverly depicts the lives of several intermingled characters who are all linked to the potentially perilous and corrupt fast food industry. Schlosser effectively demonstrates how fast food companies, which offer little in terms of nutrition, manipulate young minds in an effort sell their products. Author of fast food nation, eric schlosser is an investigative reporter and correspondent for the atlantic monthly. Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled american cultural imperialism abroad. 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. Sep 19, 2016 the most serious thing about fast food nation is that it was written 15 years ago and not much has changed. Fast food nation essays are academic essays for citation. In a new afterword for this edition, schlosser discusses the growing interest in local and organic food, the continued exploitation of poor workers by the food industry, and the need to ensure that every american has access to good, healthy, affordable food.
Fast food nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast food slogan, the choice is yours. During the two years spent researching this book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food. The character of ray kroc in fast food nation from. The dark side of the allamerican meal fast food nation. His chief objection is not that it tastes badfar from it, he insists, going on to examine, for instance, why mcdonalds fries lauded by the likes of julia child and james. Many of the food policy issues are still unresolved. Please keep in mind that the author of this book had an intended purpose of portraying the american fast food industry as a socially unconcerned bastion of corporate greed influenced only by the collection of dollars through the exploit of the naivete and health of its. As well, he is a frequent freelance contributor to a number of journals and magazines in his efforts to uncover and expose corruption, governmental indifference to serious social ills, and other threats to health and safety. In 2001, fast food nation was published to critical acclaim and became an international bestseller. Fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. Fast food nation 2006 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I believe the book deserved a 5 out of 5 on the relevance because throughout the book the author mentions fast food and the effect it.
When eric schlossers book fast food nation debuted in 2001, it was heralded as a supreme work of polemic journalism, tearing back the curtain on the fast food industry, and exposing its dirty little secrets in the tradition of upton sinclair. Fast food nation film trailer participant media youtube. After reading this book, you shouldnt find that a hard choice to make. Jan 17, 2001 fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle. The idea of converting an investigation of fast food into fiction has some obvious pitfalls, and fast food nation falls into a number of them. Author of fast food nation, eric schlosser is an investigative reporter and correspondent for the atlantic. Fast food nation is a book by eric schlosser, which uncovers the fast food industrys greed, unsanitary conditions, and almost. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of fast food nation by eric schlosser. Fast food is heavily marketed to children and prepared by people who are barely older than children. There is very little development of these characters. Schlosser wrote the novel fast food nation in attempt to show america the dark side of the fast food industry. Most of all, i am concerned about its impact on the nations children. While the book came out in 2002 and the film in 2006, fast food nation is still as relevant as ever.
This is an industry that both feeds and feeds off the young. News on climate in the time of coronavirus subscribe today. Don henderson greg kinneara marketing executive at mickeys fast food restaurant chain, home of the big onehas a problem. Schlosser clearly demonstrates that this industry alone has been. 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. Fast food nation offers some bitter truths about america. Il, where he goes to the mcstorean enormous gift shop for the companyand the ray kroc museum. First serialized by rolling stone in 1999, the book has drawn comparisons to upton sinclairs 1906 muckraking novel the jungle. Fast food nation characters from litcharts the creators of. Fast food nation is an informational book that lets readers in on the actual food process. The most serious thing about fast food nation is that it was written 15 years ago and not much has changed.
Schlosser effectively demonstrates how fastfood companies, which offer little in terms of nutrition, manipulate young minds in an effort sell their products. If you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. Differing styles in upton sinclair and eric schlosser. Aug 19, 2008 don henderson greg kinneara marketing executive at mickeys fast food restaurant chain, home of the big onehas a problem. Jul 15, 2015 the world of fast food mascots is populated with mayor mccheese, grimace, and a ton of rats. 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. Schlosser goes into great detail about the research he had done to prove his point. Schlossers book, fast food nation, categorizes the entire fastfood industry in such a negative light. This tale serves as a backdrop for schlossers real projectwhich is to illuminate the machination of the contemporary fastfood nation. The movie presents these same issues in the context of a story. I believe the book deserved a 5 out of 5 on the relevance because throughout the book the author mentions fast food and the effect it has on our culture.
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. I rent the dvd and i watched the special features which contain 3 episodes of the meatrix, starring moopheus. He visited fast food restaurants, he visited meatpacking plants, and. Many books have taken on the topic of fast food, and while they all emphasize different aspects, they share one unanimous message. He attempts to write a book charting how the rise in the fastfood industry in the united he attempts to write a book charting how the rise in the fastfood industry in the united. 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 first component was the relevance the book has to the world. Throughout the text, he emphasizes the point that fast food is a corrupting force that impacts nearly every aspect in america whether its in relation to health, politics, economy, society, etc. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado. The timeline below shows where the character ray kroc appears in fast food nation. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Jun 16, 2010 while the book came out in 2002 and the film in 2006, fast food nation is still as relevant as ever. He was born in 1917 in ohio and dropped out of school after the eighth grade. At twentyyearsold, carl moved to anaheim, california where he began his first hotdog stand. Free study guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser. Usa today fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government regulation, the unchecked power of multinational corporations and the importance of our everyday decisions. The dark side of the allamerican meal was a factual expose a passionate, crusading, factual expose designed to.
The author of the book fast food nation, schlosser is a journalist based in new york city. Revisiting fast food nation, the book and film serious. Nov 17, 2006 if you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. Fattening up a controversial article published in rolling stone in 1999, schlosser considers all the ways in which fast food has lessened the quality of life in america. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Table of contents list of characters short summary synopsis eric schlosser biography historical information genre chapter summaries with notes analysis. Revisiting fast food nation, the book and film serious eats. Note most of the characters discussed in this book are reallife and wellknown icons of the american retail food industry. This is of course eric schlosser other significant figures included in the. Fast food nation is a 2006 comedydrama film directed by richard linklater and written by linklater and eric schlosser. Summary by eric schlosser analysis booknotes download.