Isn't This What You Wanted America?

English 1302

Professor Ciani

24 March 2014

Isn’t this what you wanted America?

“Steroids are as American as apple pie.” At first glance this statement makes Americans shake their head and defiantly refuse its legitimacy; however, they can’t help but wonder how true it really is. In the 2008 documentary directed by Christopher Bell tries to uncover just where America truly stands on the steroid issue. As a first hand user bell uses an assortment of means to question why America makes such a big deal out of enhancing athletes while in the meantime they are enhancing models, animals, and even soldiers without batting an eye. Bell uses celebrite examples, personal anecdotes, scientific research, expert testimonies, real life examples of people and professionals alike, and plays on our first hand experience with the drug to reveal the double standard that has been accepted in America concerning expectations and the lengths we are willing to go to achieve.

Mr. Bell told the audience his, as well as his brother’s, life story. He told a narrative in which we all had heard in our own back stories of growing up not being the best of the best. Using this technique he was able to make a connection with the audience right off the bat, he became relatable. Mr. Bell established a plain folk relationship in which the audience saw that he was laying down himself at his worst time and wasn’t trying to paint himself up to be perfect. This let the people put their trust in him that he was going to tell them the truth, even if it wasn’t the best, about a controversial topic. This also entitled him to a position of “expert” since he lived through it firsthand. By including his brothers in his autobiography it portrayed them as a man with recourses. Since he was doing a “where are they now” special with former, and even current, users of steroids with his brothers this painted a very black and white picture since it was all in first person.

His personality also played a big role in the effectiveness of his message. Because he was funny c people were more open to hearing him out making the message easier to receive. By incorporating jokes, making fun of himself, and even showing us ourselves in his hopes, dreams and fears he opens us up to the truth. The fact the he is likeable and not afraid to be vulnerable makes him very effective in delivering his message.

Everyone has heroes growing up, but to know that your heroes were fake can devastate even the most grown up of men. Bell let the audience know right off the bat who he looked up to. Of course he idolized men that he wanted to grow up to be, who embodied everything he didn’t have, and who he was not but aspired to be. Household legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hulk Hogan, Barry Bonds, and Sylvester Stallone all were men