Bigger Stonger Faster

Directed by Chris Bell

Summary: This documentary show the media endued idea of being better at all cost. Although this documentary was about the use of steroids in America, ultimately it showed how the use of steroids is only a side effect of being American. Starting off with childhood, all Americans are exposed to television and media that shape their beliefs and values. Boys grow up idolizing men that represent strength, victory, and fear. Physical appearance matters to young boys as they grow up because it will affect how they think about themselves. Peer pressure, opinion, teasing are all factors of how kids will feel about themselves. The reason why most people believe that steroids are bad is because the media only shows the bad effects of steroids, which has or has not been scientifically proven. There has not been one solid research that proved that steroids had any long term effects on the users. Many people decide to use steroids for different reason such as performance enhancer and various heath problems (a treatment for HIV/AIDS). Steroids has been used for many centuries to treat medical problems but has never got bad publicity as it did now. Professional athletes get the most criticism for steroids because people believe that they are cheating (not putting in the work), but from all steroids user have stated, they all have to work harder to achieve their body and strength, steroids are just an enhancer. The main reason why most Americans (mostly boys and men) decided to use steroids in America is because it is embedded in their minds that they have to do what it take to be better than the rest. The is from the exposure from the media. For example, while growing up, most boy idolized superheros such as Captain America, who oral takes a stimulate the makes him stronger and more muscular. Also, the image of men should be muscular and strong comes from childhood heroes such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hulk Hogan, and Sylvester Stallone. These men all used steroids to enhance their muscles. The key point in the documentary is that use of steroids in encouraged by the American philosophy that we, as Americans, should do what we need to do to be better than the rest. These messages are communicated to us when we are children through the media.




Personal thoughts: From this documentary, it shows how easily one's mind can be shaped by the media, especially when exposed at early age. The media set these boys up since they were kids to become what they are today. From the ages 10, Chris knew what he wanted to be when he grew up and his whole life he worked for it. Although he did not achieve what he wanted, to be a hero like the Hulk, it was a great disappointment to him. Disappointment for not achieving goals is probably the biggest factor why people decide to take enhancers. He was very fit, very strong, and very muscular, but it was not enough for him because there were too many people that was like him. He wanted to be different and to stand out, as the heroes that he idolized when he was a kid. This shows a direct correlation of how the media affected his behavior, his goals, and his life. I believe that many Americans are the same way. The reason to all this madness-over exercising, eating disorder, dieting, and drug use-is to better than other people. I can see how that correlates with the American philosophy because we were always told that we HAVE TO BE BETTER, because we are better than the rest. But when reality sets in this ideal of how Americans always have to better, does it really bring happiness? This ideal of happiness is intertwine with making everyone else looking up to you, but the sad reality is that most Americans will not achieve that. As my husband told me, he have moved from Bulgaria to the states for seven years, that because Americans have so much more money and resources, people in Bulgaria want to move to the states to be better than everyone else. Does that include steroids? Does that include thin beautiful people? Does that include happiness? I can't blame people to be more muscular, or more thin, or more perfect than the next person because as a society, we were raised to believe that we have to the power to be better than the rest. Everyone uses the resources that are available to help us reach our goal. I do not see that it is any one's fault but society itself by sending out the message that it is your life's goal to is to be better than the rest.