Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mae Clendenning
Spring 2011
Table of Contents
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................13
Appendices...............................................................................................................................14
Introduction: Planning & Preparation Stage
My projects goal was to grasp a better understanding and a better viewing on the ‘Fakers’
around us and why they do it. What I mean by ‘Fakers’ is people who go through their day-to-
day lives and always show a smile, yet are crumbling and dying on the inside. I planned to
create a better understanding for myself and others via some artistic creation. To start this
project, I asked myself, why do people fake their emotions and how can I see through them?
What inspired me to choose this topic was personal experience and the motions and
actions of people I pass by on a daily basis. Having an ability to sense a person’s true emotions
is quite a blessing bestowed upon a person. Fortunately, I am one of a handful that has this
ability. Over the years, I have been able to detect the truth and falseness of a person’s well-
being. Sometimes, though, I think of this ability as a curse. I do not always want to know how a
person is feeling. Sure, I want to be there for a person in their time of need, but I don’t want to
just drag it out of them. When grasping a person’s true emotions, I can’t help but feel a bit guilty
for not helping them out. Sometimes, I try and deny I have this ability and go on living an
average teenage life. This goes unsuccessful for there is always a sense that is tugging at my
insides. This ability was a major influence on choosing my topic. Most likely without it, I
emotions. Another contributor would be personal experience. Many times throughout my life,
both past and present, I have been a victim of being a Faker. For me, and many others I have
come to find out, I was a Faker so as to not be a burden to my friends or worry them. I wished
for them to not have to deal with the problems I have faced. Because of these thoughts in my
head, I smiled, laughed, and acted just like every other teenager one would see on the side of the
street (save the drugs and alcohol). With my ability, I could tell that my friends, too, felt the
same way and so they also hid their true emotions. From time to time, I would bring up an
emotion that was buried beneath us all, and the masks fell. Anger or sadness would rise up,
causing a fiasco that none of us would have ever thought to happen. It is also because of the
want to avoid any conflict most summon a facade. These moments in my life was a great boost
Moving on, from my goal and question, the outcome I expected was quite close to the
one that I achieved. Since it is quite common for a person to be a Faker, I expected that just
about 64% of people between the ages of 13 and 21 do not show their true emotions. In
actuality, about 87% of people between the ages of 13 and 25 do not reveal their true feelings.
This came as quite a shock to me, for I never could really see any adult suppress themselves.
With this being said, no, I am not around many adults to actually try out my ability on them. I
never have really had the thought of an adult being a Faker. Now that I think about it though,
adults are looked up to by many kids. If something were to happen to them, the child might see
them in another view. So I guess I could understand their need to have a facade. This now
makes me wonder, what do adults do to get those suppressed emotions out? Are they like some
teenagers who visit a place where it is higher than a personal level and is their wings? Or do
they suppress them until they just burst? The questions start to roll and I now wish to further my
research into these studies and grasp a better understanding of the psychological field of
emotions.
which our topic had to land in. As she was explaining, my eyes immediately landed on Health
and Social Education. My topic had quickly popped into my head. I looked over the other Areas
of Interactions and then realized that my topic could also go under Community and Service as to
how people’s relations are with one another. My topic rests under Health and Social education
based on the fact of its psychological awareness and the health contributors it brings. When
researching, I found that suppressing emotions can age a person faster than what they should be
and it can overwork one’s body, leaving a lack of energy in its place. My topic could also rest
under Community and Service because of the relations and interactions between people. If one
cannot develop a sort of relation, a void begins to grow within them. Their skills that could lead
to a better society begin to deteriorate while they just send out the same emotion (to cover up the
ones they wish not to show) everyday. Also, with this same emotion coming out, a sense of
reality is being lost within a person. The person cannot tell what is real and what is not if they
On another note, I have to say that I did not have an outline to follow throughout the
project. The Processing Journal questions were the only things that kept me on track as to what I
was doing some of the time. My plan to complete this project was just to wing it. For me, if I
use an outline of any sort I tend to fall astray from it or just change it so often that I wouldn’t be
able to understand half of the things I put. If I wing it, I have a spark of energy for the first part,
but then a peaceful one as I start to think as to what to actually do next in the project. That is
usually how I schedule everything. It is a sense of balance in my own mind. It helps keep my
from scattering everything that I have done all over the floor. That is just who I am, though, a
with myself being new to the area, I did not really have anyone that could help me out. The first
choice was to create a video. This video would consist of me following a fellow student around
as they lived their day-to-day life. Some of it would be acting, yes, but it would only be because
it had to grasp my topic. It would be A Day In The Life Of A Faker. It is simple, yes, but I like
anything within the Arts. Another product I wished to produce was a collage of my friends
smiling. Around their pictures would be masquerade, venetian, and opera masks, along with
multiple eyes. These eyes would symbolize the Gateway to the Soul of a person. The Gateway
to the Soul is a key element when trying to sense a person’s true feelings. Finally, my third
choice was to write a book. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to actually create an
entire book, so I only wrote six chapters. The book is called Masquerade. It’s about a girl (first
person POV) and basically going throughout life with a smile on her face, laughing like most
others, but crumbling down on the inside. Then, she commits suicide (well, actually, that’s at the
first part). She then has a second chance for her life and she’s able to help others that are just like
she was. There are still a few kinks in it, but it is pretty swell nonetheless.
When it came to the questions that motivated me into creating the product, there was not
any. I knew from the start that I wanted to do something artistic and something that I have a
passion for so the three product choices were immediately on the list. If I had any questions, I
guess it would just be on the wording or who would be in the whole product. Other than those,
As stated before, I did not have a plan. What would have been vital was definitely
having more time. With my life at the moment, I do not really have any time to do research or
start typing anything. Time is the key component in creating my project, and I unfortunately did
not have enough of it. Most likely if my life was not as hectic as it is now, I would have
probably been able to have grown much more within the experience.
Investigation & Development Stage
With knowing how sensitive my topic is, I went to the one website where I know many
are or have been Fakers: SixBillionSecrets.com. Here, I was able to get in contact with many
users and question them on their lives and why they fake their emotions. From this, I was able to
conclude that many did not reveal themselves because they did not wish to burden their friends
or their ‘friends’ did not really care for them at all. Some said that they did not have anyone to
go to. This shattered my heart to pieces. Upon hearing this statement, I yearned to just give
them a long hug, showing that I cared for them. Because of SixBillionSecrets, I was able to have
Again, I did not brainstorm anything. One of my sayings is ‘don’t think, just do’, and I
do just that. I knew that I would need to seek professional help if I wished to acquire true
answers. I turned to people I have passed by earlier in life and they agreed to helping me. With
these professionals, I would be able to have a psychological view of a person’s train of thought.
Another resource of mine would have to be my friends. Some are Fakers and some are not. I
have been able to have their own view on Fakers and their thoughts of why people do it. The
ones who are Fakers were able to explain to me in detail what their life story is and what brought
them into becoming a Faker. As stated previously, SixBillionSecrets was a great reference to
turn to when receiving information. I tried looking into books, but none really circulated around
My primary resources were the many users of SixBillionSecrets and everyone that I
interviewed. If counting them all, then that would make about seven primary sources in all. My
primary sources each gave me their own input of Fakers. My two blasts from the past gave me a
psychological viewing of a person’s mind which helped a great deal. My friends had their own
inputs and stories as to what brings them to that level. SixBillionSecrets brought forth views that
I never really thought of until summoned before me. All of these were great contributors. When
trying to get from one source to the next, none of them really connected. Sure, my friends were
talking about each other, but there wasn’t a connection through them all. All of these sources
were a great step forward when trying to achieve my goal. They played an important role as to
There were not really any techniques I was learning. I just used the direct approach.
That’s what I usually use. If one wants to get a point across, they have to get straight to the
After gathering my information, I tried to think on how I would try and apply them to my
product. What I decided to do was try and place as much of it as possible in the main character
and scatter them towards minor characters throughout the story. I tried to put as much sense of
reality possible within the book. Since suicide and being Fake is a sensitive subject, I had to
I didn’t really need to use any additional resources for my topic. Since my topic is pin
pointed on one spot, there wasn’t really a place to turn to get great information. So, my seven
original sources were all that I used. Some of the information that I gathered I realized later on
that they were irrelevant to the topic itself. Sure, it had some connection, but not enough to
really have made a marking. Some questions asked in the interviews and the answers that came
didn’t really stick to the topic. They were all over the place. I take blame for this for I should
have created questions earlier instead of just winging it. With all the sorting and adjusting, I did
have to make adjustments to my product. I had to scratch items out, rearrange words and even
None of the information that I gathered really surprised me as much as I had hoped. This
outcome was expected. My thoughts and outlook never really changed except when it came to
the adults being Fakers. Other than that, nothing really changed.
With my findings, I am able to create the main character within the book and create
others around her. I am able to form her mind around the information that people can relate to
on a personal level. A reader is going to be able to place themself in the situations that the
character faces. I’m hoping that if they do this, they are able to think of other ways to assess the
Usually when I write, I get a spark of inspiration or a spark of an idea and I just start
writing. Then, my hand has a mind of its own. I get lost in my own little world when I start to
write. Ideas race through my head as I write down the story and briefly pause to think over a
next part. After the brief time passes, I just zoom on into the finish line. There aren’t any steps
taken when it comes to my writing. Many prefer to have an outline made so they have an idea as
to where there writing is going to hit. That would be my greatest obstacle since I would change
things ever so often. There are only two steps for me: 1. spark and 2. go.
I didn’t really find anything new within myself when it came to writing Masquerade. I
think the reason is that this topic is on such a personal level that I’m writing the book on a
personal level as well. I have to connect with my writing on a closer level than most so I am
kept engaged with it and can hit points clearly. I can’t take the time to think of a scene where I
can’t connect with it. It’s just impossible for me to. There has to be a connection for me to
write. If there’s not connection, no writing. Even if it’s on a petty level such as being a straight-
I did make minor adjustments when going through the process. I have had to rewrite a
whole chapter because it just did not belong in that part of the book. I have had to rearrange
words and adjust settings becuase of the major impact the new chapter created. If I hadn’t had
reread over the chapter, my book would have been lost. Information, such as what brought a
person to becoming a Faker, helped shape the characters within the story. They really bring a
I honestly thought that the information from the professionals were going to help me
greatly. Now that I look at it, they barely put a dent within my product. It was just collected
information that didn’t really have a place to begin with in my story. If I had more time to write,
they might have had a role, but I can’t say for sure.
As I was creating, I didn’t really turn to my Area of Interaction for guidance. Once
again, I was just winging it, trying to keep focus on the task at hand and what it was over. In the
end, my few chapters of the book I am writing will be presented at the showcase and also a
Impact of Project
curse, but as a blessing in disguise into which I am able to help others much more than some are
not capable of. It showed me that not all that seems bad is actually bad. I have been able to use
my ability to sense true emotions as a great skill when working with this project. It helped out
This project will help me embrace my ability to its true force. It’ll help me by nagging in
my brain that I’m not alone in situations, that others have gone through the same thing. It’ll be
nagging in my brain to help others more often and to get down to their real feelings.
I was able to stick strongly to my goal throughout the project. Since the subject is pin
pointed on one focus, it was quite easy to stay on track. Because of this, I was able to
accomplish my goal. I was able to grasp a better understanding on why people put up facades.
I would say that my product is somewhat reflecting the Area of Interaction I have chosen
and it somewhat misses the mark. The reason is that people have their own opinions as to what
is hitting the mark and what isn’t hitting it. It all just depends on their mindset. In various areas
it has hit the mark, and others it was off searching for Pluto. With this being said, the quality is
decent. I have been writing for quite some time and I have been getting feedback from people I
have sent out a few chapters to. I think the weakness of it all would, again, be time. Time is my
enemy. Another reason such little was written was that I kept on getting constant Writer’s
If I had to do it over again, I would definitely try and schedule more time to get the work
done. I’d cut my sleep habits by a few hours and I’d start doing some homework at school.
Since I would already have a general idea as to what the book is about, it’d save major time.
think that if I didn’t have it, I would have completely lost on the subject. My weakness is time
and my time management skills. I spend too much time on one thing when I should be spending
Masquerade is about a girl ((first person POV)) and basically going throughout life with a smile
on her face, laughing like most others, but crumbling down on the inside. Then, she commits
suicide (well, actually, that’s at the first part and then it goes into her life…). She then has a
second chance for her life and she’s able to help others that are just like she was.