It is very rare that someone cries, or even shows any emotion in public. We all try to keep our negative emotions a private thing, as if it is something we need to be embarrassed about. We as a society feel very pressured into putting on a happy face. We are led to believe that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. However when emotions are held in, it can cause a lot of stress.

My photo portrays the need people feel to put on a happy face. The subject is wearing a mask with a smile on it. The smile is screwed up, to show it is not genuine, but instead it is forced. The subject is wearing a nice collared shirt with her hair pulled back, exaggerating the idea she has to look not only happy but presentable to the rest of society. There are tears streaming down her face to further show she is holding back emotions and forcing a happy face.

The purpose of this photo is to change the views on showing emotions. Everybody has their bad days, no one should be embarrassed to be upset. The damage done by forcing a smile is shown by the blood dripping from the screws. It is not healthy to keep your emotions bottled up inside, at the expense of your mental health. Mental health is often overlooked and not seen as an important factor in one’s life. This photo shows that it is, and holding in emotions leads to damage of one’s mental health.