Introduction

I first got inspiration for this theme when I was reading 'How To Build A Girl' by Caitlin Moran. The character is a young woman working as a music critic and writes reviews about different singers and bands. This paragraph below follows her realisation that her job has taken over how she thinks and she is totally consumed by cynicism.

"Everyone is too scared to stand up and risk something new that might sound odd to impatient ears. For when cynicism becomes the default language, playfulness and invention become impossible. Cynicism scours through a culture like a bleach, wiping out millions of small, meaningful ideas. Cynicism means your automatic response becomes 'No'. Cynicism means you presume everything will end in disappointment. And this is, ultimately, why anyone becomes cynical. Because they are scared of disappointment. Because they are scared someone will take advantage of them. Because they are fearful their innocence will be used against them - that when they run around gleefully trying to cram the whole world in their mouth, someone will try to poison you. Cynicism is ultimately fear...Cynicism is a thick black carapace that grows on us like armour. This armour will protect our hearts but it will eventually grow so large it will leave us unable to walk...Cynicism keeps you pinned to the same spot, in the same posture, forever."

So from taking inspiration from her use of words and descriptions, this project will be my way of expressing the issue of cynicism and how it can change (and has changed) people of all ages.