Amish Documentary Analysis

Amish: A Secret Life

The amish culture is unlike any other. Their compelling believes around religion and family, set the foundation for their thriving communities. In today's society, standing out in a region of similar cultures can be difficult, and that is why there is such a decline in folk culture beliefs. But looking at the family in the video, one is able to comprehend that staying adamant about what they believe in is very strenuous. Most people who see a family of amish men and women either turn their heads, or stare directly at them, but indeed there is more to the unique community. Its filled with rich history, elements of culture, and so much more. From the outside, it can be seen that the amish are people who my grandmother
loves to get homeade jams from at the yearly amish festival. The amish are more than just incredible woodworkers and jam- makers, they are holding generations of history within their hands. While preserving their past, they do not endorse the use of energy, or modern technology like the internet or Iphones. Other people in the Amish culture would not endorse the use of film and photography for the purpose of this video, but the family being filmed said that they prayed and knew that god supported them in their decision to partake in the film. Because they do not believe in modern day technology, all the knowledge that they receive has to have been passed down to them. In the documentary, the wife, Miriam spoke of the government in England, and how she was so unaware of the things that were going on in our modern day. This really shows how much we retain from our main news sources like the paper, the television and the internet. In pop culture, the diffusion rate is much faster, and goes through expansion and hierarchical diffusion, whereas in folk culture, things diffuse slower and through the process of relocation. Because information in folk culture is spread by the movement of people, it can be challenging to keep a culture so favorable, without losing customs of their culture. The Amish material culture protects both men and women's modesty and simplicity throughout their everyday lives. Men and women wear simple clothing with no patterns or vibrant colors, and they include pants, button down and suspenders, as well as lon dresses, aprons, and bonnets for the ladies. The women have long hair, and the men are required to have beards. Agriculture is very important to the amish so they normally grow crops which sustain their family, as well as are sold to earn money. The Amish rarely use technology, and in fact only have one telephone that is a good distance away from the home. With that being said, they also do not believe in modern modes of transportation, so instead they use horse and buggy if they need to leave their personal property. When Miriam took the children, out to the store to get necessities, they rode in their horse and buggy. It was evident that people noticed the fact that they stood out in a modern shopping store, but many view people with different cultural beliefs as being of lesser importance and often devalue their culture. As well as focusing on their beliefs around clothing and technology, the bible is very important to the amish and they are very adamant about their religion. They read the bible daily, and constantly pray to their heavenly father. The Amish also believe in having large families so that they can have manpower for farming and other tasks within the home. Spending time with the family is a key priority in their lives, and that is why they refrain from the use of distracting things like technology. The Amish’s simplicity and ethics set the tone for how they live their lives within their families and their work. The Amish culture is unlike any other and has a strong background in their language, education, and religion.
The Amish language is from the descent of a german dialect called “Pennsylvania Dutch” . It is commonly used in places like Indiana, Pennsylvania, and some part of Kentucky. The language was not evident in the video, but I assume that they were focusing on english for the purpose of the informational documentary. The Amish education is very different from the rest of their cultural belief. The Amish go to school until they are in the 8th grade, and then they begin to work, whether it be in the home or out in an amish owned workforce. David did not work for an Amish owned company, but there were other amish men that worked alongside him. David’s dream was to buy land that could support his future in become a farmer. He felt that if he owned a farmland, he would be closer to his home and have more time that was devoted to his wife and kids. The final thing that is evident in their culture is their religion. People the Amish culture are considered protestant christians, who believe in adult baptism, pacifism, the separation of church and state as well as the importance of having faith spread throughout the community. Both Miriam and David set a strong example for their children of the way that they want to be a part of the church. Because they do not have a proper place for their church services to take place, Miriam, David, and the rest of the people who own land in the Amish community, each take turns hosting a service, as well as providing lunch afterwards. The Amish show much respect for their culture, and are very prideful of the life that they
live. The Amish culture is built upon the foundation of their rich historic background. Their belief around family, faith, and ethics all play a substantial role into how their culture was established, and how is has continued to operate. We have much reason to be grateful for the amish, they supply us with most of our fresh produce, and keep our folk culture population up and running. “ The Amish like to live a very plain lifestyle, the way they think god intended. It sort of brings you back to, like ‘Little House on the Praire’ days or something. “ - Verne Troyer