Amish Folk Culture
The text describes the Amish as an example of folk culture in the United States. This assignment will require the use of the internet to gather information on the Amish way-of-life as an example of folk culture. You will gather information on the Amish, using various sources (internet, books, newspapers, magazines, etc…), and compare it to what you know about pop culture. You need not research case studies about pop culture, because you yourself are a living testimony to pop culture.
I. The assignment is two-fold. The first part is in the form of a written response (paragraph) where you are required to present your reaction to the Amish, focusing on the following:
• The Amish have an idea of Separatism. They do not want their members to become what they feel is evil and wicked. Their clothing, transportation, food, and work are all extremely different from the people around them. Their neighbors go to work via an automobile to an office where they dress in a factory-made suit then later go to McDonalds to get a Big Mac. The Amish on the other hand, dress is homemade dark clothing, travel by horse power, eat what they have grown on the farm, and work on that farm. When people keep in close contact they tend to merge and become one, …show more content…
which is seen by the American Melting Pot and how people of many diverse cultures from around the world developed one culture over time. • The Amish's idea of having a simple life is based off the deadly sin of Pride. They avoid education to maintain that simple farmer based lifestyle. They fear power and enjoyment of that power because that links to pride. It is easy to see how our knowledge advanced civilization is based on powers. From the government to business, people secure what they have based on power. Money is power. People strive in the pursuit of happiness which happens to be securing power by education and hard work so that they can make money, or more power. • Amish believe that they should have harmony with the soil. They believe manual work is good and that hard work and thriftiness are virtues. They also believe that God is pleased when they work in harmony with the soil and care for the animals which makes them live in rural communities to work on farms. Cities are believed to be the center of leisure which is evil and wicked. These beliefs relate to the non-Amish American of hard work. Amish believe in the afterlife as a reward, while Americans have the American dream to back up hard work. Either way, people are not so different even while comparing the Amish to the modern world people, who strive with technology. The role of the church must be the strongest influence in Amish life.
Amish came from Europe as Mennonites and believe in strict policies that had to do with not being "... conformed to this world." Their clothing, means of transportation and diet are easily seen to not be conforming to the world. While other people around the Amish are wearing Gap clothing, driving cars and eating Kit-Katz, the Amish are wearing handmade clothing, horses, and eating fresh meat and crop. All Amish take church and religion very seriously and some are said to have long services were they sing in unison and where a single hymn may take more than thirty minutes. The role of the church dominates their life style and their social
customs.
You will be assessed according to how well you explain the four focus topics. Do not merely copy what you see, but present your findings in your own words (without speaking in first person of course), expressing your opinion as you feel necessary. You will be required to site at least three sources of reference according to the MLA Handbook guidelines (see link) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. I am looking for your understanding of what it means to be Amish through your reaction. This will count as a quiz grade.
II. The second part of this project calls for a comparison between the Amish way of life and our more “popular” lifestyle. Name 7 artifacts or activities of the Amish and our pop culture’s counterpart. Be creative (visuals)!!! Present in list form as follows:
1. Obtaining butter by Churning Obtaining butter by purchase
2. Horse and Buggy Automobile
3. Professional Farming as average job Working for a business
4.
I. The assignment is two-fold. The first part is in the form of a written response (paragraph) where you are required to present your reaction to the Amish, focusing on the following:
• The Amish have an idea of Separatism. They do not want their members to become what they feel is evil and wicked. Their clothing, transportation, food, and work are all extremely different from the people around them. Their neighbors go to work via an automobile to an office where they dress in a factory-made suit then later go to McDonalds to get a Big Mac. The Amish on the other hand, dress is homemade dark clothing, travel by horse power, eat what they have grown on the farm, and work on that farm. When people keep in close contact they tend to merge and become one, …show more content…
which is seen by the American Melting Pot and how people of many diverse cultures from around the world developed one culture over time. • The Amish's idea of having a simple life is based off the deadly sin of Pride. They avoid education to maintain that simple farmer based lifestyle. They fear power and enjoyment of that power because that links to pride. It is easy to see how our knowledge advanced civilization is based on powers. From the government to business, people secure what they have based on power. Money is power. People strive in the pursuit of happiness which happens to be securing power by education and hard work so that they can make money, or more power. • Amish believe that they should have harmony with the soil. They believe manual work is good and that hard work and thriftiness are virtues. They also believe that God is pleased when they work in harmony with the soil and care for the animals which makes them live in rural communities to work on farms. Cities are believed to be the center of leisure which is evil and wicked. These beliefs relate to the non-Amish American of hard work. Amish believe in the afterlife as a reward, while Americans have the American dream to back up hard work. Either way, people are not so different even while comparing the Amish to the modern world people, who strive with technology. The role of the church must be the strongest influence in Amish life.
Amish came from Europe as Mennonites and believe in strict policies that had to do with not being "... conformed to this world." Their clothing, means of transportation and diet are easily seen to not be conforming to the world. While other people around the Amish are wearing Gap clothing, driving cars and eating Kit-Katz, the Amish are wearing handmade clothing, horses, and eating fresh meat and crop. All Amish take church and religion very seriously and some are said to have long services were they sing in unison and where a single hymn may take more than thirty minutes. The role of the church dominates their life style and their social
customs.
You will be assessed according to how well you explain the four focus topics. Do not merely copy what you see, but present your findings in your own words (without speaking in first person of course), expressing your opinion as you feel necessary. You will be required to site at least three sources of reference according to the MLA Handbook guidelines (see link) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. I am looking for your understanding of what it means to be Amish through your reaction. This will count as a quiz grade.
II. The second part of this project calls for a comparison between the Amish way of life and our more “popular” lifestyle. Name 7 artifacts or activities of the Amish and our pop culture’s counterpart. Be creative (visuals)!!! Present in list form as follows:
1. Obtaining butter by Churning Obtaining butter by purchase
2. Horse and Buggy Automobile
3. Professional Farming as average job Working for a business
4.