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Post by theotherjosh on Aug 23, 2018 23:03:56 GMT
So this might seem like a strange question, but since we have such a multi-national fellowship around here I figured I'd give it an ask.
I was watching Class again in preparation for listening to the audios, and one of the characters said of another, "You're weird and don't know anything about pop culture. You're either alien or Amish."
I've always thought of the Amish as such a uniquely American sub-culture and it seems weird that other parts of the world have them as a point of reference. So, for people who live outside the United States, what's your perception of the Amish?
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Post by jasonward on Aug 23, 2018 23:44:51 GMT
A generally benign religious community.
I can see that they might appear alien to many, the further in the past they route their lifestyle, the more alien they will become to the population at large.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2018 0:48:00 GMT
Niche and odd, like Mormonism but less likely to be made fun of. The most exposure we have to Amish people over here is trash television like “Breaking Amish” if I’m honest, and we don’t really get a good idea of what Amish culture really is about other than “they don’t like electricity and have funny beards”.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2018 1:01:52 GMT
One show that explores the amish is a show named Banshee. What it does with it is quite complex imo anyways
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2018 1:13:27 GMT
Ooh, very little exposure beyond the occasional glance in pop culture. I'd say they tend to be regarded in a neutral light. Fine, harmless people. No different to the reenactors we see at the occasional festivals, barring that they've adopted this as their complete lifestyle.
Personally, my family knows a lot more about the Romani than they do the Amish, but that's because -- and I kid you not -- my great-grandfather was in good stead with the Bandit King (literal translation) for painting his favourite horse. My grandmother spent a lot of time with them during her childhood.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2018 7:22:37 GMT
Tbh, I think awareness of the Amish from my generation comes as much from American pop-culture like Harrison Ford's Witness or Weird Al's song as much as broader knowledge of smaller American religious fellowships.
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shutupbanks
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There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
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Post by shutupbanks on Aug 24, 2018 8:42:58 GMT
I only know them from Witness and a couple of documentaries as well as T. E. D. Klein's novel, The Ceremonies which features a look-alike culture but I think they have a pretty fair view of life. They at least give their young people the option of experiencing life in the "outside" world.
(Reminds me of a joke a dj made on Australian radio many years ago: he was talking about "The Amish Institute Of Technology" (they have a hinge!) and his co-host told him that he shouldn't make jokes about the Amish. "Why?" he responded. "I'm pretty sure they aren't listening.")
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Post by theotherjosh on Aug 25, 2018 1:29:06 GMT
Cool. Thanks for the responses, everyone!
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